Cave Creek reaches deadline for Proposition 440 ballot arguments
Cave Creek’s latest milestone on a proposed state-trust-land purchase measure arrived Aug. 5, when arguments for or against Proposition 440 were due to the town clerk by 5 p.m.
Proposition 440 would amend the town code to increase the privilege tax, with proceeds intended to help acquire state trust land. The proposal is not an approved tax increase or a completed land purchase. Cave Creek voters are scheduled to decide the measure in November 2026.
What voters will consider
The measure could change the local privilege-tax burden if voters approve it. It also could determine whether the Town of Cave Creek obtains additional state trust land, but the town’s notice does not identify a specific parcel, state how many acres are involved or provide a purchase price.
The notice also does not state the proposed percentage-point or dollar amount of the privilege-tax increase. That means voters have not been given those details in the cited announcement as part of the information available for this report.
The town’s announcement places the measure in the context of Cave Creek’s broader municipal land and water decisions. According to the town, nearly 90% of the town’s water comes through the Central Arizona Project. The announcement does not state that Proposition 440 would fund water service or alter that dependence.
Ballot arguments and November pamphlet
Each argument supporting or opposing Proposition 440 was limited to 300 words and required a $50 filing fee. Arguments that meet Arizona-law and town-code requirements are to be published in the November 2026 publicity pamphlet.
The completed Aug. 5 deadline is the latest concrete campaign milestone identified in the town’s announcement. The notice does not report how many arguments were actually filed by the deadline, so the number of published arguments remains unknown from the approved information.
For Cave Creek taxpayers and voters, the November decision will concern both the proposed privilege-tax change and the town’s plan to use the proceeds to help acquire state trust land. The available notice does not guarantee that land acquisition will occur if the measure passes, nor does it describe the final cost or timing of any purchase.
The Town of Cave Creek announced the ballot-argument process July 4, 2026. Arguments meeting the stated requirements are expected to appear in the November pamphlet before voters consider Proposition 440.
Sources
- Arguments Being Accepted Concerning the Proposed Amendment to Increase Privilege Tax, Town of Cave Creek
- Press Releases, Town of Cave Creek
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