The Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2023 tentative budget last week. Assistant County Manager Bryan Layton said, “This year’s budget focuses on the county’s ability to improve access to services and respond to increases in demand without an increase to the primary property tax rate.”
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.
In his presentation of the budget, Finance Director Jason Vowell said, “The goal is bringing the best service to our communities and to our residents. We want to focus on our service delivery and empower our departments and elected officials to provide high quality service to our residents.”
According to Vowell, this will include creating a new planning and services division to improve access for permitting as well as adding an updated permit tracking database.
He continued, “We wanted to highlight that staff is recommending we lower the proper tax rate to achieve a flat levy. As our assessed values rise, and we lower the levy, it basically creates a flat dollar amount, so we are not increasing the amount residents pay to the county for their property tax.”
The entire budget presentation is available on the county website at www.navajocountyaz.gov.
The board also approved tentative budgets for 11 other special districts including the library, jail and flood control districts.
The final budget adoption is slated to take place on June 28.
The board also held a public hearing on the redistricting of the Navajo County supervisorial district and Northland Pioneer College precincts. No public comment was made, and no action was taken by the supervisors. However, a work session followed the meeting, and it is expected the board will approve a final redistricting map during their June 28 meeting, in accordance with state statutes.
A resolution was approved by the board allowing the application process to continue for the United States Department of Justice’s comprehensive opioid, stimulant and substance abuse site-based program grant in the amount of $1.3 million.
According to County Attorney Brad Carlyon, if awarded the grant will assist the county in developing a County Overdose Prevention and Engagement (COPE) program and enhance the county’s criminal justice program.
In other business, the board:
* Approved a contract with Frontier Communications in the amount of $524 per year for three years of equipment and service for internet based 9-1-1 telephone services.
* Approved an application for extension of premises/patio permit for John Martin with the American Legion Post 86, located at 2068 Lumber Valley Road in Overgaard for May 27 through Sept. 5.
* Approved a special event liquor license for Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, located at 3048 AZ-277 in Overgaard for their annual festival to be held on Aug. 6.
* Approved an amendment to a contract with The Zickerman Law Office, increasing the price of services from $4,800 per month to $6,240 per month; citing operating costs for providing misdemeanor prosecution services in the Winslow and Holbrook justice courts.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between Navajo and Apache counties, the cities of Holbrook, St. Johns, Show Low and Winslow, and towns of Pinetop-Lakeside, Snowflake, Taylor, Eager and Springerville to continue the operation of the White Mountain Special Response Team (SRT). The SRT responds when requested to potentially life-threatening situation and/or incidents requiring special skills, tactics and/or equipment to resolve situations in a manner consistent with the preservation of life.
* Approved a modification to the existing data share agreement between the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University. The modification extends the agreement until Dec. 31, 2026. Arizona State University’s Center for Violence and Prevention and Community Safety compiles statewide data on violent deaths by collecting information from participating law enforcement agencies.
* Approved tax exemption waivers to widows, widowers or disabled persons whose property is exempt from tax.
* Approved elections to be held to fill positions on the Northland Pioneer Community College Board and Navapache Hospital District Board on Nov. 8.
* Approved elections to be held to fill positions on the Heber-Overgaard, Joseph City and Pinetop-Lakeside Sanitation Districts on Nov. 8.
* Approved elections to be held to fill positions on the Clay Springs-Pinedale, Sun Valley, Woodruff, Pinetop, Timber Mesa, McLaws Road, Heber-Overgaard and Joseph City Fire governing boards on Nov. 8.
* Approved elections to be held to fill positions on the Misty Mountain, Overgaard Town Site, Wonderland Acres, Clay Springs, Joseph City, Heber, Porter Creek, Ponderosa, Three-O-Three, Woodruff and Pinedale Domestic Water Improvement Districts on Nov. 8.
* Appointed Wayne Booher to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
* Approved a letter of sympathy to be sent to Representative Myron Tsosie, the family of Officer Adrian Lopez and the family of Coach Don Petranovich.
* Approved a contract renewal and intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) for immunization services. The agreement provides $50,000 annually from AZDHS.
* Approved the annual agreement in the amount of $1,870 per year with Summit Healthcare for calibration of medical equipment across Navajo County.
* Approved a liquor license application from Jeffrey Craig Miller for Holbrook Travel Center, LLC, located at 1851 State Highway 77 in Holbrook following a public hearing in which no public comments were made.
* Approved a contract with White Mountain Publishing in the amount of $1.59 per column inch for advertising and printing.
* Adopted a resolution delegating authority for approval of special event liquor licenses, wine festival/wine fair licenses and temporary premises extensions/patio permits. The resolution states these applications do not need to be heard by a public hearing and authority and responsibility will be delegated to the Clerk of the Board under the established administrative procedures.
* Approved the award of a contract in the amount of $311,000 with MaintStar, Inc. for the purpose of providing a work order management and asset inventory tracking system for building permits, engineering/flood control, sign management, highway management, fuel management, motor pool vehicle reservations, planning and zoning and E911/rural addressing.
* Recognized Wendell Decross for his more than 20-years of service on the Navajo County Planning and Zoning Commission.
* Approved a resolution approving a special use permit for Old West RV and Boat Storage, located at 2808 State Route 260 in Overgaard. The permit will allow an open-air storage facility with 113 spaces.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Winslow for planning, design and cost sharing the Little Colorado River Flood Risk Management Project. The project, focusing on the recertification of the Winslow Levee has received $65.7 million in funding from the federal government and this agreement establishes the roles and responsibilities of the county and City of Winslow. Navajo County will act as the non-federal sponsor and the City of Winslow as a key stakeholder.
The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, in the board chambers, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
