By L. Parsons Assistant County Manager Bryan Layton presented the tentative fiscal year 2021 budget to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors last week that was unanimously approved by the board. Layton said, “This year’s budget focuses on the county’s ability to maintain services and continue responding to public health emergencies without an increase to the primary property tax rate.” The county, each year, may increase the property tax levee up to two percent each year. However, according to Layton, they have declined to do so in 2021. The general fund budget is $47.8 million, an amount that is higher than last year’s budget by $4,863,697. Layton credits the difference primarily to CARES Act funding. “It is also due to careful spending by the county,” he added. Expenditures for the county will be largely employee salaries as well as public safety including criminal justice. The county is also looking to save close to $9 million on employee health care this year due primarily to a change in health plans with expanded employee options. The county has no plans to go back to full staff capacity, however the budget does include funding to replace equipment and software in the Treasurer’s Office, as well as increasing costs of doing business throughout the county. The budget will be presented for final approval to the Board of Supervisors with few if any changes at their next meeting. Other districts within the county presented their tentative budgets and were approved. The Public Works Department amended an approved purchase agreement to buy a backhoe. In the original agreement, the county was going to purchase the equipment for $108,100. That particular backhoe is no longer available for purchase, however a 2017 Caterpillar is available for $81,323. The board approved that purchase. Grants approved by the board for receipt by various departments included a grant for the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office that was awarded from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission: Drug, Gang and Violent Crime Control in the amount of $83,592. The county will provide matching funds of $59,078 from the federal RICO (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) fund. Monies will be used to pay a portion of salaries for MCAT (Major Crimes Apprehension Team) officers. The County Attorney’s Office was awarded a grant from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission in the amount of $11,414 through the Arizona Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program. The funds will be used to purchase gloves, masks and cleaning supplies to ensure victims of crime as well as employees are protected from COVID-19. The County Attorney’s Office also received a grant for victim compensation and employee salaries in the amount of $87,673, as well as a Byrne Grant in the amount of $123,117, which requires $30,799 in matching RICO funds from the county. The grant will be used to pay the salaries of two dedicated prosecutors to prosecute drug and trafficking offenses. The Elections Department also received a grant in the amount of $120,000 from the Help Americans Vote Act to ensure election security. Apart from the smaller grants awarded as part of COVID-19 relief efforts, the county also received a $8 million Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) grant from the AZCares Fund through the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This grant is Navajo County’s share of the CARES funds passed by Congress in March. In other business, the board: * Approved a contract extension with the Arizona Department of Housing to re-evaluate the environmental assessment for the Snowflake Water Line Extension. * Adopted a resolution approving a zone change for High Pines Estates which included a more comprehensive environmental study and master development site plan for an RV park located in the Overgaard area. * Renewed a five-year agreement with Healthy People Healthy Communities to umbrella several grants in the health department. * Approved the conducting of elections for school board members in school districts throughout Navajo County including Winslow, Holbrook, Joseph City and Snowflake. * Approved tax exemptions for widows, widowers and disabled persons whose property is exempt from tax. * Authorized the use of the Navajo County Complex for a July 4 fireworks display. * Signed a letter to Navajo County Community members regarding the adjusted Census 2020 timeline. Census activity will resume Aug. 11 and continue through Oct. 31. * Authorized the treasurer to apply for a Schwab One Account for non-incorporated organizations. This allows the board to invest and reinvest county, school and special district funds in place of the agreement with Wells Fargo, which no longer exists. * Approved policy changes related to personnel and personal leave. The new policy adds exceptions regarding COVID-19 including allowing some individuals to carry over unused personal leave. * Approved designation of poll workers, polling places and voting centers for the primary and general elections as well as a polling location contingency plan. * Approved the sale of back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $422. * Approved justice court reports for June for Holbrook, Winslow, Snowflake, Kayenta, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside precincts. * Approved the constable report for the Winslow precinct for April. * Approved the juvenile probation report for June. * Approved the warrant and voucher report over $1,000 for June. * Approved the Clerk of the Superior Court report for June. The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21, in the board chambers, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive, with an online option for the public by visiting the Navajo County website.
