Arizona voters to decide local minimum wage increase, bond issues, school budget override, and charter amendments in November


Ballotpedia is covering 11 local ballot measures in Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Tucson on November 2, 2021. 

In Chandler, voters will decide five bond issues totaling $272,685,000:

  1. Question 1: Authorizes $72,985,000 in bonds to construct, improve, and acquire city parks and recreational facilities
  2. Question 2: Authorizes $25,160,000 in bonds to construct, renovate, and equip city fire stations and fire safety-related facilities
  3. Question 3: Authorizes $55,190,000 in bonds to construct, renovate, and equip city police stations and police-related facilities
  4. Question 4: Authorizes $85,780,000 in bonds to acquire, improve, or construct streets, traffic signals, utility lines, shared-use trails, and other transportation projects
  5. Question 5: Authorizes $33,570,000 in bonds to acquire, improve, or construct municipal buildings including performing arts facilities, office buildings, community centers, and libraries

The board of Chandler Unified School District No. 80 referred a measure to the ballot that would authorize the district to exceed their maintenance and operations budget by 15% for six years, thereby continuing existing budget levels. The measure would also levy property taxes of $1.24 per $100 in assessed property value. Voters last authorized a budget override in November 2017.

Gilbert voters will decide on two ballot measures on November 2. Question 1 would authorize the city to issue $515 million in bonds to construct, acquire, and improve streets, roadways, traffic signals, drainage systems, retention basins, and other transportation and infrastructure projects. Proposition 462 would authorize a franchise agreement between Southwest Gas Corporation and the city of Gilbert to maintain the city’s gas system and facilities for 25 years.

Scottsdale voters will decide one ballot measure, Proposition 463, that would ratify the city’s General Plan unanimously passed by the city council on June 8, 2021. In 2012, Scottsdale voters rejected a new General Plan, thereby maintaining the General Plan adopted in 2001. 

The elections in Chandler, Gilbert, and Scottsdale will be conducted entirely by mail. No polling places will be provided on the election day.

Tucson voters will decide on two ballot measures. Proposition 206 would incrementally increase the city’s minimum wage from $12.15 (the state’s minimum wage) to $15 by January 1, 2025, and increase it every January thereafter by the rate of inflation rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05. The initiative would also establish a Department of Labor Standards. The department would be authorized to receive complaints from employees, investigate employers, and educate workers about their rights under the initiative.

Tucson Proposition 410 would increase the compensation for the mayor from $42,000 to $54,000 and the compensation for city council members from $24,000 to $36,000 beginning on December 4, 2023. It would also require compensation increases linked to inflation for every following year. The Tucson election will be conducted via mail and in-person voting.

The last day to register to vote in Maricopa and Pima Counties is Monday, Oct. 4. 

In 2021, Ballotpedia is covering local measures that appear on the ballot for voters within the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and all state capitals, including those outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia is also covering all local ballot measures in California, a selection of notable local measures related to police policies and election policies, and all statewide ballot measures.