Frequently Asked Questions

Are you involved in or witnessing an emergency situation? If life or property is being immediately threatened, call 911. If the current circumstances don't require an immediate response, call our non-emergency phone number through the  Pima County Sheriff's Office Dispatch at (520)351-4900. A Sahuarita Police Officer will respond to your location. 

If you have a chronic traffic problem in your neighborhood (speeding, racing, dangerous vehicle operation), please call 520-344-7000.

ARS 13-3107 makes it a class six felony to discharge a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality (generally). So shooting inside the Town limits is probably prohibited. however there are several places that you can shoot and if you follow the link below to the Arizona Game and Fish website they have a map and list of all of the public shooting ranges in Arizona. Also Game and Fish has a host of resources to let you know what the rules are concerning discharging firearms at some place other then a range.

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If you are looking for a lost or stolen bicycle, a member of the Property and Evidence Section can assist you in determining if it was recovered. Please call 520-344-7001 to speak with a Property & Evidence staff member. 

Safekeeping property is an item(s) that is being stored for someone who may have been arrested, involved in an accident or was involved in a situation where the property was left behind at a scene. The owner of property being held in safekeeping may contact our Property and Evidence section to schedule an appointment to pick up their property by calling 520-344-7001.  The Property and Evidence Section may dispose of this property if unclaimed after 90 days.

Individuals seeking the return of a firearm(s) that is in the custody or control of the Sahuarita Police Department, must call 344-7001 to speak with a member of the Property and Evidence section to begin the process of releasing a firearm(s). A firearms eligibility check will be conducted to determine if the applicant is lawfully eligible to possess firearms and the firearm itself will be run through an ATF check. This process can be lengthy, so appointments will not be set until all checks have been conducted and approved.

All evidence is stored in a safe place until it is no longer needed for a case. Before evidence is released, approval is required by an officer, detective or detective sergeant, prosecutor and/or judge before it can be returned to the owner(s).  If you have questions about your property being held as evidence, call 520-344-7000 to speak to the detective or officer assigned to your case. 

If you would like  someone else pick up your property, your designee must have a legal notarized statement from you authorizing him/her to pick up your items. You must notify a member of the Property and Evidence section in advance that someone else will be picking up your property for you. On the day of the appointment, your designee must present a valid, personal, government issued photo identification. 

The Sahuarita Police Department disposes of unclaimed property through auction, conversion to department or town use, or destruction following all state guidelines.

You may call our Sahuarita Municipal Court at 344-7150 and ask whether a warrant is active under your name. If you want to know whether you have an active warrant issued by another court, such as a county area justice court or Tucson, Marana, or Oro Valley court, you will have to contact those courts respectively. You may also go to https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ which is a public access site for the AZ Supreme Court. This site may also have warrant information on individuals.  Our Sahuarita Municipal Court reports our warrants to this site regularly, however, it is possible there could be a delay for a warrant to appear on the public site. There are times that warrants may not be public (sealed) and will not be listed on the website. 

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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), in cooperation with Union Pacific Railroad (UPR) and others, are responsible for the development and implementation of safety regulations in regard to train horns.

Most of the railroad crossings in Sahuarita are “at-grade crossings,” also known as "road-level crossings." This is where railroads cross roadways at the same level as roadway traffic. At these crossings, traffic must be stopped while a train moves through. To assure safety, federal regulations require that train horns be sounded for 15-20 seconds before reaching all road-level crossings, but not more than one-quarter mile in advance.

The FRA has defined a required pattern for blowing the horns: two long, one short, and one long-sounding horn. These are repeated as necessary until a train clears a crossing. Locomotive engineers are allowed to vary this pattern at crossings in close proximity to each other, and are also allowed to sound the horn in emergency situations.

In October 1996, federal regulations established an option for “quiet zones” at road-level crossings provided that safety measures are in place. Such "quiet zones" must also have an accident rate that meets federally acceptable standards.

UPR believes quiet zones compromise safety, and while they don’t endorse them, they do comply with these provisions of federal law. There are several types of “quiet zones” that a town could conceivably implement, but they all require meeting qualifying conditions, and include the installation of expensive gates, medians, fencing and warning equipment.

Estimated costs can be as high as $500,000 per crossing, with a connection fee of $5,000 to $15,000, and annual maintenance costs of $4,000 to $10,000. In order to silence the train horns in the Sahuarita area, these would have to be installed at every crossing, because horns can be heard from such great distance.

Certain businesses are allowed to be home-based. A business license and home occupation permit are required. As part of the business license process, you will indicate whether your business is to be a home-based business or not. If so, you will be asked to fill out a Home Occupation application.  Planning & Zoning will review the application and determine whether your business meets the criteria to be allowed as a home-based business. In general, businesses are allowed to be home-based when there is minimal neighborhood impact based on the amount of traffic to the business and the potential for noise or other elements that may have a negative impact on the neighborhood.

Criteria for home-based businesses are found in STC 18.09.030.

Unfortunately, the Town does not enforce CC&Rs. The Planning & Zoning Division enforces the zoning code. 

