Queen Creek’s 2022 City Status was announced on February 7 in partnership with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce. The town council and city council chairman shared a series of community achievements. town corporate strategic plan.

State of the Town is available online, along with a complete list of the Town’s 2022 achievements. QueenCreekAZ.gov/state town (video).

Highlights of milestones achieved over the past year include:

quality lifestyle

• Groundbreaking ceremony for Frontier Family Park, an 85-acre park on Signal Butte Road north of Queen Creek Road.
• Phase 2 of Munsell Carter Oasis Park has been broken.
• We celebrated the extension of the Sonoki Wash Trail to Chrismon and enhanced safety for our equestrian community.
• Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center posted record numbers, with a 43% increase in revenue.
• The Economic Development team has been reaccredited as an Approved Economic Development Organization (AEDO) through the International Economic Development Council.

secure future

• Freezes how much a resident pays in property taxes. As home values ​​rise, tax rates fall, saving the median value of a Queen Creek home $353 over the next five years.
• Bond rating upgraded to AA+ from Fitch and S&P, one step away from maximum rating.
• Refinanced the loan from 4% to 2.85%, saving $2.1 million in cash flow over the next 16 years.
• Residents have approved a permanent base adjustment. This means that starting next year, the town’s annual budget spending limits will be based on an updated formula that will eliminate the need for home rule elections every four years.
• We have issued over 1,300 single-family home permits, reviewed over 200 business permits, and authorized an estimated construction value of $808 million.

excellent infrastructure

• The Arizona Department of Transportation completed a temporary highway for State Route 24 from Ellsworth to Ironwood Road, providing additional connectivity to Queen Creek and the area.
• The Town and neighboring jurisdictions have partnered to develop north-south routes, including two new sections of Meridian Road from Queen Creek Road to State Route 24 and a new section of Signal Butte Road from German Road through State Route 24. increased the number of connections.
• Work continues on a number of road improvement projects, including:

  • Improvement of Queen Creek Road from Ellsworth to Chrismon Road.
  • Improving Meridian Road from Combs to Cherrywood in partnership with Pinal County.
  • A downtown core connector that will help drive the vision of the adopted town center plan and create a vibrant and walkable downtown.

• Completed a comprehensive utility master plan to enhance the town’s ability to manage water while keeping costs as low as possible for customers.

safe community

• Queen Creek Police launched on January 11, 2022. Certified by IBCCES and Arizona Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. His 25% of sworn personnel are part of the crisis intervention team. The focus is on traffic enforcement and community engagement activities.
• The Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department celebrated the opening of two permanent fire stations.
• Our partnership with Vitalant saw a 30% increase in donations from 2021 through monthly blood donations.
• Numerous awards associated with Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD):

  • The outreach plan for the launch of QCPD received a Silver Circle from 3CMA and a Lifetime Achievement Award from PRSA Phoenix.
  • The videos “Introducing Our Police Vehicles” and “Law Enforcement Women” both received awards of excellence from PRSA Phoenix.
  • Having fulfilled the 30×30 initiative at launch, QCPD received the “2022 Agency of Excellence Award” from the Western Region International Human Resource Management Association, as well as an Honorable Mention from Ragan Communications and a Diversity Award from PRSA Phoenix.

• Public Security Staff Retirement Allowance System Level 2 public security staff save by fully saving their pension.

effective government

• Volunteers contributed approximately 84,000 hours, saving taxpayers approximately $2.5 million (based on IndependentSector.org average volunteer hours in 2022).
• Last year, there was a 2% increase in materials diverted from landfills through the town’s recycling center, and a 27% increase from recycling events.
• Work with HOAs and schools on the WaterFluence program to optimize landscaping and detect water leaks early.
• We’ve migrated to new recreational software and streamlined the online registration process for Special Interest Classes and Ramada Rentals.