The FY25 budget includes strategic investments in public health and safety, flood protection, reforestation and operational capacity, and also includes placeholders to leverage federal funding to achieve strategic and programmatic goals across Coconino County operations.

The budget, which goes into effect July 1, is the culmination of an extensive process throughout the last fiscal year that began with each county department forecasting their needs for the coming year and meeting with the County Administrator. Once all needs assessments were conducted, they were presented to the Board at various special meetings adjacent to the Board's regular meeting schedule. The FY 2025 Budget again maintains the County's approach to long-term budget planning, continuing one of the lowest property tax rates in the state and maintaining a level of service to the community while also considering the impact on taxpayers.

Key highlights of the County’s FY 2025 budget include:

1. A balanced budget.
2. The FY2013 Budget uses a long-term financial planning strategy to account for possible fluctuations in sales tax revenues due to economic conditions.
3. The FY25 budget complies with the county’s constitutional spending limits.
4. Continuing the County's capital improvement plan, including public works projects funded by the voter-approved road maintenance sales tax, facility upgrades to the Department of Health and Human Services building, and a new Flood Control District/Emergency Preparedness building.
5. Continue to invest significant amounts of local revenue into necessary and ongoing flood mitigation and forest restoration projects. Local funds can then be leveraged to receive federal or state funding.
6. Maintain the spending capacity necessary to disburse any additional Federal or State funds that may be awarded during the fiscal year.

Additionally, base property tax rates will decrease slightly due to state-mandated property tax revenue limitations and overall property assessment increases. Secondary property tax rates for flood control districts and sanitation service districts will remain unchanged.

To avoid cuts to service at the county's public libraries, the commission is recommending an increase in the library district's secondary property tax levy from $0.2756 to $0.2956 per $100 of assessed property value.

“I want to thank the administration and staff for working tirelessly to deliver a balanced budget while adhering to spending limits and accounting for economic fluctuations, while maintaining a level of service to our community,” said Judy Begay, District 4 board chair and superintendent.

The final primary and secondary tax rates will be approved by the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. The full budget presentation from the June 25 meeting can be found here: https://www.coconino.az.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06252024-7082