News Flash

Rec, Infrastructure Projects Await Voter Funding Approval

Government Spotlight - News Posted on June 26, 2024

[SAHUARITA, AZ – June 26, 2024] – After years of study, planning, and broad community input, the Sahuarita Mayor and Council on Monday, June 10, unanimously approved a resolution calling a bond election with respect to major recreation, police/public safety and infrastructure projects to not only meet current needs of the community but also anticipate needs for the future.

The package was developed after multiple community research projects, citizen feedback, and Town planning processes to accommodate the 1500% growth in residents since Sahuarita’s incorporation in 1994, as well as anticipated continued growth.

It is the intent of the Mayor and Council to fund the following projects with the following estimated costs:

  • Multigenerational Recreation Center* – $48.6 million
  • Trails Development – $1 million
  • Anamax Park Field Improvements – $2.1 million
  • Sports Court Complex* – $2.97 million
  • Police Department Building Expansion – $7.5 million
  • Public Works Maintenance Building* – $4.94 million
  • Town Hall Efficiency Remodel and Capacity Enhancements – $7 million
  • A Contingency that could be used for any of the projects – $1.89 million

(*New Sahuarita facilities)

“This bond effort is one of the ways the Town of Sahuarita is thinking strategically about sustainable, fiscally responsible growth,” said Mayor Tom Murphy. “We have seen unprecedented growth in our homeowner and business communities, and we certainly aren't slowing down. It is our collective responsibility to anticipate and prepare for the many ways this growth will impact our residents and the resources and spaces we rely on to keep things on track.

The bond package is designed to:

  • Provide new health and wellness activities, recreational opportunities, and community gathering spaces.
  • Support increases in police services to the community.
  • Increase capacity for programming, services, and Town staff to accommodate continued growth of Sahuarita.
  • Delay the need to build new, more costly Town facilities.
  • Provide a building for the Public Works Department for storage and repair space for Town equipment.
  • Have population growth share in the obligation to repay the project costs.

The projects will be funded with the Town’s first general obligation (GO) bond package which will appear on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot for voter approval.

If approved, the proposition will authorize the issuing of $66 million of GO bonds to enhance community safety and improve quality of life through parks and recreation, police/public safety and infrastructure improvements. In addition, the Town plans to contribute $10 million to the projects.

By issuing GO bonds, the Town agrees to pay the bondholders back over 25 years through secondary property taxes.

Pima County calculates that the average assessed valuation for homes in the Town of Sahuarita is $232,067. Using this average figure, the monthly cost for a homeowner in the Town would be $17.12.   The estimated average tax rate for the proposed bond authorization is $0.8850 per $100 of net assessed limited property value.

To learn more about bonds and the projects, visit www.sahuaritabonds2024.info.