Proposition 418: Public Safety Bond

What a yes or no vote means

Newer research update

OWVAZ reviewed additional 2025–2026 public materials after this page was first drafted. Those records add useful context, but they do not change the core conclusion of this page.

The newer records indicate that Proposition 418 is closely related to Avondale’s earlier 2025 public-safety bond question, Proposition 405. Prop 405 also sought up to $55 million in general obligation bond authority for public-safety projects. A 2026 city release states that City Council later placed Proposition 418 on the November 3, 2026 ballot for public safety and court-related infrastructure.

The 2026 city release describes proposed uses more broadly than the short public project list. It refers to fire stations and training facilities, public safety and court facilities, equipment, technology and communication systems, land acquisition, and site improvements. That broader language matters because it may leave the City with discretion to fund public-safety capital items that fit within the final voter-approved purpose.

The recurring public-facing project list remains facilities-heavy:

• Southern Avondale / Alamar fire-police substation
• New public safety headquarters or public safety operations facility
• Police firearms training facility
• Main police station expansion
• City Court expansion or office expansion

The newer review also identified several related capital projects in recent Avondale budget and capital-improvement records, including the Southern Avondale / Alamar fire-police station, City Court expansion, training tower, Police Communications Bureau remodel, Regional Wireless Cooperative tower, K-9 training facility, assessment of existing public safety buildings, and additional communications work. Some of these may fit within the broader public-safety/court/communications categories, but the records reviewed so far do not establish exactly which projects would be paid with Prop 418 bond proceeds rather than other funding sources.

Importantly, the additional research still found no direct public record tying Proposition 418 specifically to Flock cameras, automated license plate readers, drones, a real-time crime center, facial recognition, gunshot detection, or general surveillance expansion. The closest potentially relevant wording is the broad reference to equipment, technology, and communication systems. That language supports public questions about scope and oversight, but it is not the same as a documented surveillance funding line.

The biggest missing source is still the official 2026 Proposition 418 publicity pamphlet and final ballot language. That document should be preserved and reviewed once available because it will define the final voter-facing purpose and disclosure language for the bond.

Why Proposition 418 is on the ballot

Proposition 418 asks Avondale voters whether to authorize up to $55 million in general obligation bonds for public safety projects.

The published support materials describe the proposal as funding for public safety facility improvement projects and training facilities. Listed projects include a new fire/police substation, a new public safety headquarters, a police firearms training facility, main police station expansion, and City Court office expansion.

The City’s published FAQ says the bond program is intended to fund projects over the next 20 years. If approved, the projects would be reviewed and prioritized by Avondale City Council and incorporated into the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.

What Proposition 418 would change

Approval would authorize Avondale to issue and sell the proposed general obligation bonds.

The ballot language describes the purpose as public safety projects, including:

• Designing, acquiring, equipping, and constructing fire, emergency, and police facilities for public safety and training.
• Designing, acquiring, and constructing City Court facilities and improvements.
• Paying related costs, including equipment, land acquisition or interests in land, legal costs, financial costs, consulting costs, and other associated costs.

The ballot language says the bonds may have principal payable not later than 25 years from the date of issuance of each series.

Financial figures

The ballot language says the bonds would be general obligation bonds and would be repaid with secondary property taxes. The FAQ states that the City expects the combined property-tax rate to remain stable because new bonds would be issued as older bonds are retired. The FAQ also notes that the bonds would be payable from a property tax without limitation as to rate or amount.

Surveillance and data-center questions

The reviewed Prop 418 materials do not specifically name data centers, Flock Safety, automated license plate readers, drones, surveillance software, or a real-time crime center.

That does not mean the public has no technology questions to ask. The ballot language is broader than buildings alone because it includes equipping public safety facilities and paying equipment-related and associated costs.

This matters because Avondale’s separate police-surveillance records document license plate readers, police drones, body-worn cameras, and regional law-enforcement data-sharing systems. Those records are part of Avondale’s broader public safety budget picture, but they are not the same thing as a direct Prop 418 funding line.

A clear public question is whether any Prop 418 bond money could be used for surveillance-related infrastructure, data systems, camera infrastructure, communications systems, or technology purchases. Another question is whether existing or proposed surveillance spending could be reduced or redirected before asking voters to authorize additional public safety debt.

See also: Avondale Police Surveillance Technology.

Timeline

2025
A prior Avondale public safety bond question was presented to voters.

2026
Avondale published materials for Proposition 418, a public safety bond question seeking authorization for up to $55 million in general obligation bonds.

November 3, 2026
Proposition 418 is scheduled to appear before Avondale voters.

After voter approval, if approved
The published FAQ says projects would be reviewed and prioritized by Avondale City Council and incorporated into the Capital Improvement Plan.