Council Work Session focuses on State…

Dec. 10, 2024

CHANDLER, Ariz. - A recent City Council work session offered insight about Chandler's state and federal legislative priorities to safeguard local governance, promote economic development and ensure fiscal sustainability.

Protecting local authority and preserving local revenue remain key priorities for Chandler and offer a lens by which to evaluate proposed legislation. Chandler has endured challenging economic conditions due to its diverse tax base that features the lowest sales tax rate in Arizona and the lowest combined costs of municipal services in the Valley.

Mayor Kevin Hartke also serves as the executive committee president of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council. These roles provide a state and regional perspective on ways proposed legislation may affect cities and towns.

With new legislative sessions set to begin in January, Chandler's leaders aim to work collaboratively with state and federal policymakers to advance priorities that benefit its residents and businesses.

The City Council discussed priorities for the upcoming legislative session, including housing, land use planning, water and other topics of local interest. Key priorities include:

Protect Local Authority and Revenues

• Advocate for the preservation of state-shared revenues and the authority to determine local revenue sources.
• Oppose unfunded mandates and legislative actions that impact local fiscal control and growth management.
• Protect local authority in land use planning.

Economic Development

• Encourage tools to support infill, redevelopment and adaptive reuse projects.
• Promote policies that enhance Chandler's competitiveness and strengthen its economic ecosystem.
• Preserve local decision-making authority on development projects.

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Support regionally coordinated planning.
• Defend against actions that limit local control in transportation decision-making.

Water and Environmental Resources

• Preserve investments in water infrastructure and resources to ensure long-term water security.
• Promote conservation and safe, reliable water services for residents.

Public Safety

• Ensure the city can strategically plan for emergencies while protecting community safety.

Neighborhood Quality of Life

• Support measures that enhance the quality of life in Chandler's neighborhoods.
• Protect the rights of residents to engage with their local government on policy matters.

At the federal level, Chandler will seek to secure funding for city projects, support the CHIPS Act implementation and advocate for actions that promote Chandler's housing initiatives, expand housing tax credits and preserve municipal bond tax exemptions.

Link to Legislative Agenda Presentation.