Good news! Voters in Maricopa County said yes to Proposition 409, narrowly approving (51-49) a $898M bond for Valleywise Health — our county’s public safety‑net health system.
What this means in plain language: for about $25‑30 more per year in property tax for the average household, we’re going to build and improve real mental and behavioral health services.
- Valleywise will be building a new 200‑bed behavioral health hospital to replace the old facility — which is more than 50 years old — and double the number of beds for people with serious mental illness.
- Arizona is ranked 48th in access to mental health care. In Maricopa County, the suicide rate in 2023 was about 17.5 per 100,000, higher than the national average.
- This bond also supports outpatient clinics, emergency services, and training programs — meaning more people will get help where they live, when they need it.
The result shows that a small majority of voters in Maricopa County care about the members of their communities who struggle with mental illness and care about families who need a place to turn when the system isn’t working.
Thanks to this measure, Valleywise will be better equipped to answer that call. It’s a strong step toward health equity, better mental‑health access, and a safer, stronger community.