Thomas Galvin Says County Cut Taxes While Boosting Public-Safety Investment; Housing Rules to Be Updated

Thomas Galvin, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, told an audience at the Greater Phoenix Chamber—s 2025 State of the County address that the county has cut its overall tax rate while increasing investment in public safety.

"We cut the overall tax rate, and we increased investment in public safety," Galvin said. "We continue to prioritize long term capital investments, including parks, elections, and transportation that improve the quality of life for residents." Galvin characterized those spending priorities as part of the county—s approach to long-term capital investment.

Galvin said the county is removing what he described as "outdated requirements in order to meet the demands of the housing market." He also said an existing public-safety tax expires next year and that a renewal of that tax would be used to fund correctional health services, criminal-justice data systems and diversion programs through the county—s adult and juvenile probation departments. Galvin did not specify the tax rate, the renewal ballot language, or the timeline for placing a renewal measure before voters.

The remarks at the Chamber event were an announcement of priorities, not a formal vote. There was no motion, ordinance or other recorded county action during the address; Galvin described planned policy directions and funding priorities the county intends to pursue. Funding amounts, ballot language and implementation schedules were not provided in the address and remain to be specified by county staff or future board action.

What Galvin described as public-safety funding priorities include correctional health services, criminal-justice data systems and diversion programs. He tied those items to the renewal of the existing public-safety tax, which he said expires next year. The address did not include details on the current tax—s rate, the specific costs of the programs named, or whether state or federal approvals would be required for any described initiatives.

County officials and staff will need to present formal proposals and any ballot language to the Board of Supervisors before the public-safety tax renewal could be finalized. Galvin—s summary framed the items as priorities for the county rather than final decisions.