Community
Tolleson
Resident-friendly civic information for Tolleson, Arizona.
Resident Quick Reference
Common city services and official links residents may need most often.
Utilities
- Utilities City water and wastewater information, service contacts and help determining whether a property is within Tolleson's service area.
- Utility service Start or stop City water, sewer and sanitation service and get help with utility billing.
Trash & Recycling
- Trash & recycling Residential trash, recycling and registered bulk-trash service information.
Report a Problem
- Report a violation Report a possible property or code-compliance violation to the City.
City Meetings
- Council meetings Find Tolleson City Council meeting information and links to the City's current meeting calendar and notices.
- City Clerk Find Council and board records, agendas, minutes and City public-record information.
Safety & Outages
- Police non-emergency Tolleson Police contact and non-emergency information for incidents within Tolleson city limits.
Getting Around
- Micro Transit Tolleson's local micro-transit program provides eligible trips using Lyft and Uber.
Parks & Community
- Parks & recreation Parks, recreation programs, reservations, activities and community events.
City History
Tolleson's history reflects its development from an agricultural settlement into a West Valley city with industrial, distribution, and residential communities.
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1908
The Tolleson family arrives in Arizona
The Tolleson family migrated from South Carolina to Arizona in 1908.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1910
The Tolleson family purchases a ranch
The Tolleson family purchased a 160-acre ranch at the intersection of 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street for $16,000.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1912
Tolleson is founded
Walter G. and Alethea H. Tolleson founded Tolleson in 1912. The city's history identifies the reopened Ten Mile Store as the nucleus of the new town.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1929
Tolleson incorporates
Tolleson incorporated in 1929.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1930s
The Great Depression affects Tolleson
Tolleson experienced the effects of the Great Depression during the 1930s.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1930
The Census counts 910 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau reports 910 residents in Tolleson in 1930. The figure appears in the 1940 Census of Population, Volume I, Arizona section, printed page 91, Table 5.
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1940s
Agricultural production recovers
Agriculture in the surrounding area began a recovery in the 1940s, providing an economic boost to Tolleson.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1940
The Census counts 1,731 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau reports 1,731 residents in Tolleson in 1940. The figure appears in the 1940 Census of Population, Volume I, Arizona section, printed page 91, Table 5.
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1950
The Census counts 3,042 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau reports 3,042 residents in Tolleson in 1950. The figure appears in the 1960 Census of Population, Arizona section, printed page 4-9, Table 8.
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1950s
Tolleson becomes known for vegetable production
By the 1950s, Tolleson had become known as the 'Vegetable Center of the World.'
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
Early 1960s
Agricultural employment declines
The city's history describes a rapid decline in agribusiness during the early 1960s. Changes in farming machinery, shipping methods, and vegetable acreage reduced the need for packing sheds and associated employment.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1960
The Census counts 3,886 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau reports 3,886 residents in Tolleson in 1960. The figure appears in the 1960 Census of Population, Arizona section, printed page 4-9, Table 8.
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1970s
Infrastructure investments support development
During the 1970s, city planners developed a master plan, began street beautification projects, encouraged housing development, and built a $2 million sewage treatment plant to support industrial and residential growth.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1970
The Census counts 3,881 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau reports 3,881 residents in Tolleson in 1970. The figure appears in the 1980 Census of Population and Housing, Arizona, Table 2, Tolleson city row.
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1980s
Distribution centers reshape the local economy
Fry's Food and Drug and Albertson's distribution centers arrived during the 1980s. The city's history describes their role in attracting additional industrial development.
Source(s): City of Tolleson | History of Tolleson -
1980
The Census counts 4,433 residents
The U.S. Census Bureau reports 4,433 residents in Tolleson in 1980. The figure appears in the 1980 Census of Population and Housing, Arizona, Table 2, Tolleson city row.
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1990
The Census counts 4,434 residents
The Tolleson Community Profile reports 4,434 residents in 1990. Its population table attributes the figures to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, March 2001.
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2000
The Census counts 4,974 residents
The Tolleson Community Profile reports 4,974 residents in 2000. Its population table attributes the figures to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, March 2001.
