Arizona Voters Want Long-Term Planning and Stable Revenue to Support Future Growth

Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) today announced results from its latest 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda survey, providing voters’ views of taxes, state spending, and long-term planning ahead of the November general election. This survey research is part of CFA’s ongoing efforts to center the voices of Arizonans during election season and highlight areas where likely voters agree across political and generational lines. The findings reveal that voters are calling for a more strategic approach to long-term planning, stable revenue sources, and investments that support growth and maintain quality of life across the state.

“Arizona voters recognize that strategic vision and long-term planning are essential to ensuring the state’s continued success,” said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. “Voters are forward-looking, urging policymakers to make decisions today that will shape Arizona’s future and ensure long-term prosperity.”

The 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda survey, conducted by CFA in collaboration with HighGround, Inc., an Arizona-based award-winning public opinion polling firm, reveals key policy priorities that have surpassed CFA’s rigorous threshold for agreement to be deemed Voters’ Agenda items. The survey also provides broader insights into voter sentiment.

Arizona Voters Want to Prepare for Growth
Arizona is expected to see significant population growth in the coming decades, with the state expected to reach 8 million residents by 2030 and 9 million by 2040.

Planning for the future resonates strongly with voters, as 88% of voters agree that Arizona needs “a long-term investment strategy based on stable revenue and better planning” to sustain growth. Voters believe that “Arizona’s short-term budget planning creates a lot of uncertainty – often alternating between budget shortfalls and cuts one year, and surpluses and spending the next.” Voters across political affiliations support this notion – with 83% of Republicans, 90% of independent/unaffiliated voters, and 93% of Democrats in agreement.

Additionally, 52% of voters are not confident that the state is prepared for future growth, and 87% of voters support the statement that “It will take higher levels of planning and preparedness to ensure we have the resources and infrastructure to support growth and maintain our quality of life.”

Strong Support for Infrastructure and Essential Services
The vast majority of voters are supportive of maintaining and investing in essential services and infrastructure that contribute to Arizona’s prosperity:

• 90% of all voters agree that a robust transportation infrastructure system, including investments in freeways, streets, and transit, is critical to long-term economic success.
• 77% support increased investment in childcare assistance programs for qualifying families.
• 79% support increasing funding for K-12 public education.

Voters also strongly oppose cutting essential services as a way of balancing the state budget:

• 87% oppose cuts to K-12 education.
• 82% oppose cuts to public safety.
• 81% oppose cuts to healthcare.

Exploring New Revenue Sources
Despite 55% of voters believing their taxes are “just about right,” 71% do not believe the state is investing tax dollars in the right areas. Additionally, 68% of voters are willing to pay more taxes for issues important to Arizona’s future, and 69% support maintaining low tax rates for long-term economic growth.

“The majority of Arizona voters are generally comfortable with current tax levels but could benefit from knowing how funds are spent and want to see better outcomes from their tax dollars. There’s no overwhelming push to increase or cut taxes, but there is a clear call for strategic, long-term planning. It’s an opportunity to better engage the broader electorate with ideas and solutions,” said Dr. Francis.

Eighty-one percent of voters, including the majority of all political affiliations, strongly or somewhat agree that “Beyond income taxes, there are other sources of potential revenue for things important to Arizonans, like education, infrastructure investments, and other items. We need to examine ways to expand revenue sources to support the state’s long-term growth and success.” With 47% strong support, this item did not reach the 50% strong support minimum for inclusion in the Arizona Voters' Agenda.

“Voters are looking for a comprehensive plan that ensures Arizona’s growth is well-supported, with investments in areas that matter most,” added Dr. Francis. “There’s no better time than now for candidates to address these economic topics that are top of mind for voters.”

Critical Questions for Candidates
As Arizonans prepare to head to the polls, the 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda presents key questions for candidates and leaders to address: “What is your plan for creating a long-term investment strategy that ensures stable revenue and better planning for Arizona’s future?” and “What steps will you take to invest in transportation infrastructure and ensure Arizona is prepared for the demands of future growth?”

Find more questions for candidates and resources at arizonafuture.org/ava.

Political and age group breakdowns are available at ArizonaFuture.org/ArizonaVotersAgenda.

Announcements from the Arizona Voters’ Agenda
The Arizona Voters’ Agenda provides valuable insights across multiple issue areas. Full results and resources for voters, candidates, and community leaders are available now on CFA’s website. CFA is announcing its assessment of the data over two weeks. The announcements include:

• Available Now: Election Issues
• Available Now: Water & Environment
• Available Now: Education
• Today, Sept. 25: Taxes & State Spending
• Sept. 30: Voter Insights

About the Arizona Voters’ Agenda
CFA develops the Arizona Voters’ Agenda to ensure that voters’ voices are at the forefront of the election, encouraging candidates and the media to focus on the issues where Arizonans agree. By providing trusted data on shared public priorities, CFA aims to foster constructive conversations about Arizona’s future and drive meaningful progress on the issues that matter most to the state’s residents.
For a policy priority to be included in the Voters’ Agenda, a majority of likely voters must show “strong” support for an issue, and majorities of every political and age segment must show “strong” or “somewhat strong” support. This ensures the Voters’ Agenda reflects true majority agreement across political and generational lines, with a threshold of 50% or above. Not all survey questions achieve this threshold. The surveys also include questions that provide essential context and insights into voter perceptions.

Survey Methodology
The Arizona Voters’ Agenda is based on two public opinion surveys each election cycle. The second and most recent survey was conducted from August 5-13, 2024, ahead of the general election. The first survey was conducted in March 2024, before the primary election. Each survey sampled 500 likely Arizona 2024 General Election voters with a history of electoral participation, balanced to model the likely turnout of voters across party, age, region, and gender. HighGround, Inc. conducted live interview surveys in English and Spanish to landline and cell phone users. Based on previous election trends, the partisan advantage was set at +4% GOP. The margin of error is ±4.3%.

About Center for the Future of Arizona
Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan "do-tank" that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state. Through its survey research & communications, Arizona Progress Meters, and impact initiatives & programs in education, workforce, and civic health, CFA listens to Arizonans to learn what matters most to them, shares trusted data about how Arizona is doing in those priority areas, brings critical issues to public attention, and works with communities and leaders to solve public problems. The Arizona Voters’ Agenda is part of CFA's ongoing commitment to highlighting Arizona’s shared public values and bringing Arizonans together around a positive agenda based on where we agree on priorities to move the state forward and realize The Arizona We Want.

The 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda initiative is supported in part by Arizona Community Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Pivotal Foundation, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation.

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