The Election is Over – Now What

Thanks to everyone who voted in Goodyear's Special Election on May 20. Now that it's over, you might be wondering what it all means and what happens next. With all the ballots now processed, here's a quick breakdown of how the community voted and how each result could impact you.

Charter Amendment Results

Question #1: Land Use and Development

• NO - 51.49% | YES - 48.51%
• Outcome: The city charter will remain unchanged.
• The Goodyear City Council will continue to make land use, zoning, and planning decisions based on existing laws and processes rather than it being formally added to the city charter. Examples of these types of decisions could include: the height of a building in the city, the type of landscaping and outdoor lighting associated with a project, how a parcel of land should be used (commercial, residential, etc.), providing neighborhood parks, and the architectural design of buildings. The council will continue to refer to the city's voter-approved General Plan for guidance.

Question #2: Council Compensation and Benefits

• NO - 59.44% | YES - 40.56%
• Outcome: The city charter will remain unchanged.
• The Council Compensation Committee will continue recommending salary changes only, rather than making recommendations on both salaries and benefits, and salary changes over 5.1% will still need voter approval.

Question #3: City Department Changes

• NO - 58.27% | YES - 41.73%
• Outcome: The city charter will remain unchanged.
• The city council will continue to be able to create, combine, modify, or eliminate city departments rather than the city manager having that ability.

Question #4: City Revenue and Bond Rules

• YES - 51.23% | NO - 48.77%
• Outcome: The city charter will be updated.
• The charter will now list detailed categories of current taxes and revenue sources the city receives, and existing rules for approving and issuing bonds will be clarified in the charter.

Franchise Agreements

Question #5: Franchise Agreement with EPCOR

• YES - 57.12% | NO - 42.88%
• Outcome: Agreement approved.
• EPCOR Water Arizona, Inc. is authorized to use public streets to operate water and wastewater systems in Goodyear, paying the city a 3% annual fee based on earnings. The money will go into the city's General Fund to help pay for critical services like public safety, streets and parks. The agreement starts once the council canvasses the vote on Monday, June 9 and lasts 25 years.

Question #6: Franchise Agreement with Liberty Utilities

• YES - 59.74% | NO - 40.26%
• Outcome: Agreement approved.
• Liberty Utilities is authorized to use public streets to operate water and wastewater systems in Goodyear, paying the city a 3% annual fee based on earnings. The agreement lasts 25 years. The money will go into the city's General Fund to help pay for critical services like public safety, streets and parks. The agreement starts once the council canvasses the vote on Monday, June 9 and lasts 25 years.

What's Next?

The Goodyear City Council will canvass the vote on Monday, June 9, formally finalizing the election results. Franchise agreements will take effect following this canvass. The voter-approved charter change will proceed to the Governor's Office for review and implementation to ensure consistency with Arizona state law.

Thank You, Goodyear Voters!

Your voice matters-and you showed up! A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this election. Your voice helps shape the policies and partnerships that guide our city's future. Your engagement is a powerful reminder of how democracy works best-with an informed, active community.