The Chamber of Southern Arizona today announces its support for five propositions on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Propositions 421, 422, 425, 427 and 430.
Representing more than 1,400 member businesses and the people who power them, The Chamber urges voters to say YES to all five. These measures together will strengthen the regional workforce, preserve vital infrastructure and keep Southern Arizona competitive for years to come.
These measures are about the real people who make our region work: the paramedic student training in an outdated facility, the welder or IT technician our employers urgently need to hire, the family visiting a world-class zoo and the business owner who depends on well-maintained roads and a government that delivers services efficiently.
“Southern Arizona is at an inflection point. Our workforce pipeline, our infrastructure and our quality of life are all on the ballot this November,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, The Chamber of Southern Arizona. “The Chamber is proud to stand behind these five measures because we know what it takes to keep businesses growing and to attract new investment to our region. Each of these propositions delivers direct, tangible benefits to the people who live and work here and together, they make a powerful statement about what kind of community we choose to be.”
Proposition 421 — Tucson Electric Power Franchise Agreement Renewal
Reliable, affordable electricity is the foundation on which every business in Tucson operates. Proposition 421 renews the long-standing franchise agreement between Tucson Electric Power and the City of Tucson, an agreement that allows TEP crews to access public rights-of-way to perform repairs and maintenance without navigating job-by-job city permitting delays. The current agreement expires in April 2027; without renewal, routine power restoration could take weeks instead of hours, with real consequences for businesses, employers and residents across the city. Proposition 421 does not increase electric rates or create new customer fees. Also, the measure locks in $2 million per year from TEP dedicated to heat-resilient infrastructure and sustainability projects, a direct benefit to Tucson at no additional cost. Vote YES on Proposition 421.
Proposition 422 — Reid Park Zoo Sales Tax Reauthorization
Reid Park Zoo draws more than 600,000 visitors each year making it the most-visited cultural attraction in Southern Arizona and a significant driver of activity for local hotels, restaurants and retail businesses. Proposition 422 does not create a new tax or raise the existing rate. It reauthorizes the existing 0.1% sales tax for 20 years, ensuring continued investment in one of Tucson’s most beloved and economically significant assets. Vote YES on Proposition 422.
Proposition 425 — Pima County Expenditure Limit Adjustment
Proposition 425 is not a tax increase. Without this adjustment, Pima County will hit its state-mandated spending cap within two years and will be forced to rely on debt financing for routine capital needs, namely roads, flood control, wastewater and public safety equipment, that are far cheaper to fund directly. Seven other Arizona counties, including Maricopa, have already taken this step. The County has earned fiscal trust: development services fees are down 28% over six years and the combined tax rate is on track to be 69 cents lower over the 2017–2027 period. A vote YES preserves fiscal efficiency; a vote NO increases long-term costs for taxpayers. Vote YES on Proposition 425.
Proposition 427 — Pima JTED $250 Million Bond
Employers across Southern Arizona, in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, welding, mining and technology, consistently tell the Chamber they need skilled workers. Pima JTED serves roughly 32,000 students across the region, with wait lists of 800 to 1,000 students at its central campus alone. JTED students graduate at a 97–98% rate, compared to a 73% county average. This bond, the district’s first ever, would fund new and expanded training facilities aligned with regional employer demand, including a new Southern Regional Tech Center focused on mining and heavy industry. Because JTED receives no state building funds, this bond is the only path to the expanded capacity our workforce requires. Vote YES on Proposition 427.
Proposition 430 — Pima Community College $250 Million Bond
Pima Community College is the front door to higher education and career training for tens of thousands of Southern Arizonans. PCC’s first bond election in more than 30 years would fund new Centers of Excellence in cyber and IT, STEM, the arts and public safety, including a modern first-responder training center to replace a substandard 1950s-era leased facility. It also addresses $56 million in long-deferred maintenance on aging campus infrastructure and refinances existing debt at a projected savings of $2.8 million, freeing up $4 million annually for operations. Vote YES on Proposition 430.
A Unified Vision for Southern Arizona’s Future
These five measures are mutually reinforcing. A skilled workforce needs modern training facilities. A competitive economy needs the quality-of-life assets that attract and retain talent. Sound county finances ensure the infrastructure and public safety that businesses depend on every day. These are not isolated ballot measures, they are the building blocks of a stronger, more competitive Southern Arizona.
The Chamber of Southern Arizona urges all Pima County and City of Tucson voters to vote YES on Propositions 421, 422, 425, 427 and 430 on November 3, 2026.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Laura Shaw, Chief Communications Officer
520-609-5972 or lshaw@thechambersoaz.com
