on Buckeye June 2025
on Buckeye the official publication of the city of Buckeye
June 2025
3 Strong Community Strong Finances,
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Buckeye is Booming Investing in our Infrastructure
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Buckeye Bond 2024 at Work
CITY OF BUCKEYE 530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 623.349.6000
COUNCIL UPDATE District 6 Representative Clay Goodman
Planning for Every Dollar T
his edition of Eye on Buckeye is all about our annual city budget— because behind every dollar is a plan to make Buckeye stronger, safer and a better place to call home. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26 totals $819.7 million, covering daily operations, one-time needs, a fully funded governmental five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and a healthy contingency reserve. Once again, the budget is conservative and balanced while ensuring the exceptional services you expect. Preparing this plan is one of the most important things we do each year, and your City Council takes its adoption seriously. I’m proud of the hard work by our team to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility and smart investments in our future. In the coming year, you’ll continue to see priorities like public safety, roads and essential infrastructure take shape through major CIP and Bond funded projects. I encourage you to explore this edition and see how your tax dollars are working to improve daily life in Buckeye.
For more information on this publication, contact John O’Halloran at johalloran@buckeyeaz.gov or call 623.349.6976 BUCKEYE CITY COUNCIL Eric Orsborn, Mayor Tony Youngker, District 1 Jamaine Berry, District 2 Curtis Beard, District 3 Patrick HagEstad, District 4 Craig Heustis, Vice Mayor, District 5 Clay Goodman, District 6
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Strong Finances, Strong Community. Buckeye’s Budget at a Glance BUDGET BREAKDOWN: Total Budget: $819.7 million, 19% increase from last year General Fund: $206 million What’s Covered: Day-to-day services, capital projects, one-time investments and a robust contingency fund Financial Oversight: Guided by national best practices eye on buckeye
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t the core of our planning is a long-term vision for Buckeye’s financial health. We’re focused on ensuring every family, business and visitor can count on reliable city services for years to come. Through proven strategies, we’re building a strong foundation to support our growing city.
BUDGET PRIORITIES: • Conservative revenue estimates • Pay-as-you-go approach for ongoing costs • Fully funded 5-year governmental Capital Improvement Program (CIP) • Reserve fund of 17% for long-term security 3
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? (Resources are made up of current year’s revenue. Fund balance from previous budget years will be carried over.) $19 million Impact Fees $20 million Licenses & Permits
$11.5 million Interest Revenues $4 million Franchise Fees
$24.2 million Property Taxes
$96.6 million from Sales Tax
$27 million Service Charges
$43.5 million Grants
$75.5 million Utility Rates, Fees and Charges
$69 million in Intergovernmental Revenues
WHERE YOUR TAX DOLLARS GO
(Any remaining unallocated revenue will be added to the fund balance and carried over to the next budget cycle.)
53%
Capital Improvement Projects
$
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437.5M
19%
Daily Business Operations
$
158M
17%
$
Personnel
4%
Debt Services
4
3%
%
Budget Contingency Authority
138.5M $32.9M $32.8M
$
20M
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Buckeye is Booming: Growth & Development on the Rise! W
One of Arizona’s fastest growing cities
ith strong financial footing and continued momentum, here’s a look at the exciting growth shaping Buckeye: • Housing: Estimated 2,900 new home permits, including singleand multi-family options in 2025. • Retail & Services: Over nine million square feet of new development, creating thousands of jobs. • Verrado Marketplace: Featuring national retailers, restaurants and entertainment including Target, Harkins and Safeway with the first doors opening in 2026. • Buckeye Commons: Costco, Home Depot and more topname stores and restaurants are on the way.
Population 119,000 (2024 est.)
Median Age 35.8
• Healthcare: Abrazo’s new 60,000 sq. ft. medical office building is now open on Verrado Way and Roosevelt with more medical additions to come.
Average Household Income: $122,756
Buckeye is a community of limitless possibilities! With so much growth on the horizon, the best is yet to come. Verrado Marketplace construction, May 2025
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Single Family Permits 2,300 (2024 est.)
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Investing in our Infrastructure: Fire Station 707 In February, Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue celebrated the grand opening of Fire Station 707 in the Blue Horizons community. This new station enhances service coverage in the city’s southern and western areas and is expected to significantly reduce emergency response times.
Police Department Communications Building In January 2024, Buckeye broke ground on a new stateof-the-art communications center. Once operational this summer, the facility will serve as the city’s emergency dispatch hub—empowering Buckeye’s dedicated dispatchers to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies, ultimately improving public safety citywide.
Farallon Water Campus To meet future water demands, Buckeye is launching the Farallon Water Campus near Rooks Road and Southern Avenue, which will be operational this summer. This new facility will expand the city’s water infrastructure and ensure long-term sustainability for our growing community.
Road Improvements
This year’s budget dedicates a significant portion of the Capital Improvement Program to improving traffic flow across the city. One of the most anticipated projects is the extension of McDowell Road from Jackrabbit Trail to Verrado Way. Construction is already underway and expected to be completed later this year, providing a much-needed east-west connection through Buckeye. Additional key projects include widening Jackrabbit Trail north of McDowell Road and Verrado Way north of Yuma Road, along with installing new traffic signals at key intersections to improve safety and efficiency.
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Building a Brighter Buckeye B
uckeye’s commitment to your well-being is clear in this year’s budget. We’re focused on long-term financial strength, with: • • • •
Balanced Budget: Responsible spending ensures your tax dollars go a long way. Conservative Estimates: We plan, using realistic income projections. Healthy Reserves: We have strong savings to weather any challenges. Investing in What Matters: We’re funding infrastructure, services and employees to keep Buckeye thriving.
This $819 million budget aligns with the City Council’s goals, and it means better services for you, a stronger economy, a safer community and a bright future for all. We’re excited to build a safe and sustainable Buckeye together!
Buckeye invests in Great People!
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uckeye’s workforce is growing with the community. This year’s budget adds 67 new full-time equivalent positions to help us continue delivering high-quality services. From public safety to development services, we’re investing in people who serve you every day.
City of Buckerye Public Works Department
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530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326
Buckeye Bond 2024 at Work I
n the November 2024 General Election, Buckeye residents overwhelmingly approved the city’s first General Obligation (GO) Bond in nearly four decades. The city is now preparing for the first bond issuance—$75 million, scheduled for June 2025. The initial funds will support several high-priority projects, including: • Construction of the new Victory Fire Station, located at Indian School Road and Acacia Way • Construction of a new fire station near the Westpark neighborhood • Lighting along Sun Valley Parkway near Tartesso • Multiple street and transportation improvements, such as pinch point removal with added lanes on Jackrabbit Trail, Verrado Way and Watson Road These investments reflect our commitment to public safety, infrastructure and smart growth for Buckeye’s future. Learn more about the bond and upcoming projects at buckeyeaz.gov/bond.
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