By L. Parsons Navajo County Finance Director Jason Vowell presented the Board of Supervisors with a tentative budget for fiscal year 2022 during a meeting of the board last week, which the board approved. Vowell explained that the county is in a strong financial position. The total of financial resources available for the upcoming year is $176.2 million, a $29.2 million increase over the last fiscal year. According to Vowell, that increase is mostly accredited to ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding of $21.5 million. The other greatest contributor will be the state shared sales tax revenue which is projected to increase 4% state wide. Also projected is $14.7 million in county sales tax, Vowell mentioned. The total revenue not from taxes is expected to be $96.7 million. The largest expenditures continue to be law enforcement at approximately $19.2 million which includes the Sheriff’s Office as well as the Navajo County Jail’s operating costs. Overall costs of employee salaries and benefits make up 67% of the county’s operating budget. In regards to property tax, Navajo County property owners contribute $.67 per tax dollar paid to schools. There will not be a raise in property taxes this year, Vowell explained. Other departments presented their budgets and they were approved as well. Elected officials as well as county administrators are pleased and optimistic about the future of Navajo County. Vowell said, “Five years ago, we would not have been able to feel comfortable. We have had to make major cutbacks in order to provide the mandatory services that we do for our citizens. This year, because of our fiscal responsibility and because of the ARPA payment, we can look forward to our future.” Money paid in direct payments through ARPA is required to be used for infrastructure, including broadband improvements and mitigation of COVID-19 recovery. The board also reaffirmed the Oath to Support the United States Constitution including the Second Amendment protecting the people’s rights to keep and bear arms. The resolution was prompted by a group of county residents who circulated a petition requesting it. During the last two meetings of the Board of Supervisors, many citizens took the podium in the call to the public in support of the resolution, and were reassured by the elected officials as well as the County Attorney Brad Carlyon. As has taken place over the last year, the County Public Health Director gave a COVID-19 update during the meeting. Director Janelle Linn said, “I am happy to report that we have only had two new cases in the last 24 hours and two the 24 hours before that. That is hopeful for us and things have improved.” She pointed out that vaccines have contributed to the improvement of the situation. “We have administered 54,388 vaccines. We have seen a drastic decline in the vaccination in the past several months so we are pleading with our community to be vaccinated. “We fear that one of the things keeping people from being vaccinated is that people think that if they have had COVID, that immunity carries long term. That is not the case. Natural immunity for COVID infection carries you for 90 days and then it begins to wane. So what we are seeing now is reinfection. We have only had 20 cases of reinfection but 17 of them have been since April. Please consider vaccination.” However, as she pointed out, many more variant strains have been detected in Navajo County. She said, “To date, we have identified 571 variants in Navajo County from random samplings. Some of those variants are more infectious to children and they cause more severity in disease process in children. In April, 23% of cases were in children. So, there are now vaccines available for children 12 and over, so we ask you to consider if that is a good option for your adolescent. We do have it on our radar that we could experience another spike in the fall when school goes back in session.” In other business, the board: * Approved the warrant and voucher report over $1,000 for May. * Approved the sale of 24 back tax land parcels sold over the counter in the amount of $13,663.92. * Reissued stale dated checks that were issued as refunds for overpaid property taxes or investor payments. * Approved a letter of support to the City of Show Low for an application for RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) funding through the federal government. The letter, addressed to Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttiegieg states the grant funding would be used to connect State Route 260 and Penrod Road. * Approved two intergovernmental agreements, one between the City of Holbrook and Navajo County and another between the City of Show Low and Navajo County, allowing clerical duties for the Magistrate Court to be performed by the staff of the Justice Court. * Approved tax exemptions for widows or disabled persons whose property is exempt from tax. * Approved an election for the Silver Creek Flood Protection District to be held on Oct. 6. * Approved board member elections for the Pinedale, Porter Mountain and Sky-High domestic water improvement districts to be held on Nov. 2. * Approved a $3,128 match toward the Family Counseling Grant in the amount of $12,513 to be distributed by the administrative office of the courts. The renewable grant helps to fund counseling for juvenile probationers and their families. * Approved a contract with TGI Systems, LLC in the amount of $6,450 for software development and support services for the treasurer’s office. Funding will come from the treasurer’s information fund. * Approved a contract for the annual advertising of County business in the amount of $1.70 per column inch to The Tribune. * Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant. The agreement allows the county to continue providing services to women, infants and children including free family planning services and safety and education services. * Approved a Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant award in the amount of $229,907 from the Arizona Department of Health Services to increase and maintain levels of effectiveness in emergency preparedness. The grant award requires a 10% soft or in-kind match from the county. * Approved a memorandum of agreement between the county and the Northeastern Arizona Local Workforce Development Board for workforce operation services. * Approved a second addendum to an administrative services agreement until June 30, 2024, between Navajo County and the City of Glendale as it pertains to employee benefits. * Approved abatement of a residential property, located at 3397 Buckhorn Bend in Heber. The owners of the property have been notified of the need for code compliance in regular intervals over the last four years with no response. * Approved a sympathy letter to the family of Navajo Nation Council Delegate Marlin Scott of Teesto. * Heard an introductory presentation by Michele Ralston of the Office of Senator Mark Kelly during the call to the public. Ralston encouraged the supervisors as well as residents to contact the Senator’s office with any questions or concerns they may have. The next meeting of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 22, in the board meeting room, located at 100 E. Code Talkers Drive.
