4th straight year property tax rate will go down
Maricopa County supervisors are cutting the property tax rate for a fourth straight year while trimming the overall county budget by 11%. The tentative FY 2025 budget, approved unanimously today, demonstrates the Board’s commitment to easing the burden on families and individuals at a time of persistently high prices and statewide financial headwinds.
“This is a budget that supports future growth and quality-of-life issues while guarding against the possibility of an economic downturn,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers, who represents District 1. “And because we have budgeted conservatively in the past, we can cut the tax rate and still make significant investments in high-priority areas such as public safety, election administration, workforce development, and heat relief.”
County budget approval comes as the legislature grapples with a statewide budget deficit and counties across Arizona deal with a slowdown in sales tax revenues. Maricopa County’s long-time conservative budgeting philosophy leaves it better positioned than most to deal with these challenges.
“I’m proud to vote for a budget that puts the taxpayers first,” said Vice Chairman Thomas Galvin, District 2. “We are taxing less and spending less this year, and yet we are still providing our residents with exceptional customer service, whether that’s through a new online permitting system, improvements to our animal shelters, or giving people safe, secure, and convenient ways to vote in this year’s elections.”
The $3.87 billion dollar county budget includes several protections for taxpayers. While some other counties are taxing as much as they are allowed under state law, Maricopa County’s tax levy is $257.1 million below the maximum.
The Board has cut the county’s primary property tax rate for a fourth year in a row, to 1.16 (or $116 on a $100,000 home). In 2021, the rate was 1.4.
The county is also seeing financial benefits after two consecutive years of paying down unfunded pension liabilities for retiring government employees in the law enforcement sector. By paying down a significant amount of debt at low interest rates in FY 2023 and 2024, board members have made sure that pension debt will cost taxpayers less in this and future budgets.
“The budget we approved today provides great value to residents by investing in programs and projects that make our community safer and more economically and culturally vibrant," said Supervisor Bill Gates, District 3. "It funds staffing and technology that will ensure safe, secure, and accurate elections in July and November. And we did all that while cutting taxes, too."
Public safety funding makes up 47% of the overall budget, covering core services like law enforcement, jails, probation, courts, and criminal prosecution and defense. Both the County Attorney’s Office and Adult Probation have money in contingency to support the projected growth in staffing needs. A committee established by Chairman Sellers is exploring long-term funding sources for public safety priorities.
Another priority: heat relief. Maricopa County has led the country in identifying and understanding heat-related deaths. After a record number in 2023, the Department of Public Health established a heat relief coordinator position and invested almost $3 million in relief sites around the Valley that stay open later and on weekends. The Human Services Department has budgeted nearly $11 million on heat relief efforts in FY 2025.
Meanwhile, Maricopa County has now allocated all of the federal money it received post-pandemic from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), directing nearly $900 million toward public health and economic recovery efforts.
“Maricopa County has been recognized as one of the best in nation at providing career advancement and workforce development opportunities to residents, and this budget invests nearly $25 million more toward that effort,” said Supervisor Clint Hickman, District 4. “When we train workers for in-demand careers and help people with substantial barriers to employment get the skills they need to get good-paying jobs, our entire community benefits.”
“I’m proud of how we’ve used recovery dollars to increase the affordable housing stock, help people transition out of homelessness, connect folks to new careers and education, and improve the county’s public health infrastructure,” said Supervisor Steve Gallardo, District 5. “Our FY 2025 budget continues funding these key regional priorities that expand access to opportunity for residents regardless of their circ*mstance.”
Major capital projects funded in FY 2025 include a new West Valley Animal Shelter; MCSO substation and warehouse projects; a new Public Health building; parks and library improvements; a remodel of the Southwest Juvenile Detention Facility; and the construction of a new downtown elections center.
As for this year’s election cycle, $29 million is budgeted to support the 2024 primary and general elections in Maricopa County.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on a final budget on June 24. You can find additional details and documents at Maricopa.gov/budget.