If you'd like to place signs along Sahuarita's roadways, a Temporary Off-Site Sign Plan is required. This process requires a public hearing before the Planning & Zoning Commission. If you'd like to find out more, contact Planning & Zoning for details.

Political signs are treated differently under state law, which is why they are seen along the roadways in great numbers during election seasons. 

Addresses are based on zip codes, which do not always match jurisdictional boundaries. The Sahuarita zip code extends past the Town of Sahuarita boundaries, so while you may have a Sahuarita address, your property might fall under Pima County's jurisdiction.

Likewise, portions of the Green Valley zip code fall within the Town of Sahuarita, so certain Sahuarita residents (Quail Creek in particular) have a Green Valley zip code.

If you're not sure which jurisdiction you live in, there are a few ways to find out:

• Check the official Zoning Map.
• Use Pima County's user-friendly web-based GIS platform, PimaMaps. 
• Contact the Planning & Zoning Division.

Addresses are based on zip codes, which do not always match jurisdictional boundaries. Portions of the Green Valley zip code fall within the Town of Sahuarita, so certain Sahuarita residents (Quail Creek in particular) have a Green Valley zip code.

Likewise, the Sahuarita zip code extends past the Town of Sahuarita boundaries, so while you may have a Sahuarita address, your property might fall under Pima County's jurisdiction.

If you're not sure which jurisdiction you live in, there are a few ways to find out:

• Check the official Zoning Map.
• Use Pima County's user-friendly web-based GIS platform, PimaMaps. 
• Contact the Planning & Zoning Division.

No, Sahuarita does not charge impact fees or property taxes. The property taxes that Sahuarita property owners pay are all designated to entities other than the Town of Sahuarita (school district, fire district, Pima County, etc.). 

Some portions of Rancho Sahuarita and Quail Creek are located within a Community Facilities District (CFD) that pays for infrastructure (roads, utilities, etc.) directly benefiting the residents of those areas. Properties within CFD boundaries have an additional assessment that is designated for the CFD and is paid with property taxes.

You can view the assessments for a particular property on the Pima County Treasurer's Office website. Search for your property, click on the State Code number, and then click on the Tax Area number in the right-hand column to view the list of assessments and tax rates.

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The Sahuarita Town Council holds its regularly scheduled meetings on select Mondays, starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Sahuarita Council Chambers, 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita. See the Agendas & Minutes page of the Town website for details. Please note meeting dates and times may change. 

Additional meetings, such as study sessions and special meetings, may be called at the direction of the Mayor and Council. These meetings are scheduled on an as-needed basis for information, discussion, and possible action. Public input is not usually taken at a study session as the meeting is for informational purposes only.

Yes, except when the Council holds an Executive Session. Executive Session is a closed meeting called by the Council to consider certain limited matters such as legal advice, pending litigation, property acquisition, personnel matters, etc., pursuant to ARS Sec. 38-431.03.

Citizen participation is invited and encouraged by the Town Council. The general public is welcome at all Council meetings, and any person may speak on matters on the agenda or any other appropriate subject. However, to ensure fair consideration of each item and all the viewpoints to be presented, speakers must follow the rules regarding the appropriate time to speak and the length of time spoken.  

Any person may speak on matters on the agenda or other appropriate subjects. A speaker must fill out a speaker card and give it to the Town Clerk before the start of the meeting. Speaker cards are available at the meeting.

At each point in the meeting, when it is appropriate for citizens to speak, the Mayor will invite comments. Each citizen wishing to speak should approach the microphone and state their name for the record. All comments must be addressed to the Town Council as a whole and not to an individual Council Member and must be limited to three minutes or less. No person other than the individual speaking shall enter the discussion without the Mayor’s permission.

The public may comment on issues not on the Council agenda under "Call to the Public," which occurs at the beginning of the meeting.

State Law requires that "Call to the Public" be limited to discussions on Town issues on the Consent Agenda and issues that the Town can lawfully act upon at a future meeting. Therefore, no discussion is permitted in matters over which the Town Council does not have the power to act in the future.

Remarks must be limited to three minutes or less and should only consist of general statements about the Town or the Town Council as a whole, not personal attacks or direct arguments. If the issue you are raising is not listed on the agenda, State Law prohibits the Town Council from discussing the topic or responding to your concern at the meeting.

After "Call to the Public," individual members of the Town Council may respond to criticism made by those who have addressed the Council, ask staff to review the matter, or request that the issue be placed on a future agenda.

Council and Board and Commission meeting notices, agendas, and minutes are available on the Town's website as a public service. The Town's official bulletin board for posting public notices of the Town's meetings is located outside the Sahuarita Town Hall Building at 375 West Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita, Arizona. The posting board is located on the facility's exterior, and notices are available for the public to view 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please be advised that only the Town's official bulletin board may be relied on for official posting under the Arizona Open Meeting Law.

If you are looking for a lost or stolen bicycle, click on the following link to check our Unclaimed Property Listing. Please note that property is only kept for 30 days. 

Safekeeping property is any article of value left behind by the owner at the scene of an incident involving the police, such as, firearm confiscation due to a court order, a vehicle collision, or a booking arrest. The Property and Evidence Bureau may dispose of this property if unclaimed after 30 days.

