The Holbrook City Council held its regular meeting last Wednesday on July 11, during which the council held a public hearing for the 2025 Fiscal Year (FY) budget, amount of which is approximately $12.4 million. There were no comments pertaining to the budget.
Mayor Kathleen Smith noted the city’s ability to utilize its entire budget due to the passing of the expenditure limitation override, allowing for more action items to be addressed. “Last year, we were on a $3 million deficit. So now we do have money for abatement, and for the beautification. That is a lot of our priority projects for this budget.”
Before adopting the budget, Council Member Tim Dixon noted that he’s ready to pass the budget but was concerned with the public safety retirement extra payout being at zero. “You bring up a good point,” commented Mayor Smith. “Because there have been some other issues and some potential other projects that have been brought to us between these (budget approvals). As we pass this final budget, that doesn’t mean this is the one we have to stick to for 12 months. There are some ways that we can modify different line items, as long as we don’t exceed that $12,412,127 limit.” It was noted that budget amendments will be brought before the council for approval before those funds can be utilized. The council then approved the final budget.
Key points in the FY 25 budget include the employee’s health insurance, which will see a 4.23% increase. Expenditures for wages will continue to rise due to the impact of the state-mandated minimum wage increase, which is now $14.35 per hour. It was also noted that employees have been budgeted an across-the-board 3.6% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase.
Additional staffing has also been budgeted in the city’s water/wastewater department to help with a meter replacement grant, as well as positions to assist City Manager Sharon Jakubowski-Wolz. The next phase of the Holbrook Municipal Airport upgrade has also been budgeted, which includes a grant and matching funds. There are three vehicles budgeted for the city’s police department, along with a wage increase for officers in order to compete with other agencies and promote more staffing.
Improvements to the city’s golf course are included, noting remodeled bathrooms, development of a driving range and a seasonal part-time staffing. The swimming pool will be refurbished with new flooring, paint, tile repair and cover. Both Lizitsky and Lewis parks will be receiving new playground equipment and renovated basketball court.
Improvements noted for the streets departments were also mentioned, with chip and slurry seating scheduled for some of the city’s roads. A new dump truck is also budgeted at $200,000 and a fire truck is budgeted at $700,000 to replace a 30-year-old truck for the fire department.
The city’s water, sewer and sanitation rates will be increased by 3.6%. All three utility departments now balance without the need to subsidized from the general fund. But there are not sufficient funds at this time to make significant upgrades to infrastructure. New radio-read meters have been budgeted, which will result in decreased meter-read time and decreased staff time, while increasing accuracy.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing the adoption of the 2024 Navajo County Hazard Mitigation Plan. According to the Navajo County website, the plan is meant to focus on a community’s most threatening hazards and establishes a strategy to reduce the impact of those hazards to protect people and property and to create safer, more resilient communities.
Navajo County’s Emergency Management Director Catrina Jenkins presented a five-year review, revision and update for the plan. “The benefit of the hazard mitigation plan falls under mitigation grants and projects, also disaster grants.”
Another resolution was approved, in which Finance Director Randy Sullivan was designated as the Chief Fiscal Officer for officially submitting the FY 25 expenditure limitation report to the Arizona Auditor General.
During the summary for current events, Mayor Smith invited residents to come to City Hall from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. today (Wednesday) to discuss ideas for improvements to Hunt Park. “We would like to know: what do the citizens want? What kind of activities are you looking for? We want opinions from what do our three-year-olds need up to our 83-year-olds need.” Smith stated, adding that there will be future meetings for the other parks as well.
City Manager Jakubowski-Wolz provided an overview of what she’s been up to since taking over the position on June 24, which included tours of the city, introductory meetings and researching grants.
During the call to the public, resident Gerald Hancock addressed the council with concerns to the numerous weeds growing along city streets and wanting the city to take action.
