Chandler council sets home-rule question for November ballot after public hearing
February 27, 2026 | Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona
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The Chandler City Council voted unanimously in a special meeting Feb. 26 to recommend placing a local alternative expenditure limitation (home rule) on the Nov. 3, 2026 general-election ballot.
Sylvia Dyatt, the city's budget and research administrator, led the second public hearing and told council that Chandler has historically used the local home-rule option since 1982, most recently approved by voters in August 2022. She said home rule allows the council to base budget decisions on current revenues and priorities rather than a statutory spending cap tied to the 1979-80 base year adjusted for inflation and population.
"When comparing this to the city's anticipated fiscal year 27/28 expenditures of about $1,100,000,000, the preliminary projected amount over the state limits is about $232,000,000," Dyatt said, describing the preliminary fiscal gap staff modeled if the city were constrained to the state formula. She noted the state-computed maximum without exclusions was roughly $350 million and with typical exclusions rose to about $873 million, while Chandler's projected expenditures exceed that amount.
Dyatt walked council through the timetable for placing home rule on the ballot, including required financial worksheets and the argument-filing window; she reminded council that the city may also pursue a one-time override in an off-year election if necessary. That timeline and staff recommendations were followed by a special-meeting motion to submit resolution 5988 to place the home-rule option before voters. Council member Orlando moved the resolution and Council member Hawkins seconded; the motion passed on a unanimous vote.
What happens next: If the council's action remains in place, staff will submit the required financial documentation to the state auditor general and prepare ballot materials for voter information ahead of the November election. If voters approve home rule, the council will retain local flexibility for budget decisions; if they decline, the city would need to identify $232 million in expenditure reductions in staff's preliminary estimate to meet the state limit.
Vote: Resolution 5988 to place the home-rule question on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot passed unanimously.
Sylvia Dyatt, the city's budget and research administrator, led the second public hearing and told council that Chandler has historically used the local home-rule option since 1982, most recently approved by voters in August 2022. She said home rule allows the council to base budget decisions on current revenues and priorities rather than a statutory spending cap tied to the 1979-80 base year adjusted for inflation and population.
"When comparing this to the city's anticipated fiscal year 27/28 expenditures of about $1,100,000,000, the preliminary projected amount over the state limits is about $232,000,000," Dyatt said, describing the preliminary fiscal gap staff modeled if the city were constrained to the state formula. She noted the state-computed maximum without exclusions was roughly $350 million and with typical exclusions rose to about $873 million, while Chandler's projected expenditures exceed that amount.
Dyatt walked council through the timetable for placing home rule on the ballot, including required financial worksheets and the argument-filing window; she reminded council that the city may also pursue a one-time override in an off-year election if necessary. That timeline and staff recommendations were followed by a special-meeting motion to submit resolution 5988 to place the home-rule option before voters. Council member Orlando moved the resolution and Council member Hawkins seconded; the motion passed on a unanimous vote.
What happens next: If the council's action remains in place, staff will submit the required financial documentation to the state auditor general and prepare ballot materials for voter information ahead of the November election. If voters approve home rule, the council will retain local flexibility for budget decisions; if they decline, the city would need to identify $232 million in expenditure reductions in staff's preliminary estimate to meet the state limit.
Vote: Resolution 5988 to place the home-rule question on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot passed unanimously.
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