County Board of Supervisors give approval to $236.6 million budget

The FY 2026 total budget totals nearly $236.6 million, with the general fund totaling nearly $68.4 million. About $50.7 million is allocated to public safety, criminal justice, mandated services and county-wide services. The nearly $17.7 million remainder is allocated to contingency funds.

Vowell then explained $140.6 million of the budget is special revenue funds. “Our special revenue funds are funds that account for the proceeds for specific revenue sources that are restricted or committed expenditures for specific purposes.” This includes things such as public works, grant and county services, and health insurance trust.

For FY 2026 Capital Project Funds the budget is $35 million, with the majority, 87.74%, going to the Winslow Levy. Of the remaining amount, 7.5% will go to the ACA Broadband grant project and 5.7% to code enforcement and regional communications.

Following the presentation, the board opened the meeting for public comment, to which there was none. The board then approved the proposed final budget for FY 2025-26.

Navajo County resident Kathrine Lann was honored with a Sheriff’s Commendation for her efforts on Friday, June 13, where Lann actively aided to an injured juvenile after a car collision that occurred on Highway 77 between Show Low and Snowflake until first responders arrived on scene. Lori Mills, who is with Congressman Eli Crane’s office, also presented Lann with a congressional certificate of recognition. She also provided a congressional certificate to Navajo County Search and Rescue (NCSAR) Captain Laurie Palazzolo, who was recognized during the meeting for 15 years of service to the NCSAR team and the citizens of Navajo County. Palazzolo was recently re-elected as captain of NCSAR and has served as such for 10 of her 15 years. Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Dennis Warren was honored with a certificate as well for his retirement from Navajo County after over 24 years of services.

The board approved a proclamation naming Aug. 14 as Navajo Code Talkers Day. The United States government called upon the Navajo Nation to support the military effort by recruiting and enlisting more than four hundred Navajo men to serve in standards communications units, these patriots became known as “Navajo Code Talkers.” Navajo Code Talkers transmitted messages in their native language, Navajo, which wasn’t commonly known and never deciphered by Japanese forces. The Navajo Code Talkers were honorable men who performed an important service to the preservation of freedom and democracy.

The board received a presentation on the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP) obtained by NCSO from the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police. The Sheriff’s Office became the very first in Arizona to obtain ALEAP Accreditation on July 16. ALEAP accreditation entails enhanced professionalism, operational excellence, increased accountability and transparency, reduced liability and risk, improved community trust and confidence, continuous improvement and adaptation, officer and public safety best practices, and increased support and collaboration, benefiting both the agency and the community.

The board also received a presentation of the activities of the County Supervisors Association for FY 2024-25, including a discussion of the recent legislative session.

At the end of the meeting, the board entered executive session to receive legal advice from its attorney regarding conditions of sale agreement and settlement agreement between the county and Verizon Communications and Frontier Communications. Following the executive session, the board approved of the conditions of the sale agreement and settlement agreement.

In other business, the board:

* Entered a Board of Directors session and adopted the following final FY 2025-26 budgets: 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.

* Adopted the FY 2025-26 property tax rates for all Navajo County taxing districts.

* Adopted the FY 2026 tax rates and levies for all Navajo County school districts.

* Recommended denial of a liquor license for Tracy Lynn Mulac for Bertie’s 2 located at 448 Porter Mountain Road in Lakeside due to the Sheriff’s Office opposition of the application, due to one of the individuals involved in the business, whose name was not disclosed on the application, is not qualified to obtain a liquor license.

* Approved and amendment to contract with eX2 for the design, construction, maintenance and marketing of fiber optic infrastructure and an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Show Low to add the construction of six lateral connections to the county’s middle mile fiber network. Show Low will connect to the County’s middle mile network through six lateral connections to their city-owned facilities. These lateral connections will enhance the city’s broadband connections to critical infrastructure within Show Low city limits. The county and city have collaborated on an approach to accomplish the proposed work in such a manner that the city will benefit from the contract prices previously negotiated between the county and eX2. The County will contract with eX2, via changer order, for the design and construction of the six lateral connections. Through the IGA agreement, the city will pay $467,138. It was noted that the city will still need to negotiate a lease with the county for small sections of the middle mile after construction is complete.

* Held a truth in taxation public hearing for the approval of property tax levy with no change to property tax rates from the prior year. No one spoke and the motion was approved.

* Approved contracts signed by the County Manager Bryan Layton pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Contract for Professional Services with The Ardurra Group for Schoolhouse Lane in Linden in the amount of $42,920.

* Approved sympathy letters for Danielle Earl, Colleen Smith-Murph, Dale Linkous, Lt. Jerry Van Winkle and Necia Adams.

* Approved to process fiscal year-end fund transfers that were included in the fiscal year budget for the fund reconciliations.

* Approved the acceptance of the assets, liabilities and current funding ratio of the county’s Public Safety Personnel Retirement System trust funds as reported from their June 30, 2024, actuarial valuation.

* Approved a release of property damage claim funds on six claims against Navajo County as follows: Brian Brooks, $2,403; Dawn Brewer, $500; McCauley Construction, $625; Eric Neitzel, $300; Cristina Gonzalez, $150; and Sharon Van Cleave, $246.