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2010
The Census counts 6,545 residents
The 2010 Census counted 6,545 residents in Tolleson on April 1, 2010.
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2020
The Census counts 7,216 residents
The 2020 Census counted 7,216 residents in Tolleson on April 1, 2020.
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2025 estimate
The Census Bureau estimates Tolleson's population
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Tolleson's population at 9,224 as of July 1, 2025 (V2025). This is an estimate, not a decennial Census count.
Budget & Spending
FY2027 Budget
Adopted$247.2 million
- Previous budget
- FY2026 Adopted $233.7M
Budget over time
How the budget has changed
From FY2019 to FY2027, the adopted all-funds budget increased 220.4%.
| Fiscal year | Adopted budget | Mayor at adoption | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2019 | $77,150,947 | Anna Tovar | +22.3% |
| FY2020 | $76,796,734 | Anna Tovar | -0.5% |
| FY2021 | $89,064,984 | Anna Tovar | +16.0% |
| FY2022 | $109,104,059 | Juan F. Rodriguez | +22.5% |
| FY2023 | $165,420,011 | Juan F. Rodriguez | +51.6% |
| FY2024 | $188,769,614 | Juan F. Rodriguez | +14.1% |
| FY2025 | $198,064,114 | Juan F. Rodriguez | +4.9% |
| FY2026 | $233,685,526 | Juan F. Rodriguez | +18.0% |
| FY2027 | $247,153,697 | Juan F. Rodriguez | +5.8% |
Comparable adopted figures only. Tentative and recommended budgets, actual spending, revenues, tax rates and other measures are kept separate.
Local Government
Mayor
Juan F. Rodriguez
Councilmember
Christine Chavira
Councilmember
Adolfo Gamez
Councilmember
Cruzita V. Mendoza
Meetings
Next public meeting
Tolleson City Council
Following meetings
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Dec 8 2026
Tolleson City Council
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Dec 22 2026Cancelled
Tolleson City Council
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Jan 12 2027
Tolleson City Council
Recent meetings
Latest verified past public meetings from official City meeting records.
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Sep 22 2026
Tolleson City Council
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Sep 8 2026
Tolleson City Council
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Aug 25 2026
Tolleson City Council
Civic Topics
Elections & Ballot Measures
Election-related measures, ballot questions, and voter-facing civic topics.
Proposition 416: Permanent Base Adjustment
On ballot
Proposition 416 asks Tolleson voters whether to permanently adjust the City's base used to calculate its state constitutional expenditure limitation.
Proposition 434: Home Rule Option
Documented
Proposition 434 asked Tolleson voters whether to continue the Home Rule Option, an alternative local expenditure limitation, for four years.
Proposition 435: General Obligation Bonds
Documented
Proposition 435 asked Tolleson voters to authorize $21 million in general obligation bonds for parks and recreation projects, including an aquatic facility.
Proposition 436: Southwest Gas Corporation Franchise
Documented
Proposition 436 asked Tolleson voters to approve a franchise agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation for use of City rights-of-way for gas utility purposes.
Public Safety & Surveillance
Police, surveillance technology, public-safety systems, and related budget records.
Police Surveillance Technology
Documented
City records document FY2020 license plate reader deployment, FY2021–FY2022 ALPR project allocations, and separate drone-related budget entries. Current equipment counts, vendors, and actual spending remain unverified.
State and County Ballot Measures
November 3, 2026 general election. These statewide and countywide measures also apply to eligible voters in this community.
Arizona statewide propositions
Measures decided by voters across Arizona.
Proposition 141: Vehicle mileage taxes and monitoring
On the ballot
Vehicle mileage taxes and government monitoring of miles traveled.
Proposition 142: Preferential treatment and discrimination
On the ballot
Constitutional rules concerning preferential treatment and discrimination.
Proposition 144: Election identification and administration
On the ballot
Identification and citizenship-verification requirements for elections.
Proposition 316: Municipal taxes on groceries
On the ballot
Restrictions on municipal taxes involving groceries.
Proposition 317: Drug cartels and homeland security
On the ballot
State measures involving drug cartels and related offenses.
