Voters in Maricopa County have signaled their approval of a proposition designed to fund the construction of new behavioral health facilities.
Proposition 409, an early $900 million health care bond measure, passed with around 51.5% of the vote, freeing up the Maricopa County Special Health Care District to build a new hospital, while also improving existing healthcare facilities.
The district, popularly known as Valleywise Health, has said that the need for mental healthcare facilities in southern Arizona has been on the rise.
Supporters of the proposition have asserted that mental health cases processed through the local courts have been up by a significant 169% in the last 10 years.
Valleywise Health will now begin the planning process to build a 200-bed behavioral health hospital and outpatient specialty facility, while also expanding primary care and pediatric space.
It was thought that a 10-story facility completed last year and supported by an earlier $935 million bond would be enough to meet demand until at least 2030, a forecast that has since proven short of the mark.
November 7, 2025
By Garry Boulard
