Disclaimer: The comments in this blog are my personal opinion and may or may not reflect an adopted position of the city of Glendale and its city council.
Please note: I have not posted in the past few months due to a family member’s medical emergency. The situation has stabilized, granting me the freedom to write about Glendale, its people, places and events, once again.
On November 4, 2025, Glendale is on your ballot regarding two bond questions. Let’s start with what are bonds. Bonds are a way for cities to pay for large, expensive capital projects like the construction or renovation of city buildings. The city sells the bonds to investors and pays the investors back with interest over 20 to 25 years.
Glendale is seeking voter approval for two bond questions. Question 1 asks you to approve an investment of $30 million for flood control. In late September of this year, we experienced heavy monsoon storms that caused flooding throughout the city. One of the hardest hit areas was the Grand Avenue, Bethany Home Road, and 43rd Avenue intersection. Once again, streets and businesses were flooded. This area needs some permanent relief and funds approved from Question 1 will provide a permanent solution.
Question 2 asks you to approve an investment of $35 million for the city’s operations campus. It is a 40-year-old campus in need of major renovation. One of the most critical elements is replacing swamp coolers with air conditioning. Yes, our employees work in buildings that still use old, swamp coolers and we all know how ineffective that is during the monsoon season when the humidity is high. Some of these 40-year-old buildings have never been renovated.
The first question always asked, is, will these bonds raise my property taxes? The answer is no for two reasons. One, the city has a self-imposed debt limit. This means that the city will not issue new bond debt until old bond debt is paid off. By keeping the debt limit constant, the debt payments remain at the same level and no property tax increase is required. Two, the city council passed a resolution that publicly pledges that the debt limit will remain constant to insure that property taxes do not increase.
I pulled up my most recent property tax bill reflecting 2025. My bill is $3700, and Glendale’s portion is $306.69 or 10% of my entire bill. By way of contrast, schools/education are $2843.32 or 77% of my property tax bill. The remaining portion or 13% is for the county and special districts. It should be noted that Tolleson education increased year over year by 89% and community college education increased by 57%. As you will note, Glendale’s portion is low and the major reason for an annual increase in your property tax can be attributed to education assessments that grow from year to year.
When you receive your mail in ballot in early October it will be long and full of all kinds of office seekers and questions. Glendale’s bond questions will be at the very end of your ballot. Please take the time to find them, vote yes, and mail your ballot back promptly. It is important and you can make the difference.
Glendale’s bond questions 1 and 2 are for critical needs within our community. I am voting yes on both questions. As Chairperson of the 2025 Glendale Bond Committee, I know how important these needs are. I urge you to join me in voting yes on Glendale bond questions 1 and 2.
© Joyce Clark, 2025
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