Scottsdale Ballot Measures Fund Road Repairs, Water Work, Job Training

The city of Scottsdale has placed three related measures on the November 3, 2026, ballot that would authorize bond sales and a limited sales tax adjustment to pay for infrastructure work and expanded municipal services.

These proposals follow the release of the city's updated capital improvement program, which identified $1.4 billion in needs over the next decade for streets, utilities and public buildings. City documents note that current revenue streams cover only a portion of scheduled maintenance on facilities built in the 1980s and 1990s.

Project Details and Resident Connections

Measure A would issue up to $320 million in general obligation bonds for street resurfacing, traffic signal modernization and water main replacements along corridors such as Scottsdale Road and Hayden Road. Measure B would adjust the local sales tax rate by one-quarter cent for five years to support workforce development grants and park maintenance crews. Measure C would create a dedicated fund for library and recreation center expansions in the 85251 and 85254 zip codes. Residents who commute daily on Loop 101 or use the Scottsdale Trolley would encounter construction zones tied directly to these funds if the measures pass. Local business districts that rely on consistent water pressure and reliable roadways would see project timelines set by the public works department rather than by annual budget negotiations.

The 2025 adopted city budget allocated $87 million for transportation and $41 million for water infrastructure, figures that the referendum would supplement through new borrowing authority and the proposed tax adjustment. Policy analysts note that bond proceeds must follow voter-approved project lists, limiting administrative reallocation once the measures take effect.

Timeline and Implementation Path

Ballot language requires certification by the Maricopa County elections office by August 10, after which the city clerk will mail informational pamphlets to registered voters. If approved, bond sales could begin in the first quarter of 2027, with the first construction contracts advertised by April of that year. The sales tax component would start collection on January 1, 2027, and sunset after five years unless renewed by a future vote.

City staff have scheduled four community briefings at the Scottsdale Civic Center through the end of July to review project maps and cost estimates drawn from the capital improvement program. Residents can submit written comments through the city's online portal until September 15.