To claim a firearm, you must contact Property & Evidence staff at 520-344-7001. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, social security number, and case number so that a background and ATF check can be completed. An appointment to pick up the firearm(s) will be set once these requirements have been completed. 

All found items are held for no more than 30 days. If no owner is identified, the item is then eligible to be auctioned, utilized for police department use, or destroyed in accordance with the law.  

Click on the following link to be taken to the Town of Sahuarita's Public Surplus (auction) site.                                                           

All property retained as evidence must be approved before it can be returned to the owner(s). All evidence is stored in a secure section of the Police Department until it is no longer required. 

If you have questions about the retention of your property, contact the detective or officer assigned to your case at (520) 344-7000.

If you receive a Disposal Notification from the Property and Evidence Bureau, you will have thirty (30) days from the date listed on the website Unclaimed Property Listing to claim your property, or the Sahuarita Police Department may dispose of this item by auction, destruction, or conversion to law enforcement use.

If you are unable to pick up your property, you may ask someone to pick it up on your behalf. Your designee must have a legal notarized statement from you authorizing him/her to pick up your items. A member of the Property & Evidence Bureau must be notified in advance that someone else will be picking up your property. Your designee must present his/her valid, government-issued photo identification. 

You may call the Property & Evidence Bureau at (520) 344-7001. 

The Sahuarita Police Department disposes of unclaimed property, within 30 days, through auction, conversion to department or Town use, or destruction following all state guidelines.

How To Move With Pets

See STC 3.10.180 Fee Schedule for current fees. 

HSSA shelter is at 635 W. Roger Road in Tucson Click here for street map

520-327-6088

HSSA will accept all animals brought into its main shelter by the Sahuarita ACO or Police Officers.

If you need assistance with capturing a domestic stray animal, please call the Sahuarita ACO (520-528-0509). Citizens are also able to take stray animals to the HSSA.

Call HSSA 520-327-6088. HSSA prioritizes returning animals to their homes. If your pet is taken to HSSA, HSSA will do everything it can to help reunite you with your pet.

Pet owners can surrender their animal to the HSSA. To schedule an appointment with HSSA, call 520-327-6088 x111. Owners are charged a one-time drop-off fee, which covers vaccinations, health check, microchip and spay/neuter if needed, boarding and adoption.

If your pet was adopted from a local shelter, rescue group, or similar organization, they may be able to help with rehoming. Reach out to the adopting agency to discuss your options.

To determine if your residence is in the Town of Sahuarita, see below. 

• Sahuarita Jurisdictional Map or
• Pima County Parcel Search

Certain Sahuarita and Green Valley ZIP codes may fall outside of the Town of Sahuarita's jurisdiction requiring dog licensing with Pima County Animal Control (PACC). To check where to license, see below.

 Check your jurisdiction: 

• Sahuarita Jurisdictional Map or
• Pima County Parcel Search

The Sahuarita ACO at 520-528-0509. If the stray is an immediate danger to the public, please call 911.

The Sahuarita ACO at 520-528-0509.

Call 911. Please remain a safe distance away from the animal and do not let any pets or children come in contact with the animal.

Call 911 if immediate medical attention is needed, the animal continues to be aggressive, is at-large, or presents any other immediate public safety hazard. If you are reporting a bite incident that did not just occur and is not an emergency, please call the ACO line at 520-528-0509. 

Is it an emergency? Click here to find out.. 

Arizona Game and Fish, 520-628-5376, or online.

Tucson Wildlife Center 520-290-9453

For snake removal, call Santa Rita Fire Department 520-629-9200

Call the ACO line 520-528-0509

Most Accela users need to register for an account. Users who are looking to view basic permit information or submit a property complaint are not required to register. In order to submit a permit application or schedule inspections, you will need an account.

1. Go to Sahuarita's Accela Citizen Access page.
2. On the right side of the screen under the login area, click on "**Create a Public User Account**"
3. Read the disclaimer, check the box accepting the terms, and click "Continue Registration"
4. Fill in your desired login information
5. Under "Contact Information,"  click "Add New"
6. Select whether you are an Applicant or an Organization (business). If you're the property owner, select Applicant. If you're a contractor/engineer/architect, etc., select Organization, then click "Continue"
7. Fill in the Contact Information boxes, then click "Continue."
8. A pop-up box will appear with options to Continue or Cancel. This box is Accela confirming that you do not have an existing account. Select "Continue," and you will be returned to the main registration screen
9. On the main screen, select "Continue Registration."
10. You will see a green confirmation message at the top of the screen indicating that the account has been created.
11. Be sure to make a note of your login information and security question and answer in a secure place.
12. Congratulations! You have successfully created an account in Accela.

You need to have created an account with Accela Citizen Access and be logged in to schedule an inspection. If fees are due, you will not be able to schedule inspections.

For the most part, yes. You will not be able to register for an account with your mobile device -- you will need to use a desktop computer for account registration. 

You may find that switching how you view Accela on your mobile device from mobile to desktop view, or vice versa, can help with some functions.

