Statement of Account  ·  Phoenix City Council District 8  ·  Past Due
+22%·Phoenix Sales-Tax Rate Hike — March 18, 2025+37.5%·Phoenix Trash-Rate Hike — April 22, 2026+26%·Phoenix Water Rates — June 28, 2023+20%·Phoenix Wastewater Rates — June 28, 2023+57%·Sky Harbor Taxi Traffic-Delay Charge — June 4, 2025$60M·PLEA Police-Union Raise Package — May 15, 2024$140M·Spent on Homelessness 2022–2025$249M·Annual New Tax Revenue from TPT Hike$18M+·Phoenix Subsidy to The Moreland (Brinshore, Chicago)$1.3M·Eviction Legal Services Program — Funded by You0·No Votes on Mayor Gallego’s Agenda8-1·Both Big Hikes Were 8-1 Votes — Waring Was the Lone No+22%·Phoenix Sales-Tax Rate Hike — March 18, 2025+37.5%·Phoenix Trash-Rate Hike — April 22, 2026+26%·Phoenix Water Rates — June 28, 2023+20%·Phoenix Wastewater Rates — June 28, 2023+57%·Sky Harbor Taxi Traffic-Delay Charge — June 4, 2025$60M·PLEA Police-Union Raise Package — May 15, 2024$140M·Spent on Homelessness 2022–2025$249M·Annual New Tax Revenue from TPT Hike$18M+·Phoenix Subsidy to The Moreland (Brinshore, Chicago)$1.3M·Eviction Legal Services Program — Funded by You0·No Votes on Mayor Gallego’s Agenda8-1·Both Big Hikes Were 8-1 Votes — Waring Was the Lone No

City of Phoenix  ·  District 8  ·  Statement of Account

Statement period: April 17, 2023 — April 26, 2026

Past Due  /  Action RequiredAuthorized by: Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington

Her Votes.
Your Bill.

In 36 months, Phoenix Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington has voted YES on seven tax, fee, and rate hikes on District 8 families.

A 22% sales-tax hike. A 37.5% trash-rate hike. Water up 26%. Wastewater up 20%. A new stormwater excise tax. Sky Harbor taxi fares up. Development impact fees up. A judge had to order her Council to clean up The Zone. She got promoted to Vice Mayor on January 7, 2026.

Every line item below is sourced to a Phoenix Legistar file, an official City Clerk meeting document, or her own published quote. Vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Open the StatementSee the Receipts

Estimated annual cost  /  typical D8 household

$400–$600

per family, every year, forever. Plus a property-tax debt obligation through ~2045.

Hikes voted YES on

07

Recorded No votes on any tax, fee, or rate increase: 0

Press file

Vice Mayor of Phoenix
Vice Mayor of Phoenix
Voted YES: 22% sales-tax hike
Voted YES: 22% sales-tax hike
Voted YES: water +26% / wastewater +20%
Voted YES: water +26% / wastewater +20%
Selected Vice Mayor — Jan 7, 2026
Selected Vice Mayor — Jan 7, 2026
“Trifecta of circumstances”
“Trifecta of circumstances”
Ball Santin & McLeran PLC
Ball Santin & McLeran PLC

Itemized statement

The Hodge Washington Tab.

Every YES vote on a tax, fee, or rate hike since she was sworn in — with the date, the tally, and the dollar impact on a typical District 8 family.