Proposition 318: Student athletics and private spaces
On the ballot
Requirements involving student athletics and certain private spaces.
Proposition 319: Traffic photo enforcement systems
On the ballot
Speed and red-light ticket cameras. Does not automatically ban police ALPRs.
Proposition 320: School district operational spending
On the ballot
School district operational spending and associated funding provisions.
Maricopa County propositions
Countywide measures decided by eligible Maricopa County voters.
Proposition 413: County jail facilities sales tax
On the ballot
Maricopa County jail-related sales tax replacement proposal.
Statewide and countywide proposals are separate from city-specific measures. School and special-district measures vary by residence and are not included here.
Search Tolleson
Find Tolleson budgets, meeting records, public records, official City resources, and OWVAZ research.
Searches run locally in your browser. Try: budget, council meeting, water, police, proposition.
Official Sources (32)
View official sources
Primary City of Tolleson sources supporting the civic information on this page.
Government & Meetings 3
Tolleson City Council Members
City Calendar
CivicClerk Public Meeting Portal
City History & Population 6
History of Tolleson
1940 Census of Population, Volume I, Arizona, page 91, Table 5: Population of Incorporated Places, 1940 and 1930
1960 Census of Population, Arizona, printed page 4-9, Table 8: Population of All Incorporated Places, 1940 to 1960
1980 Census of Population and Housing, Advance Reports: Final Population and Housing Unit Counts, Arizona, Table 2: Persons by Race and Spanish Origin and Housing Unit Counts for Places, 1980
Tolleson Community Profile, Population table; source attribution: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March 2001
QuickFacts: Tolleson city, Arizona
Budgets 9
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2018-2019
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2019-2020
The FY2020 adopted budget identifies a $10,000 Drone Project allocation. A budget allocation does not establish that equipment was purchased or deployed.
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2020-2021
The FY2021 adopted budget lists $50,000 for ALPR Cameras (License Plate Project), under Public Safety Police. This is a budgeted amount, not confirmed expenditure.
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2021-2022
The FY2022 adopted budget lists $60,000 for ALPR Cameras (License Plate Project), under Public Safety Police. The reviewed records do not establish whether this continued, expanded, or replaced the earlier project.
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2022-2023
The FY2023 adopted budget identifies a $167,000 FEMA Drone Program allocation. This entry does not establish actual spending or equipment deployment.
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2023-2024
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2024-2025
The FY2025 adopted budget identifies $63,620 for FEMA Drone Program equipment. This is a budget entry, not confirmed expenditure.
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2025-2026
The FY2026 adopted budget identifies $63,620 for FEMA Drone Program equipment and a separate $35,000 police drone entry. These allocations do not establish actual purchases or deployment.
Detailed Adopted Budget FY 2026-2027
The FY2027 adopted budget identifies $63,620 for FEMA Drone Program equipment, $65,000 for a First Responder Drone, and a separate $40,000 police drone entry. These are budget allocations, not confirmed expenditures.
Resident Services 8
Utilities
Water & Sanitation: Set Up & Payment
Sanitation and Bulk Services
City Clerk's Office
Report a Violation
Anonymous Tips
Tolleson Micro Transit Program
Parks & Recreation
Elections & Civic Topics 6
Amended Call of Election Notice
Prop 416 - Permanent Base Adjustment and Call for Arguments Notice
Permanent Base Adjustment (PBA) - Proposition 416 Frequently Asked Questions
The currently available FAQ gives an approximately $320,876,043 expenditure-limit estimate for FY2026-2027. Fiscal-year-specific estimates must not be conflated with later City estimates.
Permanent Base Adjustment
Current City webpage gives an estimated FY2027-2028 expenditure limitation of approximately $336,891,934.
Tolleson Newsletter - October 2020: Three Ballot Measures for the 2020 General Election
Official City newsletter describing Propositions 434, 435, and 436 for the November 3, 2020 General Election. The material identifies the purpose and key terms of each proposition and references Resolutions 2421, 2415, and 2408.
November 3, 2020 Final Official Summary Report
Final official Maricopa County election results for the November 3, 2020 General Election, including Tolleson Propositions 434, 435, and 436.