Jun 25, 2025 SPECIAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

[00:00:01]

MADAM CHAIR, IT'S 9:00 [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.

WELL WELCOME EVERYBODY WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU COMING HERE TODAY.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2025.

IT IS 9:00 AM I NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND WE WILL HAVE THE INVOCATION DONE BY SUPERVISOR CHRIS KUKNYO AND THE PLEDGE DONE BY VICE CHAIR BROOKS COMPTON.

JOIN ME IF YOU WANT. LORD, WE NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER PLEASE BRING PEACE TO THIS WORLD.

THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES NOT NEED BOMBS FALLING FROM THE SKY.

BRING IT AROUND MAKE OUR LEADERS REPRESENT US MAKE US REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE.

BE WITH US LET OUR WORDS BE YOUR WORDS. FEEL FREE TO USE US.

AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR CHRIS KUKNYO AND THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR BROOKS COMPTON.

OKAY, SO I'LL REACH TO THE CLERK OF THE BOARD AND WE'LL DO ROLL CALL.

CHAIR MALLORY. HERE. VICE CHAIR COMPTON. HERE.

SUPERVISOR CHECK. HERE. SUPERVISOR JENKINS. HERE.

SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. HERE. YOU HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO HEARINGS.

[1. Board of Supervisors - Truth in Taxation hearing for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 budget. ]

THIS IS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ITEM NUMBER 1, TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025 TO 2026 BUDGET, GOOD MORNING ZACH. GOOD MORNING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR I'LL TRY THAT AGAIN GOOD MORNING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING THE FINAL BUDGET, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING TODAY.

AS WAS MENTIONED DURING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET LAST MONTH.

THE WORK BEHIND THIS HAS BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS IN THE MAKING CLOSER TO EIGHT AND SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS, EVEN TEN. THE BUDGET ITSELF IS YOUR OPERATIONAL ROADMAP FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON AS AN ORGANIZATION THIS NEXT YEAR.

VERY EXCITED TO BRING BEFORE YOU TODAY. THIS WOULD BE A COUPLE HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

AFTER THE PRESENTATION, WHICH WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE TNT HEARING, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET ADOPTION HEARING.

AND THEN FINALLY WOULD BE THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN FRONT OF EACH OF YOU FOR ADOPTION.

ONE OF THE AREAS BEFORE STARTING TO IS I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW.

SO THERE WERE FIVE PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD WAS INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS YEAR, AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN WORKED INTO THE BUDGET.

THESE ARE SOME OF CONTINUING FROM LAST YEAR. ONE IS, THE FIRST ONE IS REALLY STAFF.

THE BOARD NOTED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COUNTY.

THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY SERVE THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE CORE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU'LL SEE WITHIN OUR BUDGET.

AS WELL AS WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.

SO THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BOARD OVER THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND THERE'S ALSO BUDGET ALIGNMENTS FOR THAT IN THIS NEXT YEAR.

THE THIRD PIECE IS ARPA AND SO ARPA THE AMERICAN RESCUE DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE HAVE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OF THOSE LEFT AND SO THE FOCUS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THOSE SOURCES. MOVING FORWARD THE FOURTH AREA IS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING AND SO WITH THE STRATEGIC FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ELONGATING OUR PLANNING TIME HORIZON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT JUST THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE GOING INTO, BUT THE SERVICE PLATFORM AROUND IT AND MAKING SURE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION.

AND THEN LASTLY, THIS IDEA OF CONTINUED INNOVATION AND EFFECTIVENESS.

AND SO THOSE FIVE PRIORITIES ARE BUILT INTO THE FY 2026 BUDGET.

AS WELL AS ADDRESSING JUST THREE HIGH LEVEL AREAS.

ONE WOULD BE SERVICE DEMAND SO AS THE COUNTY IS GROWING AND DEMAND FOR SERVICES IS GROWING.

SERVICE DEMAND CONCERNS FROM DEPARTMENTS WERE BUILT INTO THE BUDGET, NAMELY PUBLIC SAFETY.

THERE'S SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR. ADDRESSING AS WELL SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.

WE'VE SEEN IT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF THE PENT UP DEMAND OF THE INCREASED COSTS OF PROVIDING SERVICES THAT ARE IN THIS BUDGET.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP I WANT TO MENTION IS THE BOARD IS CONTINUING TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE RESOURCES THEY'RE UTILIZING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A BALANCE OF MAKING SURE OUR RESOURCES ARE COMING IN, ARE PRIORITIZED APPROPRIATELY TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WITH THAT, I HAVE A COUPLE SLIDES WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THIS MORNING.

SO THE FIRST SLIDE DISCUSSES THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.

THERE'S THREE COUNTY CONTROLLED RATES THAT ARE UP HERE.