Statement no. D8 / 26 / 001

Billed To

Every working family in District 8

Authorized By

Vice Mayor Hodge Washington

06/28/2023
Water rate +26% / Wastewater +20% / Stormwater Excise Tax +$0.25Vote: 7-2 YES (Waring, O'Brien No) · Phase 3 final hike March 2025 · Water allowance reduced for 90% of households KJZZ; Foothills Focus; phoenix.gov/waterservices
+ $120 / yr
11/07/2023
Phoenix GO Bond — property-tax-backed debt packageShe personally chaired the outreach campaign. Secondary-property-tax debt service through ~2045. AZ Big Media (Nov 2023); Phoenix Bond Election results
20-yr debt
04/09/2025
Development Impact Fees & Water Resources Acquisition Fees increasedVote: Unanimous YES · Effective June 23, 2025 · Passed through to every Laveen new-build closing phoenix.gov —2025 Development Impact Fee Update
Closing-cost +
03/18/2025
Sales-tax (TPT) rate 2.3% → 2.8% — +22% rate hikeVote: 8-1 YES (Waring No) · Ord. G-7369 / File 25-0189 · First general-fund TPT hike since 1986 Phoenix Legistar 25-0189; AZ Central; FOX 10
+ $200 / yr
06/04/2025
Sky Harbor taxi fares — first hike since 2012Min fare $15 → $18; per-mile $2.30 → $2.60; traffic-delay $23 → $36/hr (+57%) AZ Central (June 5, 2025)
+ $3 / ride
07/02/2025
FY 2025-26 Property-Tax Levy OrdinancePrimary property-tax revenue +$7.3M / +3.4% on rising valuations · Truth-in-Taxation hearing required Phoenix Budget; FY 2025-26 levy ordinance
+ $30–80 / yr
04/22/2026
Solid Waste (trash) rate +$14 over 3 years — +37.5% hikeVote: 8-1 YES (Waring No) · Auto 5%/yr inflation escalator through July 2033 Phoenix.gov; FOX 10 Phoenix (April 22, 2026)
+ $168 / yr

Estimated Annual Total

Per typical District 8 household, recurring forever

$400–$600 / yr

Estimates based on Phoenix City Council’s own per-household impact statements, the Phoenix Water Services Department rate schedule, the FY 2025-26 budget book, and contemporary AZ Central / AZ Family broadcast estimates of the sales-tax impact.

Case files

The Hodge Washington Record

Receipts. Roll calls. Quotes. Each case file is in her own votes, her own bills, or her own words.

13 files on record
Vote04/22/26
No. 01
Raised Your Trash Bill 37.5% — Four Days Ago.
ADOPTEDSOLID WASTE RATE — APR 22, 2026

Raised Your Trash Bill 37.5% — Four Days Ago.

On April 22, 2026 — just days ago — Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington voted YES on an 8-1 council vote to raise Phoenix's monthly residential trash rate from $37.32 to $51.32 over three years. A 37.5% rate hike. Plus automatic 5%-per-year escalators through 2033 — with no future vote required. Only Councilman Jim Waring voted no.

Source: Phoenix.gov newsroom “Solid Waste Rate Approved by City Council” (April 22, 2026); FOX 10 Phoenix (April 22, 2026); Ahwatukee.com.

Open sources
Vote03/18/25
No. 02
22% Sales-Tax Hike. On a Tuesday.
ADOPTEDORDINANCE G-7369 / FILE 25-0189

22% Sales-Tax Hike. On a Tuesday.

On March 18, 2025, Hodge Washington voted YES on Ordinance G-7369 — raising the Phoenix Transaction Privilege Tax (sales tax) from 2.3% to 2.8%. That's a 22% increase in the rate, $249 million in new taxes per year, and the first general-fund sales-tax increase in Phoenix since 1986. She called it a “trifecta of circumstances.” Councilman Jim Waring was the only no vote.

Source: Phoenix Legistar File #25-0189; FOX 10 Phoenix (March 18, 2025); AZ Central (March 20, 2025); AZ Family (March 19, 2025 broadcast).

Open sources
Vote06/28/23
No. 03
Water +26%. Wastewater +20%. Stormwater Tax Too.
ADOPTEDPHX WATER RATE ORDINANCE — JUN 28, 2023

Water +26%. Wastewater +20%. Stormwater Tax Too.

Just 72 days into her first term — on June 28, 2023 — she cast her very first rate-hike vote. A 7-2 YES on water rates up 26%, wastewater up 20%, and a new $0.25/month Stormwater Excise Tax. The council also reduced your monthly water allowance so 90% of households would pay an overage. Her defense? “We are now dealing with the consequences of prior leadership.”

Source: KJZZ (June 29, 2023); Foothills Focus (July 11, 2023); Ahwatukee (April 2024); phoenix.gov/waterservices proposed-rates.

Open sources
Vote07/10/23
No. 04
A Judge Had to Order Her Council to Clean Up The Zone.
COURT-ORDEREDBROWN v. CITY OF PHOENIX (CV2022-010439)

A Judge Had to Order Her Council to Clean Up The Zone.

