The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting June 23, during which the board entered a special meeting to review and approve the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 budget, which had no changes from the tentative budget presented in the previous meeting.
Highlights in this year’s budget are capital improvements, IT and software enhancements, new positions and staff compensation. The general fund budget is $54.1 million, with an additional $18.5 million in contingency funds, totaling $72.6 millions. Special revenue funds totaled at $150.3 million, and the capital project funds totaled at $33 million. The FY 2026 budget totaled approximately $247 million, and FY 2027 totaled approximately $258 million.
A public hearing was held regarding the budget, during which no one spoke.
In the county business update County Manager Bryan Layton announced that the county’s website has a new webpage with information relating to the county’s economic and renewable energy developments. “We think this will be a valuable resource to educate, clarify misunderstandings and help dispel some of the misinformation that’s been circulating on those issues,” Layton stated. The new webpage is now live and can be found on the County Information Center page of the Navajo County website.
Recently retired county employee Ernie Neff was celebrated for over a decade and a half of service in the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. “He’s done over 24 years of service in the corrections world,” stated Sheriff David Clouse, “and he’s done 16 of those with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.” Clouse said that while Neff is a man of few words, he exhibited leadership and great work during his time with the county.
K-9 units Sejn and Zolton were also honored on their retirement. Sejn was responsible for the seizure of 138.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 28 pounds of marijuana, 18,573 fentanyl pills, 8 PCP blotters
and 1.58 ounces of crack cocaine. Zolton was responsible for the seizure of 89.4 pounds of cocaine, 40.3 pounds of fentanyl powder, 757,330 fentanyl pills, 18 pounds of heroin, 1,819.6 pounds of marijuana, 1,316 THC vape pens, 600.4 pounds of methamphetamine, 600 ecstasy pills, 54 LSD blotters and $220,339.
County Supervisors Association (CSA) Executive Director Craig Sullivan presented on the activities of the CSA for FY 2025-2026, which included a discussion of the recent legislative session.
Personnel service awards were presented to employees for their continued service to the county, which included Elizabeth Whitehorne-Benally, Kayenta Constable, 10 years; Betty Starns, Sheriff’s Office, 10 years; Jerald VanWinkle, Jail Operations, 10 years; Katy Chee, Health Department, 15 years; Sheri Martinez, Holbrook Justice Court, 20 years; and Catrina Jenkins, Emergency Management, 25 years.
During the meeting, the board:
* Approved tax exemptions filed as requests for redemption of waiver.
* Approved the reissuance of stale dated checks.
* Approved updating constable salaries for January 2027. Salaries are Holbrook Precinct 1, $27,000; Winslow Precinct 2 $36,000; Snowflake Precinct 3, $50,000; Kayenta Precinct 4, $15,000; Show Low Precinct 5, $55,000; and Pinetop Precinct 6, $55,000.
* Approved to conduct an election for Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District, for a bond on the Nov. 3 election.
* Approved an amendment for the Vehicle Repeaters and Components contract with JC Cullen Inc. dba Niles Radio Communications to extend the contract for one year to July 14, 2027.
* Approved a professional services agreement with Stanley Consultants, Inc. for right-of-way services for the Shumway Road at Silver Creek Bridge Replacement Project in the amount of $72,098.
* Approved legal services for dependency cases for Public Defenders Office contract amendment to extend the contract with Belt Law Firm for one additional year to Aug. 11, 2027.
* Approved an amendment to the contract for on-call surveying services with Painted Sky Engineering & Survey, LLC. to extend for one additional year to July 30, 2027.
* Approved a contract for janitorial services for the Navajo County Holbrook Complex with WCD Enterprises, LLC.
* Approved a contract for janitorial services for the Navajo County Complex located at 1121 W. Pinedale Road in Taylor, with WCD Enterprises, LLC.
* Approved a letter of support for the Little Colorado Medical Center’s (LCMC) proposal for a residency program. Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai abstained from voting due to his new position on the LCMC Board of Directors.
* Approved a grant award from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, pass-through entity for the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Sheriff’s Office was awarded $75,165 for the salary and fringe benefits of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program Coordinator. This grant requires a match of $18,791 which will be funded from opioid settlement monies.
* Approved the Robert Santos contract amendment for Law Enforcement Services for Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. Robert Santos is an independent contractor assigned to the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy (NARTA) as a Recruit Training Officer.
* Approved vehicle donations request by the Northeastern Arizona Training Center. Two retired law enforcement vehicles from the Sheriff’s Office will be donated to the NARTA. Due to their age, mileage, condition and anticipated repair costs, the vehicles have minimal market value and were not suitable for continued fleet service.
* Approved naming two existing unnamed roads in the Clay Springs area to “Ironstone Road” (East to West) and “Red Tail Way” (North to South) in Section 15, Township 11 North – Range 19 East in District IV.
* Approved a sympathy letter to Joel Ruechel.
* Approved the award of the contract for Starlight Pavement Reconstruction – Phase 2 to Jud Co, LLC, for just over $1.3 million. Funds were budgeted in FY 2027 under the Capital Improvement Projects. The work consists of removing existing pavement and subgrade, installing new geogrid, aggregate base course, three inches of asphalt concrete pavement and other related work. The board also received a presentation on the Starlight Ridge Estates Unit III development.
* Approved an IGA between Navajo County and Whippoorwill Chapter. Whippoorwill Chapter is responsible for supportive maintenance on public roads within the Whippoorwill Chapter service area supporting school bus routes, emergency medical access and daily transportation for residents of the Chapter. To ensure continued service, funding is needed for repairs on their backhoe, which is needed for backfilling, assisting with culvert replacements and other routine maintenance. With the support from Navajo County, Whippoorwill Chapter will be able to sustain their road grading efforts and continue collaborative service alongside BIA and NDOT — ultimately benefiting the health, safety, and mobility of the community members.
* Held a truth in taxation public hearing then approved the 2027 property tax levy with no change to property tax rates. Although the property tax rates did not increase, the amount of property tax paid will increase slightly due to increases in assessed valuations. These increases are $209,000 due to new construction and an additional $200,000 due to valuation increases. The rate is 0.8114. A public hearing was held, during which no one spoke.
Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:
* Approved the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) amendment between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for the COVID-19 expansion IGA. The amendment reallocates existing grant funds from the additional project costs budget category to the indirect costs, supplies and professional and outside services categories.
* Approved an IGA amendment between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant IGA. The amendment includes minimal changes, with no changes to the scope of work or budget.
* Approved the Child Care Health Consultation contract with First Things First for FY 2027 annual contract renewal.
* Approved an amendment to IGA Arizona’s Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Program between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District. The amendment includes minor revisions to the scope of work, primarily removing references to partnering entities and making minor adjustments to budget line-item allocations. No significant changes to the overall grant funding, program objectives, service delivery, or anticipated community impact.
Convening as the Board of Directors, the board:
* Approved adoptions of final FY 2026-27 budgets for: Navajo County Public Health Services District, Navajo County Library District, Navajo County Flood Control District including LCR Flood Control Zone, White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District, Silver Creek County Road Improvement District, Victory Heights Road Maintenance District, Porter Mountain Domestic Water Improvement District, Fawnbrook Domestic Water Improvement District, Joseph City Street Lighting Improvement District, Navajo County Jail District, Timberland Acres Special Road District, White Mountain Lakes No. 2 Special Road District
and Silver Creek Flood Protection District.
