Why It Matters

The City of Surprise, Arizona has tapped Nexxus Consulting LLC to represent its interests on budget and appropriations matters. Nexxus Consulting LLC filed a Registration Amendment for the City of Surprise, Arizona on August 12, after AZ DC Consulting LLC terminated its lobbying registration for the City on July 8. Surprise is one of Arizona's fastest-growing cities, adding more than 32,000 residents in a recent five-year period and growing at 4.2% annually. Residential and commercial growth in the northwest Asante area of Surprise is outpacing road infrastructure.

By the Numbers

The City of Surprise has spent $70,000 on lobbying over the past four quarters.

Broader Context

More than $100 million in road improvements were under construction in the city at the time of reporting. The first phase of Loop 303 traffic interchange improvements is scheduled to begin construction in 2028. Residential and commercial growth in the northwest Asante area is outpacing available road infrastructure. Arizona faces a projected funding gap of $162 billion by 2050, driven by population growth and maintenance backlogs. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has been a major source of federal funding for Arizona municipalities, and increased investment from the IIJA has begun to close the funding gap in Arizona. The city also received $1 million in Congressional Directed Spending for the Northwest Valley Multigenerational Community Resource Center, which leveraged $26 million in federal coronavirus relief funds. Sen. Mark Kelly's (D-AZ) office announced funding for a new Child Development Center at Luke Air Force Base as part of a broader Arizona defense investment package.

Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) have pressed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding a commercial warehouse facility in Surprise that DHS acquired and is reportedly converting into an ICE processing facility, demonstrating active senatorial engagement with city-specific issues.

The Bottom Line

The city's new lobbying team at Nexxus consists of three partners: Ana Ma, Bob Holmes, and Tracee Sutton. Ma has prior experience with Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-7), while Holmes worked with Rep. John Hayworth (D-AZ-5). Sutton has committee experience with the Senate Budget Committee during the 112th Congress. Budget and Appropriations is listed as the issue code for the engagement, and the filing reports no dollar amount.

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