Twelve weeks into Hodge Washington's term, Maricopa County Superior Court had to order the City of Phoenix to clean up “The Zone” — a 7-block homeless encampment the Council had allowed to grow to 1,000 people. A judge set a July 10, 2023 deadline. A year later she told KJZZ: “we pride ourselves in cleaning up The Zone.” She took the credit for work a judge forced them to do.

Source: Maricopa County Superior Court (March 27, 2023 ruling / July 10, 2023 deadline); ABC15 (June 2023); KJZZ (Feb 2024).

Open sources
Vote01/07/26
No. 05
Zero No Votes on Mayor Gallego's Agenda.
TABULATEDCOUNCIL VOTE TABULATION

Zero No Votes on Mayor Gallego's Agenda.

Kate Gallego personally endorsed Hodge Washington over incumbent Carlos Garcia in 2023. Since then, Hodge Washington has cast ZERO recorded No votes on any substantive Gallego-priority item. Every budget. Every tax hike. Every downtown subsidy. Every MOU. Then on January 7, 2026, her council colleagues made her Vice Mayor. She is the second-most-visible person in City Hall — and she has never once said no.

Source: Phoenix Legistar vote action details 2023-2026; Phoenix.gov press releases; AZ Central “Who is Kesha Hodge Washington” (March 20, 2023).

Open sources
Vote05/15/24
No. 06
Voted YES on a $60 Million Police-Union Raise.
ADOPTEDUNIT 4 (PLEA) MOU — MAY 15, 2024

Voted YES on a $60 Million Police-Union Raise.

On May 15, 2024, Hodge Washington voted 7-2 YES on the 2024-2026 PLEA MOU — delivering $60 million in raises to the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association over two years. Meanwhile, PPD has a 600-officer staffing shortage and has overspent its billion-dollar budget by $5 million every year three years running. She funded the union. She did not hire the officers.

Source: AZ Central (May 14, 2024); ABC15 (May 15, 2024); Phoenix Legistar (Unit 4 MOU 2024–2026). 2026-2028 MOU pending on April 22, 2026 formal agenda.

Open sources
Vote06/13/24
No. 07
Said DOJ Reform Was a “Broken Model.”
CITEDJOINT STATEMENT TO AG GARLAND (JUN 13, 2024)

Said DOJ Reform Was a “Broken Model.”

On June 13, 2024, the day the Department of Justice released its 126-page report documenting excessive force, racial discrimination, and rights violations against the homeless at PPD, Hodge Washington co-signed a letter to AG Merrick Garland rejecting the consent decree. She called it a “broken model.” Then, four months earlier, she had pitched a progressive debate crowd on paying police misconduct settlements out of officer pensions. Which Kesha is real?

Source: KJZZ and AZ Family joint-statement coverage (June 13, 2024); Phoenix New Times (Sept 24, 2024); AZ Central pre-runoff debate coverage (March 20, 2023).

Open sources
VoteONGOING
No. 08
Still Billing Private Clients at Her Law Firm.
CITEDUS VIRGIN ISLANDS BAR DIRECTORY

Still Billing Private Clients at Her Law Firm.

While serving as Vice Mayor of Phoenix, Hodge Washington remains listed on the Arizona and Virgin Islands Bar rolls as a practicing commercial, civil, and real-estate litigation attorney at Ball Santin & McLeran PLC. She votes on every zoning change, every GPLET abatement, every development subsidy. Phoenix District 8 is paying for a councilwoman who still has a day job — and a private client list the public has never seen.

Source: U.S. Virgin Islands Bar Association member directory (usvibar.org/members/?id=26508557); LinkedIn; Arizona State Bar membership.

Open sources
VoteGROUNDBREAK
No. 09
$18 Million of Your Taxes — to a Chicago Developer.
PASSEDTHE MORELAND — DOWNTOWN PHOENIX

$18 Million of Your Taxes — to a Chicago Developer.

“Housing is the bedrock of human stability,” Hodge Washington said at The Moreland groundbreaking. The Moreland is a $137M, 237-unit apartment project in downtown Phoenix. Phoenix taxpayers chipped in at least $18M of Phase I funding to Chicago-based Brinshore Development, stacked on top of LIHTC tax credits and CVS Health ESG money. Meanwhile D8 families pay 22% more in sales tax and 37.5% more for trash pickup. The subsidy flows downtown. The bill comes to Laveen.

