Overview Public Safety Tax Initiative - Prop 478
To provide the community transparency regarding the use of dedicated transaction privilege tax funds
Dedicated Transaction Privilege Tax - Proposition 478
Proposition 478 was developed as a means to fund public safety services at the City of Prescott. Funds shall only be for public safety services directed solely to the public safety of life, health, property and welfare of inhabitants of the city and is only available to the Prescott Fire Department and Prescott Police Department including dispatch and emergency medical services.
Public Safety Projects and Programs
These funds are necessary to not only catch up to current needs, but to address a maintenance backlog and prepare for future growth. Capital projects and operational programs are categorized in three planning phases:
- Immediate needs - 1 to 3 years
- Short term needs - 4 to 7 years
- Longer term needs - 8 to 10 years
Public Safety Needs - Expenditures by Type
Current Year Budget to Actual Activity
Accountability
The City is committed to providing the Community information on the management of Proposition 478 funds. This webpage will be maintained throughout the year to provide transparency on the public safety projects and funds.
The funds will be distributed from a separate revenue account within the General Fund and will be monitored throughout the year. They will also remain publicly accessible via this page. Any unspent tax revenue collected each year will be tracked and reported. There were $4,202,689 in unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2025.
Estimated Public Safety Tax Fund Balance through FY2031
| Public Safety Tax Initiative | FY25 Actual | FY26 Budget | FY26 Estimate | FY27 Budget | FY28 Budget | FY29 Budget | FY30 Budget | FY31 Budget |
| Revenues | $ 5,570,178 | $ 37,212,305 | $ 22,800,000 | $ 22,300,000 | $ 22,750,000 | $ 23,200,000 | $ 23,660,000 | $ 24,140,000 |
| Expenditures | $ 1,367,489 | $ 37,212,305 | $ 9,254,242 | $ 26,107,154 | $ 31,689,462 | $ 21,817,618 | $ 25,920,424 | $ 19,609,639 |
| Operating Expenditures | $ 418,790 | $ 3,755,805 | $ 1,863,317 | $ 4,626,526 | $ 5,043,462 | $ 5,157,618 | $ 6,413,484 | $ 8,916,699 |
| Capital Expenditures | $ 948,699 | $ 33,456,500 | $ 7,390,925 | $ 21,480,628 | $ 26,646,000 | $ 16,660,000 | $ 19,506,940 | $ 10,692,940 |
| Net Public Safety Tax Program | $ 4,202,689 | $ - | $ 13,545,758 | ($ 3,807,154) | ($ 8,939,462) | $ 1,382,382 | ($ 2,260,424) | $ 4,530,361 |
| Public Safety Tax Beginning Balance | $ - | $ 4,202,689 | $ 4,202,689 | $ 17,748,447 | $ 13,941,293 | $ 5,001,831 | $ 6,384,213 | $ 4,123,789 |
| Public Safety Tax Ending Balance | $ 4,202,689 | $ 4,202,689 | $ 17,748,447 | $ 13,941,293 | $ 5,001,831 | $ 6,384,213 | $ 4,123,789 | $ 8,654,150 |
| Public Safety Tax Initiative | FY25 Actual | FY26 Budget | FY26 Estimate | FY27 Budget | FY28 Budget | FY29 Budget |
| Revenues | $ 5,570,178 | $ 37,212,305 | $ 22,800,000 | $ 22,300,000 | $ 22,750,000 | $ 23,200,000 |
| Expenditures | $ 1,367,489 | $ 37,212,305 | $ 9,254,242 | $ 26,107,154 | $ 31,689,462 | $ 21,817,618 |
| Operating Expenditures | $ 418,790 | $ 3,755,805 | $ 1,863,317 | $ 4,626,526 | $ 5,043,462 | $ 5,157,618 |
| Capital Expenditures | $ 948,699 | $ 33,456,500 | $ 7,390,925 | $ 21,480,628 | $ 26,646,000 | $ 16,660,000 |
| Net Public Safety Tax Program | $ 4,202,689 | $ - | $ 13,545,758 | ($ 3,807,154) | ($ 8,939,462) | $ 1,382,382 |
| Public Safety Tax Beginning Balance | $ - | $ 4,202,689 | $ 4,202,689 | $ 17,748,447 | $ 13,941,293 | $ 5,001,831 |
| Public Safety Tax Ending Balance | $ 4,202,689 | $ 4,202,689 | $ 17,748,447 | $ 13,941,293 | $ 5,001,831 | $ 6,384,213 |
| FY30 Budget | FY31 Budget |
| $ 23,660,000 | $ 24,140,000 |
| $ 25,920,424 | $ 19,609,639 |
| $ 6,413,484 | $ 8,916,699 |
| $ 19,506,940 | $ 10,692,940 |
| ($ 2,260,424) | $ 4,530,361 |
| $ 6,384,213 | $ 4,123,789 |
| $ 4,123,789 | $ 8,654,150 |