Please submit documents through your Town of Sahuarita Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal using the permit number that you have been assigned for your project. After uploading documents into your permit, notify BuildApps@SahuaritaAz.gov. Include the permit number and a statement indicating that the documents have been uploaded to the ACA. 

We are happy to help. Please contact our Senior Permit Technician at (520) 822-8866.

Contact the ACA Help Desk at ACAhelpdesk@sahuaritaaz.gov. Please provide a detailed description of what you need help with, the date and time that any error may have occurred, a screenshot of the error message, and your contact information. 

Town-owned vehicles are managed by Executive Assistant to the Town Manager, Yisel Suarez. Please contact Yisel Suarez at 822-8816 or by email at ysuarez@sahuaritaaz.gov to reserve a vehicle. Police Department, Public Works, Parks & Recreation Department, and Planning & Building manage their own town-owned vehicles for their department. 

Each department has access to the travel request form and travel policy. If you need further assistance contact the Finance Department for additional information. 

Yes. The Sahuarita Water Company is a private water utility regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. The Sahuarita Wastewater Utility is governed by the Sahuarita Town Council and manages the collection and treatment of wastewater (sewage) for our residents. That’s why you receive separate bills for water and sewer service. Since 2014, the Town of Sahuarita has been responsible for wastewater billing.

Yes. You can save $1 per month if you opt for paperless billing, which saves money on printing, processing and postage. You can sign up for paperless billing at the Sahuarita Wastewater Customer Portal or by calling 520.344.7101.

There are several options for paying your wastewater billing:

• Go to Wastewater Customer Portal.. You save $1 per month by signing up for paperless billing.
• Mail a remittance coupon with a check or money order to our lockbox: Sahuarita Wastewater Utility, P.O. Box 842575, Los Angeles, CA 90084-2575.
• Via phone with an account representative 520-344-7101.
• In-person at Sahuarita Town Hall lobby, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (There’s also a payment dropbox in the planning and building lobby).

The Wastewater Utility charges a base service fee of $18.97 each month to all customers connected to the Wastewater Sewer System and $8.39 per thousand gallons of water used each month. Consumption is measured and reported by the Sahuarita Water Company.

A 20 percent irrigation credit is used to adjust for water not discharged into the sewer system. These numbers may be different for businesses. If you’re interested in an alternative irrigation credit, see the Standalone Irrigation Meter Program brochure below and the program enrollment form. 

Bills sent in September will reflect water and sewer charges for August. Payment is due by the end of the month.

A $10 late fee is added each month for delinquent accounts. Interest will accrue on delinquent accounts until the balance is paid.

Wastewater fees pay for sewage service to your home including the following:

Operations/Systems - pipline protection, plant equipment, system maintenance and odor control

Customer Support - customer service, online services, system efficiency review, irrigation credits, billings and collections

Sustainability - increased recharge capacity, energy efficiency, new technologies

Strategic Planning - plant expansion, capacity analysis, regional collaboration, sewer network modeling

Quality/Regulatory Compliance - daily testing, on-site lab, quality monitoring, regulatory reporting, annual financial audit

Yes. Customers have 90 days after the billing date to ask for a review of a bill. To make an appeal, complete this form or contact us.

To see what programs are available for assistance with your wastewater bill visit: https://sahuaritaaz.gov/896/Wastewater-Payment-Assistance

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Drinking water requires treatment before it is delivered to customers. After the water is used, the resulting "wastewater" requires an even higher level of treatment, so that when it is returned, it doesn’t harm plants, animals or people.

DO NOT use public manholes or cleanouts in the public street. This can disrupt traffic and create safety hazards for pedestrians, children, neighbors, etc.

Use the access “cap” of the private property sewer cleanout for the point of discharge.

Control the rate of flow so that the private lateral does not overflow, causing pool water discharge to impact your property or neighboring properties.

Please see our Guidelines for Emptying a Pool for more information and information for business and commercial pools.

Even though some products are advertised as flushable on the label, they do cause problems for our wastewater infrastructure. Unfortunately, these wipes rarely, if ever, biodegrade in our sewer system.

These wipes collect and inevitably cause clogs and equipment failures. When these wipes enter our facility, they are removed and sent to the landfill. During this time, when many folks are home, and some are having trouble finding toilet paper, some are turning to these wipes. 

PLEASE: Flush only natural waste and toilet paper. All other trash, should be disposed of in your trash can.

Sahuarita Water Reclamation Facility asks for your help. PLEASE discard ALL wipes in the trash!  Doing your part will help keep our system flowing properly. 

Any registered voter that resides in the Town of Sahuarita boundaries may vote in a Town of Sahuarita election.  You may register to vote online through Service Arizona, or contact the Pima County Recorder's Office to request an Arizona Voter Registration Form, or call (520)724-4330.

The deadline is before midnight on Monday, June 22, 2026.

To register to vote you must be:

• A United States citizen
• An Arizona resident for at least 29 days before the date of the election
• 18 years of age or older, or 18 by the next election date
• Not convicted of a felony or treason, or had your rights restored
• Not been adjudicated an incapacitated person

 You may register to vote online through Service Arizona, or contact the Pima County Recorder's Office to request an Arizona Voter Registration Form, or call (520)724-4330.