Source: Phoenix.gov newsroom “Phoenix Breaks Ground on The Moreland”; 12News; Downtown Phoenix Inc profile (dtphx.org).

Open sources
Vote02/25/25
No. 10
She Called the Sales Tax a “Trifecta.”
CITEDAZ FAMILY (MAR 18, 2025 BROADCAST)

She Called the Sales Tax a “Trifecta.”

At the February 25, 2025 Phoenix City Council policy session, Hodge Washington defended the 22% TPT increase with this quote: “It is primarily due to what I call a trifecta of circumstances. It is what we have seen with state action, what we have seen with inflation, and what we have seen as an increase in demand for the quality services that we provide.” Three excuses. One vote. You pay the bill.

Source: AZ Family “Phoenix City Council approves raising the sales tax” (March 19, 2025); video of Feb 25, 2025 policy session.

Open sources
Vote01/31/23
No. 11
“I Believe in Consequences” — For You, Not Her.
CITEDAZ CENTRAL (FEB 10, 2023)

“I Believe in Consequences” — For You, Not Her.

At a Greater Green Gables neighborhood meeting on January 31, 2023, Hodge Washington told homeowners: “I believe in consequences… at a certain point, if they continue to refuse, now they're making a choice.” Three years later, she's Vice Mayor. Phoenix spent $140 million on homelessness. The Zone came back in pieces all over District 8. And the consequences? Still on you.

Source: AZ Central “Kesha Hodge Washington wants to represent District 8” (Feb 10, 2023).

Open sources
Vote04/09/25
No. 12
Raised the Fees on Every New Home Built in Phoenix.
ADOPTED2025 DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE UPDATE

Raised the Fees on Every New Home Built in Phoenix.

On April 9, 2025, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved higher Development Impact Fees and Water Resources Acquisition Fees — effective June 23, 2025. The new fees get passed straight through to every working family trying to buy their first Laveen home. Hodge Washington voted yes. Every first-time homebuyer in District 8 is paying her new tax at closing.

Source: Phoenix.gov “2025 Development Impact Fee Update”; Council action April 9, 2025 (unanimous).

Open sources
Vote06/04/25
No. 13
Your Sky Harbor Taxi Costs $3 More — Every Ride.
ADOPTEDSKY HARBOR TAXI FARE ORDINANCE (JUN 4, 2025)

Your Sky Harbor Taxi Costs $3 More — Every Ride.

On June 4, 2025, the Phoenix City Council — Hodge Washington included — approved the first Sky Harbor taxi-fare hike since 2012. Minimum fare up $3. Downtown flat rate up $3. First mile up $2. Traffic-delay charge up 57%. Who pays? The overnight airport workers, the seniors who can't navigate the Sky Train, the disabled travelers, the service economy. Everyone who keeps Phoenix running.

Source: AZ Central “Phoenix airport raises taxi fares” (June 5, 2025); Phoenix City Council action June 4, 2025.

Open sources

Phoenix City Council District 8

Retire Hodge Washington.

Frank Abasciano Jr. is a District 8 small-business owner.
Nine years of real Phoenix payroll. Zero years of tax hikes.

Frank has spent the last nine years building Abasciano Demolition LLC at 1021 W. Siesta Way (85041). He writes the checks to his crew. He pays the same taxes you do. And he votes no on hikes the Vice Mayor calls a “trifecta of circumstances.” Every dollar funds another door knocked, another mailer, another voter who sees this statement before they cast a ballot on November 3, 2026.

Back AbascianoOpen the Case Files

Secure · Anedot · Abasciano for Phoenix D8

Authorized for paid media

Frank Abasciano Jr.

Candidate, Phoenix City Council, District 8

Owner, Abasciano Demolition LLC
1021 W. Siesta Way, Phoenix AZ 85041

Footnotes

We don’t need to make anything up.

