If passed by voters, proposed Tempe sales tax would fund preschool program expansion

A proposed Tempe sales tax would allow the city to expand its preschool program, opening more spots for local families.

Twenty percent of the proposed 0.5% tax would be set aside specifically for the city’s Tempe PRE program, which provides a full-day preschool program with free and half-tuition options for eligible families based on income.

“This tax would raise probably $10 million per year into the program. So, we’re looking at a significant increase to the capacity and the number of children that we’re able to serve,” Tempe Councilman Randy Keating told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Keating said that as childcare gets more expensive, having an affordable option for Tempe families is essential. Preschool not only provides a learning environment for young children, but also helps give their parents the ability to work full days, he said.

More than 3,000 children ages 3 and 4 live in Tempe, according to city officials, with about 200 currently enrolled in Tempe PRE.

Tempe sales tax would fund preschool, public safety, transportation

The Tempe City Council voted 6-1 last week to put a the sales tax plan on the Nov. 3 ballot. It tax would add 50 cents to every $100 spent in the city.

In addition to bolstering the preschool program, it would fund public safety and transportation projects.

Tempe officials say the measure is needed to replace revenue lost after the state cut its income tax rate — which reduced state funding to cities — and banned local governments from imposing taxes on rent.

Keating said that although new taxes always faced some backlash, the city’s residents are united when it comes to the impact on the preschool program.

“Tempe sees our population pretty much double during the day. … So, the burden won’t be completely borne by only Tempe residents, but by the visitors who come into the city. So, we felt that this was the best way to kind of spread the burden around as Tempe continues to grow,” he said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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