Chandler City Council Approves $1.6 Billion Budget and Capital Program, Touts Tax Rate Reduction and Infrastructure Enhancements

The Chandler City Council has given the green light to its budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, as well as its 10-year Capital Improvement Program. According to the official City of Chandler website, the budget consists of $783.2 million earmarked for operations and a hefty $845.7 million dedicated to capital enhancements.

One of the key takeaways is the continued reduction of Chandler’s property tax rate. Marking its tenth year in decline, the new rate sits at $1.0818 per $100 of assessed value. This outstrips the already notable fact that Chandler boasts the lowest general sales tax rate in the state at 1.5%, not to mention the lowest overall cost of government services among large Valley cities, calculated based on utility rates and taxes paid. Ensuring a structurally balanced budget, the city has adjusted its fiscal plan to brace for continued inflation, all the while maintaining its enviable AAA bond rating from all three rating agencies.

The capital improvement splurge includes several projects such as the creation of Mesquite Groves Park's first phase, an overhaul of Dr. A. J. Chandler Park in the downtown area, and enhancements to existing sports fields and additional refurbishments in parks across the city. Traffic flow and road quality will see upgrades too, with street repaving and major road work planned at the intersection of Ray and Dobson roads, along with expansions to both Lindsay and Alma School roads in the southern part of Chandler.

Moreover, the budget includes investment in public safety and utilities, with funds allocated for designing a Chandler Police Forensics Facility and acquiring fresh emergency response vehicles for fire and police services. Chandler's water and wastewater facilities and infrastructure are also slated for updates. These initiatives tie in neatly with the plan to bolster the ranks of first responders in anticipation of forthcoming retirements and plow a one-time payment of up to $25 million into the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System to sustain its fully funded status.