Home Rule

Home Rule

All cities in Arizona are required to have a balanced budget where spending cannot exceed available revenues.  State law requires that cities in Arizona cap their annual expenditures either by adhering to a limit determined by a formula developed by the State in 1980, or by obtaining voter approval on an alternative expenditure limitation.  The State’s formula does not take into consideration the level of services and programs provided to citizens by each city or town. As an alternative to this formula-based limit, the State Constitution allows voters of a municipality to approve a Local Alternative Expenditure Limitation, otherwise known as the Home Rule option. The Home Rule option allows the Town Council to adopt its own budget limits locally based on local needs, service levels, and available resources.

The voters of the Town of Kearny approved the Home Rule option in 2022. Since this issue comes before the voters every four years, the Town of Kearny will vote again in 2026, whether or not to extend Home Rule.

More information on the Home Rule option can be found here:

• Detailed Summary Analysis
• Publicity Pamphlet 2022
• Arizona Auditor General Website