A bipartisan coalition of Pima County leaders has banded together to fight Proposition 425, a ballot measure that supporters describe as a modest $70 million adjustment to the county's permanent spending limit but that critics say could actually let the county's annual spending ceiling balloon by more than $610 million. Early voting is already underway ahead of the November 3 general election, and the fight over how to characterize the measure's true size has become the central issue of the campaign.
The opposition campaign includes Republican co-chair Jay Tolkoff, Democratic state senator and co-chair Sally Gonzales, and former state senator and co-chair Luis Gonzales, according to KVOA. The station reports that Proposition 425 would raise Pima County's permanent base limit on spending allowed under Arizona law, and that while supporters frame the increase as $70 million applied to the county's 1979-1980 expenditure base, opponents warn the constitutional formula could push the real annual increase past $610 million every year going forward.
Official county ballot documentation backs up that larger figure: approving Proposition 425 would increase Pima County's spending limit for Fiscal Year 2027–2028 specifically by $610,086,481, expanding the ceiling from $817,131,286 to $1,427,217,767, according to Pima County. That jump stems from how Arizona's constitutional formula compounds a base-year adjustment with decades of population growth and inflation, rather than applying the $70 million figure on its own.
Why the County Says It Needs the Increase
Pima County has not asked voters to adjust its expenditure base since the statewide spending limit framework was established in 1980, making Proposition 425 the county's first base adjustment request in 46 years, per Tucson Spotlight. County financial disclosures project Pima County will spend about $84.1 million above its current unadjusted spending cap in Fiscal Year 2027–2028, drawing on $21.87 million in state revenues and $62.24 million in existing local revenues rather than new tax rates, the outlet's report notes.
County officials have said they estimate needing only a 10% to 20% base increase to meet operational needs over the next few years, but they requested a $70 million base adjustment specifically to provide spending authority expected to last at least 20 years, the same report states. The thinking, per that account, is that a single larger increase avoids forcing the county back to voters repeatedly in the coming decades.
The underlying legal mechanism traces to Article IX, Section 20 of the Arizona Constitution, adopted by state voters in June 1980, which limits annual county expenditures from local revenues to 1979–1980 baseline levels adjusted annually for population growth and inflation, according to the Arizona State Legislature. That constitutional rule is why a comparatively small base change can compound into hundreds of millions of dollars in added annual spending authority.
Opponents Cite Accountability Concerns
Proposition 425 opponents argue the measure would provide little accountability and could leave voters open to wasteful pet projects, per KVOA's reporting. The coalition believes the decision should be made by voters rather than future officials, who the group says could otherwise redirect the money without asking voters, according to the station.
That critique has drawn institutional backing. The Goldwater Institute publicly criticized Proposition 425 in October 2026, arguing that describing the measure as a minor base adjustment conceals a 75% spending cap expansion that undermines long-term budgetary discipline, per the Goldwater Institute.
How Pima County Compares to Other Counties
Seven of Arizona's 15 counties have previously passed expenditure base adjustments. Yuma County is placing a similar expenditure limit adjustment measure before voters in the same November 2026 election.
Many of Arizona's cities and towns have sought expenditure limit adjustments or alternative limitations. Pima County itself has never previously sought an expenditure base adjustment.
What Happens If Voters Say No
If voters reject Proposition 425, Pima County could have to turn to debt financing to fund services. Certain bond-related amounts are excluded from local revenues in constitutional expenditure cap calculations.
Pima County opened early voting for Proposition 425 on October 7, ahead of the November 3 general election, following an August 5 deadline for public publicity pamphlet argument submissions, per county election records. Official publicity pamphlets containing voter arguments were mailed to all registered voter households in Pima County ahead of the vote.
