Sedona, AZ –Sedona is unlike most rural communities in Arizona. While our permanent population is fewer than 10,000 residents, the responsibilities of managing and maintaining our city extend far beyond serving the needs of our year-round population alone. As one of Arizona’s most recognized and visited destinations, Sedona welcomes millions of visitors each year who come to experience our extraordinary natural beauty, outdoor recreation, arts, culture, and hospitality.
This level of visitation places demands on public infrastructure, roads, public safety services, parks, trail systems, transit, environmental protection efforts, and community facilities that are more commonly associated with much larger municipalities. Evaluating Sedona’s needs solely through the lens of resident population does not accurately reflect the realities of operating a destination community that serves residents, employees, businesses, and visitors alike.
Proposition 400 recognizes the importance of maintaining local authority to address these unique circumstances. Home Rule allows Sedona to develop budgets and allocate resources based on the actual needs of our community rather than being constrained by formulas designed for jurisdictions with very different operating environments.
Sedona’s reputation as a world-class destination has been established over decades. The word is out. Visitors from across the nation and around the world continue to choose Sedona for its breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled quality of life. While tourism patterns naturally fluctuate over time, there is every indication that Sedona will remain a highly sought-after destination well into the future.
The question before us is not whether people will continue to visit Sedona, but whether we will have the resources and local authority necessary to manage that visitation responsibly.
As stewards of this remarkable community, we must remain proactive rather than reactive. Maintaining our roads, trails, public safety services, parks, infrastructure, and environmental resources requires thoughtful planning and ongoing investment. The tourism economy generates significant revenues that help support these essential services and improvements, benefiting not only our visitors but also the residents who call Sedona home year-round.
These investments help preserve the quality of life that makes Sedona such a desirable place to live. They support public safety, protect our natural environment, maintain community assets, and ensure that our infrastructure can meet the demands placed upon it. Without the ability to plan and budget according to Sedona’s unique circumstances, those responsibilities become increasingly difficult to fulfill.
Supporting Proposition 400 is not simply a question of budgeting. It is about preserving Sedona’s ability to make decisions locally and responsibly. It ensures that community leaders and residents retain the flexibility necessary to balance economic vitality, environmental stewardship, quality of life, and long-term sustainability.
Reasonable people may hold differing views on how best to achieve those goals. However, Proposition 400 affirms an important principle: decisions about Sedona’s future should be made by those who understand the community’s distinctive needs and who are directly accountable to its residents.
By maintaining Home Rule authority, Sedona can continue investing in the infrastructure and services that support both residents and visitors while preserving the character and beauty that define our community. This is not simply about accommodating tourism; it is about protecting what makes Sedona special and ensuring that future generations inherit a community that is as vibrant, well-maintained, and beautiful as the one we enjoy today.
If residents believe Sedona can do better—and there is always room for improvement—the answer is not to limit our community’s ability to invest in itself when resources are available. The answer is to engage in the process, share ideas, attend public meetings, communicate with elected officials, serve on boards and commissions, and help shape the future of our city.
Home Rule does not determine what decisions are made; it determines whether Sedona has the flexibility to make those decisions locally. Proposition 400 preserves that flexibility and ensures that future generations of residents have the tools necessary to address challenges, seize opportunities, and respond to changing community needs.
Meaningful change has always come from active civic participation. Sedona’s future will not be shaped solely through online discussion or commentary, but through residents who engage respectfully, contribute constructively, and work collaboratively with elected leaders and neighbors to build the community they want to see.
A vote in favor of Proposition 400 is a vote for local control, responsible stewardship, and the continued ability to manage Sedona’s future in a way that reflects the realities of being one of the nation’s premier destination communities.
Sedona Lodging Council
Board of Directors