You should update your voter registration if:

• You moved
• You changed your name
• You would like to change your political party

 You may update your registration online through Service Arizona, or contact the Pima County Recorder's Office to request an Arizona Voter Registration Form, or call (520)724-4330.

Early voting allows citizens to cast ballots by mail, or in person at early voting sites prior to Election Day.  To request an early voting ballot by mail, contact the Pima County Recorder's Office online or call (520)724-4330. 

Early voting begins on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and ends at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026.

 To request an early voting ballot by mail, contact the Pima County Recorder's Office online or call (520)724-4330. 

• Mail to Pima County Recorder - P.O. Box 3145, Tucson, AZ 85702-3145.
• Deliver in person to 240 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson, during normal business hours.
• Drop it off at any Early Voting Site during hours of operation.
• Drop it off at any Ballot Drop Box in Pima County:
  • Tucson Downtown Walk-Up: Recorder's Office, 240 N. Stone – In the courtyard facing the Recorder's Office
  • Tucson Downtown Drive-Up: Recorder’s Office, 240 N. Stone – On the utility driveway between 240 N. Stone and 200 N. Stone
  • Tucson East Side Drive-Up: Recorder’s Office, 6920 E. Broadway Blvd. – At the southwest corner of the parking lot in front of the Pima County Health Department office
• Drop it off at any Pima County polling place on Election Day during hours of operation.

Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day (August 4, 2026). 

You may learn more about joining the Active Early Voter List (AEVL) from the Pima County Recorder's Office.  

To find the Vote Center nearest you on Election Day, visit pima.vote.

Visit the Pima County Elections Department to learn about required identification at the Vote Centers.

Any registered voter that resides in the Town of Sahuarita boundaries may vote in a Town of Sahuarita election.  You may register to vote online through Service Arizona, or contact the Pima County Recorder's Office to request an Arizona Voter Registration Form, or call (520)724-4330.

The Primary & General Elections will be conducted as hybrid elections. Voters may vote at any Vote Center on Election Day; vote early in person; request a ballot by mail, or request to be placed on the Active Early Voter List (AEVL) to receive mail ballots for all elections. 

June 22, 2026, is the deadline to register to vote for the July 21, 2026, Primary Election.

Intersections within two-hundred feet of an at-grade railroad crossing cannot be modified without the express permission of the Arizona Corporation Commission and the railroad. The Arizona Corporation Commission and Union Pacific Railroad both have the authority to determine when and under what circumstances traffic control at an intersection may be changed. 

The Town and Union Pacific Railroad have been actively working together throughout the duration of the project, design to construction, and though the Arizona Corporation Commission and Union Pacific Railroad have approved the intersection improvements and roadway plans prior to construction, a new crossing gate and an updated train detection equipment must be installed prior to the traffic signal operating. 

No. The traffic signal heads are covered, indicating that the signal is out of service. Northbound and southbound traffic on Old Nogales Highway should not stop. Southbound traffic turning left on Old Nogales Highway unto Quail Crossing Blvd. must yield to oncoming northbound traffic on Old Nogales Highway. 

Union Pacific Railroad and the Arizona Corporation Commission have the authority to determine when and under what circumstances traffic control at an intersection within two-hundred feet of a railroad grade crossing may be changed. Union Pacific Railroad will not allow the existing traffic control – a two-way stop – to be changed until they have upgraded the crossing gates and related equipment.

It is the Town's position that activating the traffic signals in flashing operation does not change the existing traffic control. A red flashing light or beacon supplements but does not replace a stop sign. A flashing yellow light or beacon calls attention to conditions that may not be apparent to road users. The Town is continuing its efforts with Union Pacific Railroad to allow the traffic signals to be set in flashing operation.

Northbound and southbound through traffic on Old Nogales Highway always has the right of way. Southbound through traffic turning left on Old Nogales Highway unto Quail Crossing Blvd. must yield to northbound through traffic. Traffic on Quail Crossing Blvd. entering Old Nogales Highway, either a left-out or a right-out, must stop at all times and yield to northbound and southbound through traffic on Old Nogales Highway

Licensed, insured, and street legal golf carts are permitted on Arizona roads with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or less. Golf carts, like all slow-moving vehicles such as tractors, animal drawn vehicles, and construction equipment are required to move to the extreme right of a traffic lane or paved shoulder to permit other road users to pass if they are obstructing traffic.

The “bike path” is what the Federal Highway Administration calls a Shared Use Path. A Shared Use Path is defined as a bikeway outside the traveled way and physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent alignment. Shared use paths are also used by pedestrians (including skaters, users of manual and motorized wheelchairs, and joggers).

Our discovery with Arizona municipalities operating in this way has shown that a 4-day workweek can boost morale, positively impact employee productivity, and offer employees a greater sense of work/life balance. Additionally, this change will expand the hours of operation at Town Hall to 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Giving the general public more time to utilize Town Hall services before and after typical work hours, Monday - Thursday.