[00:05:03]

THAT IS BEING PROPOSED AS A FLAT TAX RATE THIS NEXT YEAR SO THE TAX RATE IS AT THE EXACT SAME LEVELS IT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NEXT ONE IS A FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AT .1674 THE PROPOSED RATE WOULD ACTUALLY BE A DECREASE FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT OF -.0075. AND THEN LASTLY OF THE COUNTY CONTROLLED RATES IS A LIBRARY DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD BE A FLAT TAX RATE AS WELL AT .1346 SO OVERALL IT IS A REDUCTION IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM THE RATE ADOPTED IN FY 25.

AND WITH THAT TOO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE NEXT HEARINGS, THERE'LL BE TWO TNT OR TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARINGS THAT WILL DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE FURTHER. BUT WHAT IT SAYS BASICALLY IS THE TNT RATE SETS IT WHAT IS IT AT WITHOUT WITH ONLY NEW CONSTRUCTION.

SO ANYTHING ABOVE NEW CONSTRUCTION WOULD REQUIRE TNT HEARING, WHICH WE'LL BE DOING FOR BOTH THE COUNTY TAX JURISDICTION AS WELL AS A LIBRARY.

SO THE FLOOD CONTROL IS NOT PART OF THAT BASED UPON THE REDUCTION IN THE RATE THAT IS THERE.

OKAY OF THE RESOURCES COME IN AS WE WOULD CALL INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE IS MADE UP OF I'LL TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE SIX CORE PIECE OF THIS AND JUST TO MENTION MANY TIMES WE FOCUS JUST ON THE GENERAL FUND THIS WILL BE THE ENTIRETY OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGETED FUNDS.

SO WE HAVE ALMOST 300 OR ACTUALLY OVER 300 FUNDS THAT WE ACTIVELY MANAGED.

SO THE GENERAL FUND IS JUST ONE OF THIS SO THIS HAS ALL OF THOSE FUNDS TOGETHER.

THE LARGEST SHARE OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FUND ARE STATE SHARE SALES TAX SO THAT'S ABOUT $54.7 MILLION A YEAR, FEDERAL GRANTS COME IN NEXT, NEARLY AT THE SAME AMOUNT, $54.6 MILLION, AND THEN STATE GRANTS AT $20.1 MILLION.

WITHIN THIS IS ALSO VEHICLE LICENSE TAXES [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL AS PILT.

SO THOSE ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE PIECES THAT COME INTO INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

THE NEXT PIECE COMING IN RIGHT AROUND 19% IS FUND BALANCE.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS MANY OF THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WHEN WE LOOK AT A MOMENT WOULD BE A UTILIZATION OF FUND BALANCE BUILT UP OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. SO IT MAY BE A GRANT, AS WE MENTIONED, FEDERAL GRANTS, WE MAY HAVE RECEIVED FEDERAL DOLLARS.

ARPA IS ONE OF THOSE IN WHICH WE RECEIVE THE DOLLARS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THEM.

AND SO WE HAVE ABOUT $82 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE UTILIZING IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

THE NEXT PIECE IS PROPERTY TAXES AT 18.6% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

NEXT IS COUNTY SALES TAX JUST A NOTE, THAT WOULD BE THE EXCISE TAX.

SO PRIMARILY TWO AREAS THAT ONE COMES TO THE GENERAL FUND OR ONE COMES FOR THE GENERAL FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. AND THEN THE OTHER PORTION WOULD BE THE JAIL DISTRICT WOULD BE MADE UP OF THAT.

AND THEN LASTLY AFTER THAT, OR I SHOULDN'T SAY LASTLY, BUT AT 3.8%, WE HAVE CHARGES FOR SERVICE.

SO THIS WOULD BE CHARGES FOR DEPARTMENT'S DIRECT SERVICE CHARGES, THINKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OR SOME OF THE ONES THAT CHARGE A FEE FOR DIRECT SERVICE BEING PROVIDED. SOME OF THE SMALLER AMOUNTS ARE ALSO IN THERE, BUT THEY'RE A LOWER PERCENTAGE ONCE AGAIN OF THE TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET.

YOU'LL SEE THE SAME NUMBER, THE $424 MILLION AND CHANGE UP THERE.

SO THIS IS THE EXPENDITURE SIDE ONE NOTE ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT SOLELY THE GENERAL FUND SO THIS IS THE ENTIRETY OF THE FUND.

SO COURTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS ABOUT 38.6. IF WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND BY ITSELF, COURT AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS STILL AN INVESTMENT OF OVER A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE TOTAL INVESTMENT FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY. SO THIS IS TAKING THE TOTALITY OF THE FUNDS.

AFTER THAT BE ABOUT 20 OR NEARLY A QUARTER OF IT FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

HIGHWAYS AND STREETS IS NEXT SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE LARGE STREET PROJECTS THAT LAST YEAR, SOME OF THE PROJECTS WERE NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE EXPENDITURE LIMITS.

