CHANDLER, Ariz – At the June 9 City Council Meeting, Chandler will conduct a public hearing on the 2022-23 budget, 2023-32 CIP and Property Tax Levy, followed by the action on the 2022-23 Budget and 2023-32 CIP. Council’s vote to adopt the Property Tax Levy will be on June 23.    

The proposed budget can be reviewed online at: https://www.chandleraz.gov/government/budget-and-capital-improvement-program/planning.  

The following are some of the FY 2022-23 budget highlights:  

-Total budget of $1.353 billion, which represents a 27.8% percent increase in FY 2022-23 compared to the current FY2021-22 budget, with an Operating Budget increase of 9.8% and Capital Budget increasing 61.2%    

-Indexes operating budgets to account for hyper-inflation, especially on street maintenance labor and materials, insurance costs, chemicals, contracted services and utilities  

-Fully funds Operation Open Door, allowing residents experiencing homelessness to transition to temporary housing and providing flexibility for homeless navigators and law enforcement and continues staffing the new Support Court  

-Emphasizes multimodal transportation through funding for the Frye Road protected bike lane, design of the Ashley Trail/Paseo Trail connection, and the Kyrene Branch and Highline Canal shared use paths  

Tax Rates and Fees for Services  

-Reduction of property tax rate from $1.1126 to $1.1026 per $100 of assessed value, the City of Chandler accounts for just over 10 cents of every dollar of property tax paid by residents  

-No change to Transaction Privilege Tax rates  

-Changes to Water, Wastewater, Reclaimed Water and Solid Waste rates will be implemented after delayed from the planned January 2022 implementation  

-Maintains existing City service levels and enhances programs tied to the Strategic Framework  

Bond Ratings and Financial Reserves 

-Adherence to financial policies allowed Chandler to maintain AAA bond ratings by all three rating agencies during latest bond issuance in November 2021, therefore allowing us to obtain the most favorable interest rates possible  

-Maintains 15% General Fund appropriated contingency reserve  

-Maintains $10M budget stabilization reserve  

Public Safety  

-Continues a commitment to pay down the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System unfunded liability with a significant additional one-time payment of $50M  

-Adds public safety positions in Police, both sworn and civilian, to meet the needs of the Department, and adds additional Fire Prevention Specialists, an EMS Program Coordinator and Firefighter Rovers to meet the Fire Department needs  

-Fully funds new Police Behavioral Health Unit and places embedded mental health resource in 911 call center  

Capital Improvements  

-Major arterial street projects funded include Chandler Heights Road (McQueen Rd.to Val Vista Dr.), Lindsay Road (Ocotillo Rd. to Hunt Highway), and design of Alma School Road (Germann Rd. to Queen Creek Rd.)  

-Continues planned regional park improvements for Tumbleweed Regional Park and Mesquite Groves Park  

-Continues major infrastructure investments in the Airpark area, including the Cooper Road extension, runway reconstruction and airfield lighting  

-Additional focus on capital improvements that maintain existing infrastructure  

-Capital improvement plans for significant water and wastewater maintenance projects  

-Energy efficiency and sustainability projects funded include citywide LED street lighting conversion, facilities energy audit and electric vehicle charging feasibility study