Childcare for the extended hours was the most pressing concern for employee support.  Additionally, concerns were raised about the diminishment of services to the public and the risk of decline in employee productivity. 

All of the jurisdictions we spoke with indicated that the majority of their staff value the 4|10 work schedule. The only municipality that reverted back did so only in their posted hours of operation due to political direction. Most staff in that jurisdiction elected to keep their 4|10 schedule benefits and alternate days off to cover five operational days.

Compressed work schedules are common in the private sector. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that a third of all employees in the U.S. currently work a compressed work schedule, a number which has steadily increased in the 50 years that the BLS has been tracking this trend. Locally, the largest private employer in Pima County, Raytheon, offers its employees a compressed schedule (known as a 9|80).  

The Town Clerk’s office tracks daily public traffic in Town Hall and has for several years. Friday is consistently the slowest day of the week. Will all services move to a M-Th 4|10 schedule, and therefore be off on the same day each week?  No. However, most services will move to the new schedule and close Fridays. Town services that provide 24/7 public services will likely do so through overlapping 4|10 work schedules with some working M-Th and others working T-F.

Common in-person services include notary services, utility billing, and business and development consultations. These services will be expanded to include 7-8 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Many of these services are also available online 24/7, including:  

• Public records requests are accessed through the Public Records Request portal 
• Business license applications are available through the Business Licensing portal 
• Applications for building permits and zoning clearances are found here 
• Inspection scheduling and code enforcement complaints are managed here 
• Public Works permit applications are found here 
• Submit a maintenance request (Streets, Facilities, and Wastewater) here 
• Wastewater utility and billing management is here 

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At this time, the Municipal Court has elected to not participate in the 4|10 pilot program.  Having said that, there are other municipal courts that have successfully operated under a 4|10 schedule.  Should our Court ever elect to participate, the Town would be supportive.

Our current workforce, as well as the new generation of workers, demands a greater level of flexibility from employers. Having an extra day off each week is attractive to potential employees and, based off our interviews with agencies that currently operate under a 4|10 schedule, is valuable to current employees who are seeking a greater work-life balance. 

Yes. This policy demonstrates how the Town of Sahuarita values and supports employees who actively contribute to our success. Greater flexibility is a direct response to a strong response in our most recent employee survey and is a critical way to prevent burnout and empower employees to pursue more interests outside of work, leaving them refreshed when they return to work each new work week.

The majority of those who choose to participate in exit interviews cite pay and work environment as their primary reasons for leaving. 

This plan is expected to be budget neutral.  We do not anticipate that there will be net savings or costs related to the plan.  On the employee side, it is our hope that the net outcome is positive and viewed as a benefit.  That said, we know that those employees participating in a 4|10 schedule would have one less day to drive into work each week, so perhaps there would be some savings experienced there and perhaps in other ways. 

Based on public feedback, Parks & Recreation has been considering what an after-school program at the Anamax Recreation Center might look like for the community.  With Council’s approval to embark on a 4|10 pilot program, the Parks & Recreation department has elected to jump-start their after-school thoughts into reality by beginning an after-school pilot program of their own.  This program would only be made available to employees for the duration of the Town’s 4|10 pilot program and will serve as a great way for the Parks & Recreation department to learn firsthand what it would take to provide such a service to the general public. Hours of operation for this care program and fees to participate are details still being worked on but will be provided to employees at the earliest date possible. 

It is the Town’s expectation that with the Town’s hours moving to 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. M-Th, the general working public would enjoy a greater opportunity to access in-person services, and not at the expense of their personal leave time with their current employer.

Sick and vacation accruals will be utilized in accordance with the employee’s regularly scheduled work hours. Employees working 10-hour days will be required to take 10 hours of sick or vacation in order to receive payment for a full day. 

The Town is hopeful that operating with fewer and longer workdays will offer employees extended periods of focused work with fewer interruptions and distractions. As an employer in southern Arizona, the Town recognizes its need to employ best practices, especially with crews who work largely outdoors. This will mean things like ensuring adequate water and tools onsite and prescribed breaks throughout the day.  It will be incumbent on supervisors to ensure these best practices are both taught and practiced.

The 12-month pilot program will begin Aug. 28, 2023.

Both the employees and the Town’s customers will be surveyed. The Town’s actions at that point going forward will largely depend on the outcome of those two surveys, and feedback from the Town Manager’s Office.

Most departments and services will make the switch to the 4|10 Mon-Thurs schedule. Some services will continue to run on Fridays and/or weekends in accordance with operational needs. The Municipal Court will maintain 8|5 Mon-Fri operations. Department heads and supervisors are expected to communicate with employees regarding work scheduling.  

Since the Pandemic, municipalities have worked to continuously expand the level of public services online.  The Town of Sahuarita is no different.  One might be pleasantly surprised to learn of all the services the Town is already providing through its website and other social media platforms.  This effort will continue as we move forward year after year as the public expects this level of service by its local government. See above question for services currently offered online. 

If both the employee and the position are suited for remote work and it is approved by both the supervisor and the department head, then the 4|10 schedule will not impact remote work options.

