tempe bond proposal designed to fund array of infrastructure projects

Members of the Tempe City Council have given their approval to putting on this November’s ballot a bond question that, if passed, will fund everything from street improvements to park and wastewater treatment facility upgrades.

The ballot proposal for the big $349 million bond will be divided into five parts, the first of which will ask $134 million for maintaining and improving the city’s wastewater treatment plants, as well as the city’s water distribution and storage infrastructure.

Some $74 million will go for street and storm drain improvements, including the upgrading of bridges, pedestrian access trails, bike paths, streets and avenues, as well as the improvement of traffic control systems throughout the city.

Exactly $34 million will target what is being called “public safety projects” that include improving the city’s hardware and software systems.

Park and community services improvements, including the upgrading of park recreation infrastructure and landscaping, as well as new lighting, is set for $45 million.

The last part of the ballot proposal is asking $62 million for municipal infrastructure preservation, including everything from the rehabilitation of existing city buildings and landscape to the replacement of inefficient HVAC systems in many of those same structures.
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Although no surveys have yet been released regarding potential voter support for the bond, voters in the city in 2016 overwhelmingly gave their approval to a similar $254 million bond package.

​By Garry Boulard

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