Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Glendale public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
32 issues in taxes budget
Scholarship Grant to Helping Hands for Single Moms
The Authority is set to consider a scholarship grant to Helping Hands for Single Moms, an organization that helps single parents pay for education. It's public money going toward college or training support for local single-parent families.
Donation to Arizona Humane Society
A donation to the Arizona Humane Society is on the agenda for board action. It would direct Authority funds to animal welfare work in the region.
Committee role in pass-through grant process
The committee will discuss whether it should be included in the process for pass-through grants — money the city receives and passes on to other recipients. Adding the committee to the review could change how those funding decisions are vetted.
2026 Resident and Business Survey Results
Water resources and affordable housing top resident priorities; 91% worry about housing costs. Businesses cite traffic congestion as their biggest pain point and want more police engagement.
Water Services Financial Update & FY27 Budget
Staff presented the FY26 financial report and proposed FY27 operating and capital budgets for Water Services, highlighting a $1.4 million reduction in revenue driven by lower water consumption and conservation.
Human Services Grants audit
A draft audit examining how the city's Human Services Grants are administered will be reviewed. It's about making sure grant dollars reach the residents and programs they're meant for.
Fleet optimization audit
A draft audit on how the city manages and optimizes its vehicle fleet will be reviewed. Better fleet management can mean savings on maintenance, fuel, and replacement costs.
City Finances Update
The city's general fund balance grew to $333 million and the city holds a triple-A credit rating, thanks in part to conservative budgeting. The FY 27 adopted budget is $1.41 billion, with sales tax growth leveling off after big construction years.
MPC Excise Tax Revenue Bond Refunding
The MPC only has about $13.2 million of bonds left outstanding, and neither series can realistically be refinanced for savings. Debt service runs about $3.47 million a year until the bonds are fully paid off by 2033.
Workers' Compensation Trust Fund Financial Health and Insurance Renewal
The board reviewed strong fund balances and approved the upcoming year's excess insurance policy to protect the city against high workers' compensation claims.
Risk Management Trust Fund Revenue, Expenses, and Fund Balance
The fund holds about $22 million — well above the $13 million required confidence level — even after expected losses of roughly $4 million, and the balance is projected to trend down toward target through 2027. Staff also proposed benchmarking liability trends against other Arizona cities.
FY 2026/2027 insurance program savings
The city's property and liability insurance program came in about $652,000 under budget thanks to a new primary carrier, meaning less money tied up in premiums. The board reviewed coverage levels, retentions and cyber insurance layers.
Administratively accepted grants and grant-writing capacity
Grants under $50,000 are accepted administratively, and councilmembers argued the city may be missing out on larger funding because it lacks a dedicated grant writer. The mayor suggested looking at a full-time position next year.
City Investment Portfolio
Glendale's $322 million investment pool is earning about 4% in treasury-heavy, low-risk holdings and brought in over $12 million last year. Council asked how it compares to the state's investment pool.
DOE cooling tower grant funding
A $247,266 Department of Energy grant will help pay for HVAC cooling tower upgrades at city facilities — energy efficiency that trims long-term operating costs.
PSPRS Board Meeting Schedule
Ten new police officers were officially admitted into the public safety retirement system.
City Finances and General Obligation Bond Education
City officials briefed the library board on potential general obligation bond measures for the upcoming fall ballot, discussing how funding could support library facility needs such as the Velma Teague Library. The board will eventually be asked to provide recommendations to the bond committee and city council regarding bond questions and dollar amounts.
FY 2026-27 Proposed Budget and CIP Review
Finance staff presented five-year financial projections and recommended keeping primary and secondary property tax levies flat for the 11th year in a row.
FY 2024-2025 Annual Financial Audit
The internal audit team rolled out a new digital dashboard that lets committee members and city staff check the status of outstanding audit findings in real time. This replaces the old spreadsheet system and makes it easier to track progress across departments like IT, water, and code compliance.
Ad-Hoc Citizen Bond Election Committee
Following a narrow defeat of bond measures, the city council discussed reforming and expanding the citizen bond committee to 21 members, creating subcommittees, and improving voter outreach for a potential 2026 bond election.
Landing Fee Regulations and House Bill 2210
The commission discussed proposed changes to airport landing fees and the potential impact of House Bill 2210, which seeks to restrict using ADS-B tracking data for fee collections. Staff proposed expanding landing fees to itinerant Part 91 aircraft while continuing to exempt based aircraft, military, and public safety.
Library Capital Improvement Plan and Bond Funding
The board evaluated the city's 10-year capital improvement plan and recommended a $75 million bond package to fund major renovations and upgrades at Glendale library branches.
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Tentative Budget
The city adopted a $1.41 billion tentative budget that keeps the primary property tax rate steady while funding operations, capital projects, and debt service. Residents can weigh in on the final budget and property tax levy at public hearings in June.
General Obligation Bond Election Planning for November 2026
The Bond Committee is evaluating whether to recommend putting a general obligation bond measure before voters in November 2026. Members are reviewing capital needs across streets, parks, public safety, and libraries.
Library General Obligation Bond Initiative
The city is considering placing a $50 million library bond measure on the November ballot to fund facility renovations and upgrades, including work at the Velma Teague Library. Polling shows 45% support among voters, leaving officials weighing voter sentiment against critical facility needs.
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget and Property Tax Rates
Glendale is moving forward with a $713 million operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that avoids any property tax rate hikes for the 11th consecutive year. The budget focuses heavily on employee retention, cost-of-living adjustments, and absorbing rising operational costs driven by inflation.
FY 2026-2027 CDBG Public Services Grant Funding Selections
The committee reviewed 16 nonprofit grant applications requesting over $736,000 against roughly $350,000 in available CDBG public services funds. After eliminating non-compliant applications, members agreed to proportionately reduce awards so all remaining vetted programs receive funding support.
Flight School Revenue and Fee Structures
The commission reviewed a report examining potential revenue changes if flight schools were charged per student flight hour rather than a flat monthly fee per plane.
Outstanding Audit Findings Tracking Dashboard
The internal audit team rolled out a new digital dashboard that lets committee members and city staff check the status of outstanding audit findings in real time. This replaces the old spreadsheet system and makes it easier to track progress across departments like IT, water, and code compliance.
Preliminary Transportation Department Budget for FY2026-FY2027
The commission reviewed the preliminary budget for upcoming transportation department spending and projects.
OpenBook Online Budget Transparency
The city launched OpenBook, a new public-facing financial dashboard powered by Questica. Residents can now view real-time spending, sales tax trends, and capital improvement project maps on the city's website.
Potential 2026 Bond Election and Trust for Public Lands Partnership
The committee explored partnering with the Trust for Public Lands to conduct feasibility research, public opinion polling, and assist with a potential 2026 bond measure. Members discussed polling costs, voter sentiment, and how to structure public outreach.