FLAGSTAFF — In their final meeting of fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the final fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget in the amount of $484,503,861. A press release announcing that budget’s approval said that it includes strategic investments in public health and safety, flood control, forest restoration, operational capacity, and place holders to leverage federal funds to meet strategic and program goals across Coconino County operations. 

The budget, effective July 1, is the culmination of an extensive process throughout the previous fiscal year that began with each County department forecasting their needs for the upcoming fiscal year and meeting with the County Manager’s Office. Once all needs assessments had been conducted, presentations were made to the Board during various special meetings. The press release stated that the FY25 budget is a balanced one that sustains the County’s approach to long-term budget planning and continues its low property tax rate.

The FY25 budget, according to the press release, also plans for possible sales tax revenue fluctuations; continues the County’s capital improvement plans including Public Works projects funded by the voter-approved Road Maintenance Sales Tax, as well as facilities upgrades to the Health and Human Services building, and the new Flood Control District/Emergency Operations building; and continues the significant investment of local revenue for necessary and ongoing flood mitigation and forest restoration projects; local dollars that can then be leveraged to receive Federal or State funding. 

Additionally, due to a combination of State-mandated limits on property tax revenue and an overall increase in property valuations, the primary property tax rate will decrease slightly. Secondary property tax rates for the Flood Control District and Public Health Services District will remain unchanged.  

In order to avoid service reductions at the County’s public libraries, the Board is recommending an increase in the Library District’s secondary property tax levy from $0.2756 per $100 to $0.2956 per $100 of assessed property value. 

The final primary and secondary tax rates will be approved by the Board at their next scheduled regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. The complete budget presentation from the June 25 meeting is available to review here: https://www.coconino.az.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06252024-7082.