Under the proposed plan, services include:

• Weekly residential trash collection using standardized carts
• Weekly residential recycling collection using standardized carts
• Periodic bulk waste collection (large items like furniture or branches)

The anticipated benefits of a consolidated solid waste service program for the Town of Sahuarita include:

• Public safety: Significant reduction of truck traffic decreases the likelihood of accidents in neighborhoods.
• Road preservation: Centralized waste services will minimize the number of heavy trucks on neighborhood streets, extending the lifespan of roads.
• Service standards: Contracts will establish clear minimum service standards, improving customer experiences and enhancing the overall quality of life.
• Competitive pricing: By leveraging the purchasing power of all households, the Town can secure market-competitive rates, minimize annual rate increases, and offer added benefits like curbside bulk-trash pickup.
• Rate consistency: Eliminating rate disparity between neighborhoods across the community will reduce monthly payments for the majority of Sahuarita households.
• Prevent maintenance costs: Reduced weight and traffic reduces the need for costly maintenance on neighborhood streets. 
• Environment and public health: A Town-operated or managed waste collection service guarantees the proper disposal of solid waste, safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of residents and businesses.

The new service is expected to take effect Sept. 1, 2025. It is the individual resident’s responsibility to:

1.  Turn off autopay with their current provider to avoid being overcharged.
2. Continue to use their old carts on the current service schedule through Aug. 31.
3. Leave their old carts on the curb for collection during the final service week (Aug. 25-29).
4. Review the new service zone map for schedule that will begin Sept. 1.
5. Set up online account for paperless billing (optional) with Waste Connections (520)881-4227

Between Aug. 11-29, new Sahuarita trash & recycling carts will be delivered to all homes, one neighborhood at a time. Residents are asked to please be patient with this process. 

If a neighborhood has already received carts and a home was missed, residents should wait 48-72 hours before reporting to Public Works. After that time, any missing new carts should be reported via the Cart Delivery and Collection Concern Form. Please give 48 hours for the issue to be addressed before resubmitting the form.

Please note: Residents will continue to use old carts on the same service schedule through Aug. 31. The week of Aug. 25-29, residents will leave their carts on the curb. Following waste collection by the old provider, old carts should remain on the curb. All carts will be removed from the curbside by the Department of Public Works at no cost to residents. 

Non-regulated solid waste service results in numerous trucks operating on all neighborhood streets throughout the week. This leads to: 

• Safety risks: Heavy 28-ton garbage trucks increase the likelihood of accidents. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported 2,430 garbage truck crashes nationwide resulting in 1,427 injuries and 107 third-party deaths involving pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists in neighborhoods. 
• Road damage: Heavy trucks accelerate the deterioration of roads, especially in newer neighborhoods. A 2014 study sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board found that a residential trash truck has an impact equivalent to 1,279 passenger cars.
• Poor customer service: Residents lack advocacy for service issues, leaving them to navigate problems independently.
• Inefficiency: Vendors cannot achieve economies of scale, which prevents them from offering competitive rates.
• Wide-spread rate disparity: It is common to find moderate rate disparity between neighborhoods and even between households on that same street.
• Higher maintenance costs: Increased road maintenance costs strain the Town’s budget, diverting funds from other essential services like police and parks.
• Environmental impact: The high volume of trucks compound emissions and increase risks of hydraulic and garbage seepage on roads.

All old carts will be collected by the Town of Sahuarita at no cost to residents during the week of Aug. 25-29. If at the end of that week your carts have not been collected, submit a Cart Collection & Delivery Concern Form. 

Waste Connections will be responsible for collecting payment. You can set up online bill pay by calling Waste Connections Customer Service Line (520)881-4227.

In the future, for the convenience of its residents, town staff will consider options for a combined billing system to include water, wastewater, and solid waste services where permitted and feasible. 

Residents will continue to use old carts on the same service schedule through Aug. 31. The week of Aug. 25-29, residents will leave their carts on the curb. Following waste collection by the old provider, old carts should remain on the curb. All carts will be removed from the curbside by the Department of Public Works at no cost to residents. 

If a neighborhood has already seen cart collection and a home was missed, residents should wait 72 hours before reporting to Public Works. Following the 72-period, all reports for remaining carts should be reported via the Cart Delivery and Collection Concern Form. Please give 48 hours for the issue to be addressed before resubmitting the form.

Under the contract with Waste Connections, residents will benefit from a fixed monthly rate of $22.75, guaranteed for the first four years of service.

Fee Breakdown:

Vendor Rate Yr 1:            $18.18

Bin Finance Charge:      $0.90 (Town will finance the purchase of new bins for the community)

Town Admin Fee:            $2.53 (HR, Legal, Finance, Admin + 1.5 new FTEs for program mgt.)

Fixed Option Charge:    $1.14 (Median cost to account for projected inflation)

                Total:                    $22.75/mo (Yr 1 - 4)

State law allows cities and towns to provide these residential services in one of two ways, either through personnel & equipment (in-house) or under contract with a private-sector provider. Sahuarita recognizes the efficiencies and cost/benefits of utilizing well-established private sector services at this time and elected to enter into Contract No. 250001 for those services. 

