Every four years the voters are requested by the city to give the city the power of “Home Rule” Home Rule power gives the City the ultimate power to spend, build, plan, and grow the government of Sedona without the people’s approval. This includes giving the city an open checkbook to spend as much money as they desire. Hire as staffer at over top wage they choose. Home Rule also allows unlimited costly projects that the resident doesn’t want and believe are destroying our small town Sedona. Home Rule supports a toxic city hall, city against residents and businesses.

Home rule is the only temporary accounting method that the voters must approve every 4 years. Every 4 years the city and it’s minions use fear mongering to scare residents. Businesses and nonprofits in order to keep home rule.

In the state of Arizona, accounting method State baseline is automatically approved for cities and towns. If cities or towns want to operate with more money than allowed they must get voters approval. Two options: a permanent base adjustment (permanent approval) or a Home Rule option which is a temporary solution which only last 4 years.

54% of cities and towns DO NOT use home rule.

The State of Arizona has a seamless process to navigate away from Home Rule, with no disruptions of service.

Vote No on Home Rule July 21, 2026, -This hits the reset button
The city is funded with Home Rule until June 31, 2027 (FY26/27)

In the May 2027 election, the Voters can vote in a one-time budget override for that year (FY 27/28) This gives the city for the next year enough funding. (FY 27/28) Facts are that the voters could vote annually for one-time budget override.

Then the voters can vote in permanent base with no disruptions.

No fears or loss of services that why 54% of Arizona’s Cities and Towns operate without Home Rule!

ARGUMENTS AGAINST HOME RULE

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Argument against Home Rule option Alternative Expenditure Limitation by Donna Joy Varney

The city of Sedona entered into tourism promotion as a crisis. The city raised the city bed tax 2013 without the proper infrastructure and quality process controls in place. The city mismanaged the tourism marketing.

After spending millions of dollars in tourism promotion the city raised the sales tax 2017 for the damage and Traffic tourism created.

Over taxation, the surge in revenues and big government hurt the residents and small businesses, pushing them out. The city’s overstaffing and fast-tracked expensive projects made many costly mistakes without accountability. The city is unwilling to reconsider its direction.

The rapid unchecked growth has negatively impacted Sedona. Home Rule is a train wreck; it must be STOPPED. Proper policies, process, performance metrics, and infrastructure must be put in place.

The city has had 13 years to demonstrate the effectiveness of the “city’s tourism-first agenda”. Results: Traffic, destruction and us versus them. Vote NO home rule! With home rule, it will be business as usual.

54% of Arizona cities don’t use Home Rule. Arizona laws provide a seamless safe transition away from home rule. No services or charities will be interrupted. Don’t believe the scare tactics.

VOTE NO on Home Rule!

Swore by
Donna Joy Varney

ARGUMENT AGAINST HOME RULE by Concerned Residents

Traffic Traffic Traffic with no solutions in sight. Sedona is a small rural town losing our small-town identity. It is time to STOP home rule and review the city from top to bottom.

The city council raised the bed tax for tourism promotion. The council put in a sunset sales tax to pay for the infrastructure, before the sunset-tax expired the city council voted to make the sunset-tax permanent. They broke their promise to us.

The city is currently operating with over 200 employees and over $100 million budget. Population has declined and tourism is flatlined.

We have a bloated government making critical decisions and many costly mistakes without accountability. These mistakes cannot be repaired. There are too many projects underway that many of the residents don’t believe are needed.

Vote NO on home rule, Alternative Expenditure Limitation. We all love Sedona. It’s time to press the reset button. Vote NO on Sedona Home Rule.

Concerned Residents

Sworn by over 40 residents