The Winslow City Council held a public hearing last week for input on the final budget for fiscal year 2022-23. No public comment was made.

The overall budget will be $48.82 million, up nearly $25.8 million from last fiscal year because of a large increase in federal grant monies coming into the city. This includes over $23 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.

The citywide expenditures for the fiscal year total $57.1 million, which reflects $11.1 million in public safety costs for the Winslow fire and police department operations.

A public hearing was also held to discuss the upcoming tax levy. No public comment was made.

As City Manager John Barkley explained, “The tax levy is dropping by about a penny for the next calendar year. That is because the assessed valuation of the city is on the rocks. As the valuation across the city is depreciating, the city’s intent has been to drop the property tax rates. The property tax goes from $1.36 per $100 of value to $1.35. This increases the actual levy which is the amount the city gains by about $40,000.

Both the budget approval and tax levy were voted upon during a special meeting immediately following. They were both approved unanimously in the absence of Councilwoman Melissa Nelson.

In other business, the council:

* Proclaimed Thursday, June 30, as International Asteroid Day in recognition of Meteor Crater.

* Heard a presentation from restaurateur Mark Romo regarding his plans for opening a quick service Mexican grill at the Winslow Lindbergh Regional Airport. The building belongs to the City and Romo will be leasing the property with a priority on preserving aviation and cultural history of the region.

* Heard a presentation from the Winslow Police Department’s Citizen Liaison Committee regarding a recent survey. Of 75 respondents to the survey, 41 said they were happy with the service they have received from the Winslow Police Department.

* Heard a quarterly report from Public Housing Director Kim Salazar who said 94% of the housing units are filled and all but one unit has been modernized and remodeled.

* Approved a liquor license application for the City of Winslow for Wednesday, Aug. 3, for the Rural Policy Forum kickoff event to be held downtown.

* Approved a resolution adopting the City’s annual pension funding policy.

* Approved the committal of $2.7 million of fiscal year 2021-22 fund balance in the capital fund as a reserve for the upcoming Winslow Levee Project. Since fiscal year 2016, the Winslow City Council has appropriated $500,000 per year for the levee project in anticipation of it.

* Approved a letter of intent for the sale of 1,200 acres on State Route 87 south of Airport Road to Danny Wasson and outlining principal terms and conditions of the sale including a timeline that has building talking place within 60 months.

The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, in the Hubbell Building, located at 523 W. Second St.