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MUNICIPAL POLICY
STATEMENT

OVERVIEW

Cities and towns in Arizona are home to nearly 80%
of the state’s residents and more than 90% of the state’s
business activity. They are the level of government
closest to the people, most accessible to them and
most responsive to their needs. They provide the vast
majority of first-responder—police and fire— services
and are national leaders in business development,
government efficiency and quality of life amenities.
Arizona’s cities and towns are an essential part of the
continuum of government in our state.

CORE PRINCIPLES

The League of Arizona Cities and Towns is guided by
two core principles:
1) Preserve local decision making; and
2) Protect shared revenue.
We will evaluate all proposed legislation against these
two policy priorities and support bills that are in
harmony with them, and oppose bills that erode them.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The League supports legislation that respects the role of
municipal government and their efficient delivery of
services and opposes measures that undermine them.
The following policy priorities were developed with input
from our members and will ensure that cities and towns
can maintain the high-quality municipal government
services that businesses and citizens rely on.

EFFICIENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
GOVERNMENT

Cities and towns live up to citizens’ expectations that
their local government provides streamlined business
processes and the best customer service at the lowest
possible expense. These concepts contribute to the
effort of achieving this objective.
• Address the funding and governance challenges of and
support practical reforms to the Public Safety Personnel
Retirement System.

• Advocate for eliminating the state’s reliance on local
governments to balance the budget and fund some
state agencies.
• Authorize certain types of improvement districts that
have continuous borders to be consolidated for cost
savings and efficiencies.
• Ensure that changes to the construction sales tax system
creates a sustainable policy that maintains state and
local revenues and provides simplicity for the
construction industry.
• Allow council-appointed designees to provide for
timely issuance of special event liquor licenses.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
Arizona competes for new businesses, manufacturers
and citizens to move to our growing economy.
Sustainable funding options to improve and maintain
infrastructure is vital to support this growth.
• Continue to support efforts that increase transportation
funding to operate and maintain streets and highways;
advocate for full restoration of the HURF distribution.

SAFE COMMUNITIES

Public safety is critical to building strong, safe communities
where citizens live and thrive. It is essential for local
governments to have resources to address dangerous
and unhealthy living environments.
• Pursue modifications to state and federal laws that
regulate sober living homes to protect the health,
safety and welfare of the residents and surrounding
communities.

LOCAL ELECTIONS

Cities and towns support policies that provide
transparency in local elections and allow leaders
with municipal government experience to transition
to higher office.
• Seek equity in state law for city and town elected
officials to transfer campaign contributions to a
legislative or statewide office.
• Modify campaign finance reporting requirements for
candidates in local elections.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL 602-258-5786
VISIT: WWW.AZLEAGUE.ORG • TWITTER: @AZCITIES

7% Community & Economic
Development Services
11% Administration

11%

5% Parks and Recreation
8% Community Services

7%

5%

52%

8%

17% Public Works

17%

52% Public Safety

Where Local Revenue Is Spent
On average, cities and towns spend over 50%
of their budgets on public safety-police and
fire departments.

Where Local Revenue Comes From
On average, cities and towns receive almost 40% of
their revenues from state shared sources-income tax,
sales tax, HURF and VLT.
43% Local Sales & Franchise Taxes

7% Local Property Tax
9% Licenses, Permits,
User Fees
& Grants

43%

7%
9%

2% Fines & Forfeitures

39% State Shared Revenue

39%

of Arizonans live in one of
the state’s 91 incorporated
cities and towns.