Bulk waste collection is included in the monthly bill, whether the service is utilized or not. The community will be broken into zones. One pick-up per quarter per zone will be available to each household with a requirement for each customer to schedule pick-ups advance. Residents may also hire private haulers or bulk waste to meet needs that exceed the limits of the Town’s service.  The service provider, Waste Connections, will notify each residence of which zone they fall in and will provide instructions on how to schedule pick-ups.

For more information or to schedule a pick-up visit: https://www.wasteconnections.com/arizona/town-of-sahuarita/

Waste Connections, in collaboration with Sahuarita’s Public Works department, will provide timelines, set up billing, and offer reminders and customer support for the transition by mail and email beginning in the Spring of 2025.  Additionally, the Town of Sahuarita will continue to provide updates through this FAQ, news media, and social media channels. 

Under the contract with Waste Connections, residents will benefit from a fixed monthly rate of $22.75, guaranteed for the first four years of service. 

All solid waste collection companies operating in town limits were notified of the town’s intent to pursue a centralized program by way of a Town Council-approved resolution (Res. No. 2024-0800 1), approved on June 24, 2024. Every existing provider was invited to submit a bid to be the sole provider for the town. 

The resolution made clear to the public and to private service providers that any open-market contracts signed after the date of the resolution will expire on the service commencement date of the exclusive contract entered by the Town, which is expected Sept. 1, 2025. 

Valid contracts (entered before June 24, 2024) with terms extending beyond the town’s anticipated program rollout date of September 1, 2025, will be allowed to complete that contract term. Upon completion of existing contracts, any renewal options will be null and void, the contract will end, and all properties served under that contract will be brought under the Town’s service program. 

Yes. Ordinance No. 2025-179 sets forth enforcement policies and encourages strong community involvement and participation. Widespread town participation is crucial to keep rates low for an extended period. 

All Residential Service Units (occupied properties with four or fewer dwelling units) located in the Town of Sahuarita, regardless of HOA affiliation, will be included. Properties such as commercial buildings, apartment complexes (five or more dwelling units), and construction sites are excluded from this service and may continue using private haulers.

The town and Waste Connections will work together to ensure quality customer service. The Waste Connections Customer Service line is (520)881-4227.

A new Town of Sahuarita employee will manage incoming concerns and act as a liaison with the local Waste Connections office that will be dedicated to customer support for this program.  

Waste Connections of Arizona was the vendor awarded the contract following a thorough Request for Proposals (RFP) process initiated in the summer of 2024 for solid waste services. Three companies submitted proposals: Waste Management, Republic Services, and Waste Connections. Of the proposals received, Waste Connections offered the lowest rates, ranked first in value criteria, and the most robust benefits to the community. 

No. While this is a new service offered, the newly established position that will manage the Solid Waste program will operate as a division within the existing Public Works Department. As the community grows, there is a possibility that Solid Waste may become an independent department in the future. 

This program is expected to be a reduction in rates for an estimated 80% of residents. Any potential cost increases associated with the program are expected to be minor and are expected to diminish in time due to the town’s ability to negotiate competitive, fixed, long-term rates. The town plans to maintain competitive rates for residents in the future. 

Town staff has examined findings from the pavement preservation program, in addition to reviewing regional and national information on the topic. Reference: https://www.lrrb.org/pdf/201432.pdf. 

Town leaders are in negotiations about the possibility of two adjacent properties sharing an account. Accounts that are shared will pay the full monthly rate but will not receive quarterly bulk trash services. 

No. The base cost includes one 96-gallon cart for trash and one 96-gallon cart for recycling. Each additional cart (trash or recycling) will cost $6.46. 

State law dictates that a community is either served by a non-regulated system (present) or a regulated system, which is what the Town Council elected to do on January 27, 2025. Eventually, all homes will need to be served under the Town's services, with few exceptions. 

ARS Sec. 49-704 

ARS Sec. 49-746

ARS Sec. 49-765

Valid contracts (contracts entered into before June 24, 2024) with terms extending beyond the town’s anticipated program rollout date of September 1, 2025, will be allowed to complete that term of the contract. Upon completion of existing contracts, any renewal options will be null and void, the contract will end, and all properties served under that contract will be brought under Sahuarita’s service program. 

This course of action would allow those HOAs to benefit from their negotiated services and rates but also have a plan to assimilate those areas into the Town’s system when appropriate. 

Yes. Residents can request a vacation hold on their service for up to 90 days at no charge. If the hold exceeds 90 days, a $50 reinstatement fee will apply. The vacation hold will remain active until the account holder requests service reinstatement or six continuous months have passed, whichever comes first.

The idea was a product of a discussion over a year ago between the Town Council and staff as they deliberated over ideas to reduce costs to maintain, and to extend the life of the Town’s roadway network system throughout the community. 

Services such as commercial waste collection, construction debris, and storm debris clean-up are excluded from the new service. These services will remain open to licensed private haulers. 

The organized collection system will: 

• Reduce truck traffic and emissions
• Minimize illegal dumping
• Encourage consistent recycling practices