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Sahuarita outlines $66 million Proposition 403 bond package for parks, public safety and town facilities
Summary
The Town of Sahuarita is seeking voter approval of Proposition 403, a proposed $66 million general obligation bond on the November ballot to fund a recreation center, expanded trails, park upgrades, courts, police department expansion and facility improvements; estimated average homeowner cost: $17.12 per month.
A town staff member announced that the Town of Sahuarita will ask voters to approve Proposition 403, a proposed $66 million general obligation (G.O.) bond package, on the November general election ballot. The package, which the Sahuarita mayor and Town Council compiled after community input and planning, would fund seven projects across recreation, public safety and town facilities.
The presentation said the proposed projects include a new multigenerational recreation center with aquatics, a gymnasium and fitness spaces; expanded development of the town's trail system to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity; upgrades to an existing park that would add artificial turf, batting cages, replacement bleachers and a concession stand; and a new sports court complex with numerous courts for pickleball and other court sports. Additional items listed were expansion of the police department building to replace aging systems and add capacity, a new centralized Public Works facility with a climate-controlled garage for maintenance fleet staff, and enhancements to Town Hall to add staff capacity and improve energy efficiency.
According to the presentation, Proposition 403 would authorize the Town of Sahuarita to issue up to $66 million in bonds. The town said it has set aside an additional $10 million in local funds to contribute to the listed projects. Bond proceeds would be repaid over 25 years through collection of secondary property taxes, a structure the presentation compared to a household mortgage spread over time.
Citing Pima County assessed-value data used in the town's example, the presentation estimated an average assessed home value of about $232,000 and calculated a rough average cost to the typical homeowner of approximately $17.12 per month over the life of the bonds, if the measure is approved. The presenter emphasized that this figure is an estimate based on that assessed-value example and that actual tax impacts will vary by property.
Town officials encouraged residents to review the full November ballot and to consult the town's information site, SahuaritaBonds2024.info, for details on the projects and the bond proposal. If voters approve Proposition 403, the town would proceed with issuing authorized G.O. bonds and begin planning the listed capital projects; if voters do not approve it, the town would not issue the bonds as described.
The town presentation framed the proposal as a way to accelerate needed capital work to avoid higher future construction costs and to distribute costs across current and future residents. The town did not announce a construction schedule or specific contractors in the presentation; those implementation details were described as to be determined following voter approval.