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Karen Fann(R)
Noel Campbell (R), David Stringer (R)
Carefree, Cave Creek, Chino Valley,
Dewey-Humboldt, Peoria, Phoenix,
Prescott, Prescott Valley, Wickenburg

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Andrea Dalessandro(D)
Rosanna Gabaldon(D), Daniel Hernandez(D)
Nogales, Patagonia, Sahuarita,
South Tucson, Tucson

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Olivia Cajero Bedford(D)
Sally Ann Gonzales(D), Macario Saldate(D)
Tucson

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Lisa Otondo(D)
Charlene Fernandez(D), Geraldine Peten(D)
Buckeye, Gila Bend, Goodyear, San Luis,
Somerton, Tucson, Yuma

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Sonny Borrelli(R)
Regina Cobb(R), Paul Mosley(R)
Bullhead City, Colorado City, Kingman,
Lake Havasu City, Parker, Quartzsite

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Sylvia Allen(R)
Brenda Barton(R), Robert Thorpe(R)
Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Flagstaff,
Holbrook, Jerome, Payson, Sedona, Snowflake,
Star Valley, Taylor, Tusayan, Williams

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Jamescita Peshlakai(D)
Wenona Benally(D), Eric Descheenie(D)
Eagar, Fredonia, Page, Pinetop-Lakeside,
Show Low, Springerville, St. Johns, Winslow

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Frank Pratt(R)
David Cook(R), T.J. Shope(R)
Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, Florence, Globe,
Hayden, Kearny, Mammoth, Miami,
Superior, Winkelman

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Steve Farley(D)
Randy Friese(D), Pamela Powers Hannley(D)
Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson

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David Bradley(D)
Todd Clodfelter(R), Kirsten Engel(D)
Tucson

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Steve Smith(R)
Mark Finchem(R), Vince Leach(R)
Casa Grande, Eloy, Marana, Maricopa,
Oro Valley, Tucson

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Warren Petersen(R)
Eddie Farnsworth(R), Travis Grantham(R)
Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek

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Steve Montenegro(R)
Darin Mitchell(R), Don Shooter(R)
Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear,
Litchfield Park, Surprise, Wellton,
Wickenburg, Yuma

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Gail Griffin(R)
Drew John(R), Becky Nutt(R)
Benson, Bisbee, Clifton, Douglas, Duncan,
Huachuca City, Pima, Safford, Sierra Vista,
Thatcher, Tombstone, Tucson, Willcox

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Nancy Barto(R)
John Allen(R), Heather Carter(R)
Cave Creek, Phoenix

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David Farnsworth(R)
Doug Coleman(R), Kelly Townsend(R)
Apache Junction, Mesa, Queen Creek

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Steve Yarbrough(R)
J.D. Mesnard(R), Jeff Weninger(R)
Chandler, Gilbert

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Sean Bowie(D)
Mitzi Epstein(D), Jill Norgaard(R)
Chandler, Guadalupe, Mesa,
Phoenix, Tempe

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Lupe Chavira Contreras(D)
Mark Cardenas(D), Diego Espinoza(D)
Avondale, Phoenix, Tolleson

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Kimberly Yee(R)
Paul Boyer(R), Anthony Kern(R)
Glendale, Phoenix

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL 602-258-5786
VISIT: WWW.AZLEAGUE.ORG • TWITTER: @AZCITIES

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Debbie Lesko(R)
Kevin Payne(R), Tony Rivero(R)
El Mirage, Peoria, Surprise, Youngtown

Judy Burges(R)
David Livingston(R), Ben Toma(R)
Glendale, Peoria, Surprise

John Kavanagh(R)
Jay Lawrence(R), Michelle Ugenti-Rita(R)
Fountain Hills, Scottsdale

Katie Hobbs(D)
Lela Alston(D), Ken Clark(D)
Phoenix, Scottsdale

Bob Worsley(R)
Rusty Bowers(R), Michelle Udall(R)
Mesa

Juan Mendez(D)
Isela Blanc(D), Athena Salman(D)
Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe

Catherine Miranda(D)
Reginald Bolding(D), Rebecca Rios(D)
Guadalupe, Phoenix, Tempe

Kate Brophy McGee(R)
Kelli Butler(D), Maria Syms(R)
Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale

Martin Quezada(D)
Richard Andrade(D), Cesar Chavez(D)
El Mirage, Glendale, Phoenix

Robert Meza(D)
Ray Martinez(D), Tony Navarrete(D)
Glendale, Phoenix

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- Senator
- Representative