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Landmark day • Tuesday, November 5, 2019

November 5, 2019: After a Decade of No, a $319 Million Yes

With every council member signed on, voters approve the first big bond package for city projects since 2000.

Illustrated plaque for November 5, 2019 in Scottsdale history NOVEMBER 5 2019 THE NEW WEST

What happened

In an all-mail special election on November 5, 2019, Scottsdale voters approved three general obligation bond questions called by the council in Resolution 11434: Question 1, $112.6 million for parks, recreation and senior services, 38,304 to 16,971; Question 2, $112.3 million for community spaces and infrastructure, 37,247 to 17,957; and Question 3, $94.1 million for public safety and technology, 39,422 to 14,795. Turnout was 32.10 percent of 173,708 registered voters. The package covered 58 projects, and all seven council members signed arguments for it.

Why it matters

It ended a decade in which Scottsdale voters had refused nearly every bond: both questions in 2010, when no one even filed an argument against them, all four in 2013, and four of six in 2015. The council's own former opponents, Guy Phillips and Kathy Littlefield, helped write this one.

A decade of no

Apart from the Preserve bonds tied to the 2004 sales tax, Scottsdale voters had not approved a bond package for city projects since 2000. In November 2010 they rejected two questions worth $63.6 million, though no one had filed an argument against either. In 2013 they rejected all four questions, $212.1 million for 39 projects, after Councilman Bob Littlefield, Kathy Littlefield and Councilman Guy Phillips campaigned against them; Phillips wrote of feeding “the pork monsters of our city.” In 2015 they approved only two of six questions, $28.85 million for pavement and fire.

The package

In January 2019 a council subcommittee of Suzanne Klapp, Guy Phillips and Kathy Littlefield began with “a list of 67 potential city construction projects.” After six open houses and online ranking, the council agreed unanimously to ask for up to $319 million for 58 projects in three questions. Every member signed an argument for them. Phillips explained his reversal: “Initially I was apprehensive to ask you to vote in favor because I have been a vocal opponent against past bond measures … there may be three questions but there is only ONE Scottsdale!” Littlefield wrote: “I also demanded more citizen input.” Linda Milhaven: “All seven City Council members agree that investment is needed.” The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale, which had campaigned for the 2018 Preserve initiative, signed for the bonds alongside the Chamber of Commerce and the REALTORS; the campaign committee, For The Best Scottsdale, was co-chaired by former Councilman Dennis Robbins.

Only two arguments were filed against, both on Question 1. John Washington called the three questions “a shell game of ‘groups’”; another signer objected that the council “cloaks them into 3 questions” instead of listing each project.

The vote

All three passed: 38,304 to 16,971 for parks, 37,247 to 17,957 for community spaces and 39,422 to 14,795 for public safety. The 2010s politics chapter tells the whole bond decade, and the budget guide explains how bonds are repaid.