Home Rule

Proposition 479: Home Rule - Alternative Expenditure Limitation

Read Proposition 479 Ballot Language(PDF, 75KB)

What is the Alternative Expenditure Limitation or "Home Rule" Option?

In 1980, Arizona voters approved a tax reform package that placed an expenditure limitation on cities and towns. The municipal budget is limited by this state-imposed expenditure ceiling. This means a city or town can only spend a certain amount of their total revenues to pay for government services.

However, local residents can vote to approve an exception for the state-imposed expenditure limitation amount. This exception is known as the Alternative Expenditure Limitation or Home Rule option. Under the Home Rule, a municipal government can determine its own expenditure levels based on its own budget needs.

Why is Home Rule on the August 4, 2020 Primary Election Ballot?

Every four years, a city or town seeking to adopt their alternative expenditure limitation must present the Home Rule Option to local voters. Since 1985, the voters of the Town of Marana have approved the Home Rule Option - Alternative Expenditure Limitation. The last time Marana Voters passed the Home Rule Option was 2016.

To keep the Home Rule Option active, voters must approve the Alternative Expenditure Limitation again during the August 4, 2020 Primary Election.

What specifically does Home Rule do for the Town of Marana?

Home Rule allows the Town of Marana to create a local budget using all its available revenue sources in an effort that adequately provides funding for key town services, such as police, pavement preservation, parks and recreation, and many other valuable services residents and business rely on.

Home Rule gives the Marana Town Council the freedom to adopt a budget that reflects Marana’s specific funding priorities and that is not limited by the State-imposed funding formula.

Will adoption of the Home Rule Option raise my taxes?

The adoption of Home Rule option will not raise taxes for Marana residents.

What happens if Home Rule is not approved by Marana voters?

If Marana Voters fail to approve the Home Rule Option, then the Town of Marana will revert to the State Imposed Limitation budget. This means the Town of Marana would not be able to expend all the revenues it collects to fund essential services for residents.

The state-imposed limitation for FY2021-2022 is projected at $23.3 million, plus expenditures of constitutionally excludable revenues of $52.5 million, for total estimated expenditures allowed under the State imposed limit of $75.8 million (See State-Imposed Expenditure Limitation Chart for more details). The Town’s estimated budget for FY2021-2022 is $139.5, resulting in $63.7 million which cannot be spent.

Because the state-imposed limitation does not consider current service levels or community needs based on growth, the Town would not be allowed to fund services that Marana residents have come to expect. The Town Council would have to decide on reducing services that range from recreation amenities and programs, signature events, public safety and the Town’s roads network.

What happens if Marana voters approve Home Rule?

If Marana voters approve the Home Rule Option, it will allow the Town the capacity to spend collected funds based upon existing revenue streams. The Mayor and Council will continue to adopt operating budgets that reflect the needs of the Marana community, and will continue to spend revenues for the benefit of Marana residents by funding all Town services at the levels deemed appropriate by the Town Council. Each year, the Town of Marana will set its expenditure limit through a transparent public process and using sound budgetary practices and available revenues.