Town Hall · Tempe

Tempe, AZ town hall & government

Tempe spent $520.1 million in the year to June 30, 2023, about $2,825 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Tempe's government.

Local leadership

Who runs Tempe

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Tempe's money goes

Spent
$520.1 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2023
Per resident
$2,825
typical Arizona cities: $2,290
Long-term debt
$1 billion
$5,538 per resident
Police
$117.2 million23%
Roads & transportation
$84 million16%
Sewer & trash
$60.6 million12%
Fire
$55.6 million11%
Water & other utilities
$39.2 million8%
Parks & libraries
$37.7 million7%
Administration & buildings
$30.9 million6%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$19.6 million4%
Interest on debt
$17.7 million3%
Housing & development
$16.4 million3%
Health & welfare
$6.6 million1%
Other
$34.3 million7%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 37%
  • From the state 15%
  • Fees & charges 14%
  • Property taxes 11%
  • Utility sales 10%
  • From the federal government 8%
  • Interest, fines & other 4%
  • Other taxes & licenses 2%
Town workforce

Who works for Tempe

Full-time staff
1,830
521 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$96,100
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
345
and 175 full-time firefighters
Police
457 full-time16 part
Parks & libraries
183 full-time335 part
Fire
240 full-time
Administration & buildings
233 full-time6 part
Health & welfare
167 full-time133 part
Water & other utilities
131 full-time4 part
Roads & transportation
102 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
94 full-time8 part
Sewer & trash
66 full-time5 part
Housing & development
41 full-time1 part
Other
116 full-time12 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2024. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Tempe Union High School District

Tempe's high school district, shared with Chandler, Guadalupe and Mesa. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$12,138
Arizona: $12,318
Students
12,002
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$100.1 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Arizona districts overall: 35% local, 47% state, 18% federal

  • Local 63%
  • State 28%
  • Federal 8%

Of the $12,138 per pupil, $5,715 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Tempe: Tempe School District ($13,467 per pupil) · Kyrene Elementary District ($10,909 per pupil) · Mesa Unified District ($12,066 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Tempe pay

Typical tax bill
$2,175
a year · Arizona typical $1,879
Effective rate
0.48%
of home value · Arizona 0.48%
Typical home value
$455,400
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Tempe's government

🏛️ Official websitetempe.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Tempe →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Tempe

Tempe is represented in Congress by Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego and Representative Greg Stanton. Katie Hobbs is governor.

All of Tempe's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Tempe

Arizona · AZ
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01