* Approved contract amendment with Glenn Kephart, for consultant broadband infrastructure services for one additional year.

* Approved Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) Arizona Criminal Justice Commission Victims’ Rights Compensation fund grant to provide financial assistance to victims of crime in the amount of $133,675. The program covers expenses of physical harm, mental distress and economic loss directly resulting from victimization. Funds from this grant provide salary and employee related expense for administering the compensation program as well as provides benefits for victims of crime.

* Approved the appointment of Courtney Contreras to a four-year term on the Navajo County Planning and Zoning Commission within her supervisor district of residency, District V.

* Approved the appointment of Vincent Farr, Dianne Monahan and Royce Mark Jenkins as Republican precinct committeemen for their respective precincts.

* Approved the appointment of Dylan Orion Baca as Democrat precinct committeemen for their respective precinct.

* Approved a modification to grant/agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service adding $10,000 in funding and updating the United States Forest Service (USFS) Program Manager to Canuto Molina.

* Approved project sponsor agreement with the Arizona State Parks for rescue watercraft and equipment in the amount of $170,000. The money will go to the purchase of two fully upfitted rescue and patrol watercrafts and $10,000 in overtime funding. This grant funding bears no match requirement.

* Authorized the county to proceed with Off High Vehicle (OHV) grant purchase over the $100,000 threshold. The Sheriff’s Office was awarded $211,000 for the purchase of four side-by-sides including law enforcement lighting and communications along with two OHV tandem trailers. Five quotes were obtained for two 2025 Polaris XPEDITION ADV 5 Northstar vehicles. The lowest quote came in at $106,109 and is offered through state contract vendor GO AZ Motorcycles out of Payson.

* Approved a resolution canceling the Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 Ward 3 special election and appointing persons eligible for appointment to the Governing Board as only one candidate, Alfred Clark, filed a nominating petition.

* Approved the reissuance of stale dated checks.

* Approved the certificate of removal and abatement purging record of tax, penalty and interest on personal property taxes.

* Approved the renewal of the memorandum of agreement between the Hopi Department of Transportation and Navajo County. This agreement would allow the County to continue to assist and partner with the Hopi Tribe on transportation projects within the boundaries of Navajo County with no lapse in support. This agreement was established following the Transportation Partnership Guidelines and supports the government relations team’s goal of maintaining the valid legal standing of their agreements with their partners.

* Approved anti-racketeering revolving funds donation of $5,000 to Show Low Youth Recreation and Sports Foundation. The Show Low Youth Recreation and Sports Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local community youth programs. This organization was created to help provide alternatives to youth to help them avoid substance abuse, gang affiliation and to assist in preventing criminal activity with juveniles. An annual banquet is held yearly, and the funds raised from this banquet are utilized to support youth programs and scholarships.

* Approved Arizona Public Safety (APS) Utility Easement at new code enforcement facility on the County’s property located at 1121 W. Pinedale Road in Taylor, where the new Code Enforcement Facility is being constructed. The purpose of the easement is for the area where APS will install and maintain their new pad mounted transformer that will serve the new building.

* Approved contracts signed by the county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: KGJ Roofing for roof coating at Holbrook Justice Court in the amount of $21,404.

* Approved the receipt of the annual report of collections and delinquencies in accordance, settlement of accounts; and request for authorization to invest funds. During a presentation by Treasurer Danielle Earl, she provided a 2024 real property tax collection recap as well as the interest income on the county’s investment portfolio.

* Reviewed a Real Property Valuation of APN 411-52-136 Mulligan, during which they upheld the assess decision in accordance with the law.

* Approved an attachment to the Navajo Nation Intergovernmental Agreement for N-61 Drainage Study in the amount of $27,000. The N-61 crossing is located within the Whippoorwill Chapter’s jurisdiction. The route is primarily used by school buses, commuters, first responders and residents. The existing drainage infrastructure is not designed to adequate standards and has failed in the past. During storm events, the closure of Burnt Corn Wash drainage crossing at N61 impacts all road users and represents significant disruption to the community. This drainage study will evaluate design options for the proposed drainage structure at Burnt Corn Wash crossing on N-61, for the 10-year, 25-year and 50-year storm events.

* Approved a resolution authorizing an application for the Arizona State Match Advantage for Rural Transportation (AZ SMART) grant in the amount of $215,000 for the construction phase of Heber Sidewalk Improvements project.

Convening as the Library District Board of Directors, the board:

* Approved an IGA between the Navajo County Library District and Winslow, Holbrook, Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, Snowflake, Rim Community, Clay Springs Community and Pinedale Community, for the purpose of contracting for services. The updates ensure compliance with basic grant eligibility requirements, simplify the roles of member libraries and the Library District and shorten the term length to five years. Given the rapid evolution of technology, this adjustment allows for regular reassessment of the Library District’s functions and its support for member libraries.

Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board:

* Approved an IGA between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Navajo County Public Health Services District for minor revisions to the Scope of Work. Notably, the revised scope now includes a requirement for contractors to incorporate family and/or youth engagement opportunities into designated Title V activities.

* Received a presentation on fire season and restriction update.