The Navajo County Board of Supervisors met last week and approved the fiscal year 2022-23 budget following a public hearing.
The budget comes in at just over $211.7 million. The primary property tax levy included in that amount is just under $7.5 million, a decrease of approximately $300,000 over last fiscal year, as well as a secondary property tax levy of $5.8 million, a slight decrease of approximately $90,000 from last fiscal year. Highway User Revenue funds increased to $11.2 million this fiscal year, up from $9.8 million last year. There are no capital projects outlined for the coming year.
Budgets for special districts were also adopted, finalizing the process for Public Health Services, Library, flood control including the Little Colorado River Flood Control Zone, White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement, Silver Creek County Road, Victory Heights Road Maintenance, Porter Mountain Domestic Water Improvement, Shumway Road Improvement, Fawnbrook Domestic Water Improvement, Joseph City Street Light Improvement and Navajo County Jail districts.
The board approved the 2022 Cooperative Fire Rate Agreement between the County and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management which lists the equipment and personnel the county may have available for request during fires or other emergencies for reimbursement.
Emergency Management Director Catrina Jenkins also presented to the board. She said, “Great news, monsoons are here and the forecast calls for even more. At the beginning of the season, our fire danger was well above normal. Before our monsoons came a little bit early, we were looking at a very volatile season. The western part of our state is still in danger.”
She continued, “We are also in a flush with resources due to not seeing many fires so far this year. We have equipment, supplies, manpower, aviation and more. Our responders who were assisting with other fires have all returned and we are well prepared.”
The decision to rescind restrictions was made by a group called the White Mountain Fire Coordination which is a partnership between Navajo County, Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal communities, Bureau of Land Management, local fire and law enforcement agencies, federal and state forestry experts and the national weather service. The group meets weekly during the fire season to discuss conditions.