Every claim on this page is tied to a Phoenix Legistar file number, an official Phoenix City Clerk meeting document, a phoenix.gov press release, or a published Arizona news article. The receipts, line by line:

  1. Raised Your Trash Bill 37.5% — Four Days Ago. — SOLID WASTE RATE — APR 22, 2026 (ADOPTED)
    Phoenix.gov newsroom “Solid Waste Rate Approved by City Council” (April 22, 2026); FOX 10 Phoenix (April 22, 2026); Ahwatukee.com.
  2. 22% Sales-Tax Hike. On a Tuesday. — ORDINANCE G-7369 / FILE 25-0189 (ADOPTED)
    Phoenix Legistar File #25-0189; FOX 10 Phoenix (March 18, 2025); AZ Central (March 20, 2025); AZ Family (March 19, 2025 broadcast).
  3. Water +26%. Wastewater +20%. Stormwater Tax Too. — PHX WATER RATE ORDINANCE — JUN 28, 2023 (ADOPTED)
    KJZZ (June 29, 2023); Foothills Focus (July 11, 2023); Ahwatukee (April 2024); phoenix.gov/waterservices proposed-rates.
  4. A Judge Had to Order Her Council to Clean Up The Zone. — BROWN v. CITY OF PHOENIX (CV2022-010439) (COURT-ORDERED)
    Maricopa County Superior Court (March 27, 2023 ruling / July 10, 2023 deadline); ABC15 (June 2023); KJZZ (Feb 2024).
  5. Zero No Votes on Mayor Gallego's Agenda. — COUNCIL VOTE TABULATION (TABULATED)
    Phoenix Legistar vote action details 2023-2026; Phoenix.gov press releases; AZ Central “Who is Kesha Hodge Washington” (March 20, 2023).
  6. Voted YES on a $60 Million Police-Union Raise. — UNIT 4 (PLEA) MOU — MAY 15, 2024 (ADOPTED)
    AZ Central (May 14, 2024); ABC15 (May 15, 2024); Phoenix Legistar (Unit 4 MOU 2024–2026). 2026-2028 MOU pending on April 22, 2026 formal agenda.
  7. Said DOJ Reform Was a “Broken Model.” — JOINT STATEMENT TO AG GARLAND (JUN 13, 2024) (CITED)
    KJZZ and AZ Family joint-statement coverage (June 13, 2024); Phoenix New Times (Sept 24, 2024); AZ Central pre-runoff debate coverage (March 20, 2023).
  8. Still Billing Private Clients at Her Law Firm. — US VIRGIN ISLANDS BAR DIRECTORY (CITED)
    U.S. Virgin Islands Bar Association member directory (usvibar.org/members/?id=26508557); LinkedIn; Arizona State Bar membership.
  9. $18 Million of Your Taxes — to a Chicago Developer. — THE MORELAND — DOWNTOWN PHOENIX (PASSED)
    Phoenix.gov newsroom “Phoenix Breaks Ground on The Moreland”; 12News; Downtown Phoenix Inc profile (dtphx.org).
  10. She Called the Sales Tax a “Trifecta.” — AZ FAMILY (MAR 18, 2025 BROADCAST) (CITED)
    AZ Family “Phoenix City Council approves raising the sales tax” (March 19, 2025); video of Feb 25, 2025 policy session.
  11. “I Believe in Consequences” — For You, Not Her. — AZ CENTRAL (FEB 10, 2023) (CITED)
    AZ Central “Kesha Hodge Washington wants to represent District 8” (Feb 10, 2023).
  12. Raised the Fees on Every New Home Built in Phoenix. — 2025 DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE UPDATE (ADOPTED)
    Phoenix.gov “2025 Development Impact Fee Update”; Council action April 9, 2025 (unanimous).
  13. Your Sky Harbor Taxi Costs $3 More — Every Ride. — SKY HARBOR TAXI FARE ORDINANCE (JUN 4, 2025) (ADOPTED)
    AZ Central “Phoenix airport raises taxi fares” (June 5, 2025); Phoenix City Council action June 4, 2025.

Aggregate counts (seven tax and rate hikes in 36 months, zero recorded No votes on major Mayor Gallego agenda items, $140 million spent on homelessness 2022–2025, $60 million PLEA raise package, 600-officer Phoenix Police staffing shortage) are tabulated from Phoenix Legistar action detail, Phoenix City Clerk meeting files, the Phoenix FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 budget documents, and contemporaneous Arizona news coverage including AZ Central, KJZZ, ABC15, AZ Family, FOX 10 Phoenix, Phoenix New Times, Courthouse News Service, AZ Big Media, Foothills Focus, Ahwatukee Foothills News, Arizona Digital Free Press, and yourvalley.net.