FLAGSTAFF — During the June 16 Council Meeting, the Flagstaff City Council called a Special Election for Nov. 3, 2026 to present two questions to voters. On the ballot, residents will consider two questions related to public safety services; one to increase the local Transaction Privilege Tax (sales tax) by 0.5% to enhance public safety services, and the other to authorize a $40M bond to invest in public safety infrastructure and equipment.
If approved by voters, the 0.5% increase in local sales tax would generate an average of $18.2 million in tax revenue each year for the next 15 years. This funding would support 77 additional public safety positions, such as firefighters, paramedics, wildland fire management personnel, dispatch call takers, and police officers. The 0.5% increase would be the equivalent of an additional 50 cents on a $100 purchase within the City of Flagstaff.
The bond, if approved by voters, would generate $40M in one-time revenue. This funding would support the construction of a Wildland Fire Management Facility, a new fire station to improve current response and address growing community needs, expansion of the Flagstaff Police Department, and a variety of infrastructure projects and public safety equipment improvements. As the issuance of the bond would be within the City’s authorized bonding capacity, there would be no resulting increase in existing property tax rates. Utilizing a bond also reduces the amount needed in a sales tax, keeping the impact to the community as low as possible. An overview of all items that would be funded by sales tax and the bond is available online.
The two public safety ballot questions were recommended to the City Council by the Public Safety Citizens Committee, which has been meeting weekly since November 2025 to review the City’s budget, current public safety expenditures, and public safety needs. To learn more about the work of the Committee and their recommendation, visit connect.flagstaffaz.gov/safety-committee.
For related questions, please contact Shannon Anderson, Assistant City Manager, at SAnderson@flagstaffaz.gov