The Mojave County Board of Supervisors balanced this year’s budget this week, overcoming an initial $4 million deficit for fiscal 2024. Not all board members are happy with this year’s budget, however, as they expect a deficit of $18 million next year.
Of the $138 million in the County’s General Fund balance, the county is requesting $1.5 million in salary increases for Mojave County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detention Officers, of which $250,000 will be used for Mojave County General Administration salary increases. It is planned. $527,000 in salary increases and salary adjustments for Mojave County Juvenile Detention Center employees, and one-fourth of the county tax revenue from new construction (approximately $246,000) will be donated to the Mojave County Economic Development Authority’s commercial fund. . This year’s budget includes his $3.3 million in new initiatives and $1.96 million in capital requests.
But fiscal year 2025 remains a cause for concern for county officials, even as the county seeks new ways to maintain necessary expenses and retain staff.
“We are going to have a significant deficit going into fiscal 2025,” Mojave County Financial Services Commissioner Luke Mounian said on Monday. “Without new or additional sources of income, the county’s reserve fund will have to be reduced to near zero to keep next year’s budget in balance…certainly at some point in fiscal year 26. The county could go bankrupt.”
Lake Havasu’s Mojave County Superintendent Buster Johnson said it was the worst budget the county board has seen in almost 30 years.
“How do you put yourself in a situation where taxpayers will be in the red for $18.5 million next year?” Johnson said on Monday. “How are we going to spend another $4 million when we are already (in deficit)? How are we going to donate 25% of new construction property taxes to economic development? You won’t be able to pay the county bills, you won’t be able to fund the county, and this year we could have easily dealt with this issue and (in FY26) had a truly balanced budget. must.”
Meanwhile, Mojave County taxes are expected to increase slightly in this year’s budget. Major property taxes are expected to increase by about 5.2% to about $175.47 per $100,000 home value. Taxes for the Mojave County Library District will increase by 3.03% and taxes for the Mojave County Flood Control District will increase by 4.17%. Property taxes in the Mojave County TV Improvement District remain unchanged at 0.0563 – approximately $56.30 per $100,000 home appraisal.
Mojave County Superintendent Hildy Angius said in a statement to the Today’s News Herald last week that county tax revenues will increase this year primarily due to rising property values across the county. And while Arizona’s “truth tax law” may be aimed at preventing property tax spikes as property values rise, Angius didn’t oppose raising property taxes this year. rice field.
“At the end of the day, the problem is inflation,” Angius said Monday. “If[the price increase]helps in any way for that extra five cents, so be it this year. Let’s see what happens… I hope next year will be a better year. Like that. You can’t see it, but hope springs up forever.”
Mojave County Commissioner Travis Lingenfelter expressed concern about next year’s budget cycle but was optimistic about the county’s ability to overcome its projected fiscal year 25 deficit. .
“There is still a lot of work to do,” said Lingenfelter. “This is one of the most important jobs this board can do this time next year, and if we don’t do anything, it won’t be great. I’m committed to it.”
The oversight board will work with the Mojave County Commissioner’s Office to organize a special session to discuss next year’s pending budget, where supervisors will share and discuss their thoughts, Lingenfelter said. He plans to meet for
“That’s governance,” said Lingenfelter. “If you have people with different points of view, you sit down at the table and bring your numbers and ideas and that becomes a negotiation. I can’t put it in. I hope that in the end we can come up with something that everyone will accept, and hopefully we’ll get there within the next year.”
