We’re still waiting for the vote tally to be made official, but by almost two-to-one, San Tan Valley residents voted to incorporate.

Unofficial results show 66.6% of voters in favor, with 10,094 “yes” votes compared to 5,066 “no” votes. Certification is expected later this month, but the outcome is widely viewed as a formality before San Tan Valley city planning begins.

San Tan Valley’s incorporation will reshape Pinal County’s political map, overtaking Maricopa in population, and cut into Maricopa’s share of state-distributed revenues. Based on the most recent census estimates, San Tan Valley has 106,179 residents, compared to 79,134 in Maricopa. Maricopa officials project the addition of a large city will cut into their share of state-shared funds by about $3.1 million annually once fully phased in after a special census in 2027.

Maricopa leaders say they’ve been preparing for the change.

“Since our own incorporation in 2003, we’ve experienced firsthand the opportunities and challenges that come with building a municipal government from the ground up,” said Maricopa spokesperson Monica Williams. “While San Tan Valley is expected to become the largest municipality in Pinal County by population, Maricopa’s established infrastructure, experienced leadership, and strong regional partnerships ensure we remain a key contributor in shaping the county’s future.”

Both Pinal County Supervisors Rich Vitiello and Mike Goodman say that while the short-term hit is real, the long-term effect will be positive.

“For the unincorporated areas around Maricopa, it frees up some [county tax] dollars,” Vitiello said. “San Tan Valley has been getting most of the money for infrastructure. With San Tan Valley taking care of its own needs, those dollars for roads and other projects can be freed up for other parts of the county.”

Goodman noted that sales tax San Tan Valley residents already pay now goes into a statewide pool, which is redistributed to incorporated cities such as Maricopa, Mesa, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Apache Junction and Florence. Once San Tan Valley becomes a city, “those dollars will come back specifically to this region” instead of being spread as widely, he said.

He added that having another large city in Pinal County will boost the region’s political influence with state agencies like the Maricopa Association of Governments, where cities collaborate on transportation and infrastructure priorities.

“In the long term, I think [San Tan Valley incorporation] is going to benefit everybody, including Maricopa. Now [Pinal County] has another entity at the table … Our county is going to propel in a way that is gonna be unimaginable in my personal opinion,” he said.

A longtime Maricopa resident, Vitiello said San Tan Valley is also better positioned to launch essential services than Maricopa was after its 2003 incorporation.

“[After incorporation], it took Maricopa three years to get fire and police. San Tan Valley will do it quicker because they have an established base,” he said, noting that much of the area is already built out.

The vote canvass is expected Aug. 18, with the Board of Supervisors likely to decide on San Tan Valley’s first appointed city council, either five or seven members, at its Aug. 27 meeting.