Flagstaff Voters to Decide $40 Million Public Safety Bond and Tax Hike in November

Flagstaff residents will head to the polls on November 3 to decide whether to approve a $40 million bond and a 0.5 percent sales tax increase to fund public safety services. The Flagstaff City Council unanimously called the special election during its June 16 meeting, according to a city press release.

The two ballot measures were recommended by the Public Safety Citizens Committee, which has met weekly since November 2025 to review the city budget and public safety needs, the city said.

What the tax increase would fund

If approved, the 0.5 percent increase in the local Transaction Privilege Tax would generate an average of $18.2 million in annual revenue over 15 years, according to the city. That money would support 77 additional public safety positions, including:

• Firefighters
• Paramedics
• Wildland fire management personnel
• Dispatch call takers
• Police officers

The increase would equal an additional 50 cents on every $100 purchase made within the City of Flagstaff, the city said.

What the bond would fund

The $40 million bond would provide one-time funding for infrastructure and equipment, according to the city. Projects include:

• Construction of a Wildland Fire Management Facility
• A new fire station to improve response times and address growing community needs
• Expansion of the Flagstaff Police Department
• Infrastructure projects and public safety equipment upgrades

The bond would fall within the city's authorized bonding capacity. There would be no resulting increase in existing property tax rates, the city said.

Polling shows divided voters

Polling shows mixed results among voters on the proposed bond sale and sales tax increase to fund police, fire, and other public safety services, according to the Arizona Daily Sun.

Why the measures matter

Flagstaff faces recurring wildfire threats and growing demands on emergency services. The city has dealt with multiple fires in recent months, including the Pocket Fire that forced evacuations and closed SR 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona in June 2026, and the Rock Canyon Fire that triggered evacuations in North Kaibab in mid-June.

The Public Safety Citizens Committee concluded that additional staffing and infrastructure were necessary to meet current and future community needs, according to the city.

For questions about the measures, the city directed residents to Shannon Anderson, Assistant City Manager, at SAnderson@flagstaffaz.gov.

Residents can learn more about the committee's work at connect.flagstaffaz.gov/safety-committee.