SO NOW THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR AT A HIGHER RATE THAN WE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

HEALTH AND WELFARE, A NUMBER OF THESE WILL BE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.

IT'LL BE SOME OF THE SANITATION WORK AND PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL AS EVEN SOME OF THE WORK THAT PUBLIC FET DOES WE HAVE GROUPED IN THERE CAPITAL PROJECTS THIS WILL BE AN AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS WE HAVE PLANNED, PLUS A RESERVE IN THERE. SO A LARGE PORTION THAT IS ACTUALLY A RESERVE, A BUDGETED RESERVE.

SO IF WE CHOOSE TO USE IT ARIZONA LAW, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO BUDGET THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE DOLLARS TO UTILIZE IT, IF WE DON'T BUDGET IT, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY. SO A LARGE PORTION OF THAT, NEARLY HALF OF THAT IS CAPACITY.

NEXT IS EDUCATION SO EDUCATION IS ALSO A PRIMARILY THROUGH GRANTS AND FUNDING IN THERE.

[00:10:03]

AND WITH THAT I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH ZACH. DO WE HAVE DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS? YEAH MADAM CHAIR, IT'D BE NICE TO SEE COURTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY SPLIT UP ON THAT ON THOSE PIE CHARTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE THINGS. YOU KNOW? I THINK BECAUSE THE COURT SYSTEM KIND OF RUNS ON ITS OWN AND THE SHERIFF'S KIND OF RUN ON ITS OWN.

SO IT'D BE NICE TO JUST SEE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S MORE THAN HALF, SO CORRECT.

WOULD IT DESERVE ITS OWN LITTLE SLICE OF THE PIE.

YEAH NO GREAT OBSERVATION. AND WE COULD DEFINITELY BREAK OUT THE TWO OF THEM.

THANK YOU. YEAH. APPRECIATE THAT THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.

YEAH I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT SUPERVISOR KUKNYO SAID HE SAID EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THOSE SPLIT UP SO I COULD GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE COURTS ARE DOING VERSUS PUBLIC SAFETY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR, SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

ARE THERE ARE THOSE CHARTS IN OUR BOOK? IF NOT, COULD I HAVE A COPY? OH, YEAH MOST DEFINITELY WE'LL MAKE SURE TO WHAT I'LL DO IS AFTERWARDS, I'LL MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AS I'LL BREAK UP THE INFORMATION TO AS BEEN REQUESTED BY THE COURTS. PERFECT. SO I'LL DO THE SAME BREAKUP OF THE PIE CHARTS WITH COURTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY SEPARATED, YEAH. OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH I'M GOING TO GO TO CALL THE PUBLIC.

AND VICE CHAIR DO WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE, DAN CHACON. PLEASE, FIRST GOOD MORNING SIR, PLEASE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME SOME TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU.

I'M ASSUMING THIS IS ON THE [INAUDIBLE] TAXES INCREASE TAXES HEARING? BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET AN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THANK YOU. I READ IT IN THE PAPER AT THE PROPOSAL FOR AN INCREASE OF THREE POINT PLUS ON THE PROPERTY TAXES.

I AM A PROPERTY TAX OWNER. I LIVE IN PAULDEN, BUT AT 21525 NORTH HACKAMORE LANE AND RIMROCK ESTATES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY A PRETTY GOOD SIZED SUBDIVISION OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, PROPERTY VALUES SKYROCKETED LIKE CRAZY AROUND HERE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WITH THOSE PROPERTY VALUES SKYROCKETING, OUR TAXES ALSO INCREASED, DID THEY NOT? NOW, WHERE YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING ON INCREASING THE TAXES BY THREE PLUS SO IT'D BE TWICE IN ONE YEAR.

AND THOSE INCREASES THAT WE GOT IN OUR PROPERTY VALUES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS REALLY ARE NOW DIPPING THEY'RE TAKING A DIVE.

IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, YOU WATCH THE REAL ESTATE MARKET VALUES ARE GOING DOWN.

MY QUESTION IS THE PROPERTY VALUES THAT CAME UP, TAXES, VALUES WERE ASSIGNED AT THAT TIME.

ARE THEY GOING TO COME DOWN? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AS YOU'RE TAKING THIS THREE POINT PLUS INTO CONSIDERATION.

OTHERWISE IT'S 2 TAX INCREASES IN ONE YEAR IS THE WAY I SEE IT.

IF YOU DON'T REDUCE THE TAX RATE BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING DOWN, HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY TWO INCREASES? I'M ASKING THAT AS A PROPERTY OWNER, OUR PROPERTY TAXES KEEP GOING UP.

AND AS A PERSON WHO'S RETIRED, LIKE SO MANY IN THIS AREA, LIMITED INCOME MINE THE HIDDEN COST OF $4,000 A YEAR. THOSE ARE I WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS TO YOU.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE IT BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THAT.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT. IT IS A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT CHAIR WE HAVE SANDY GRIFFITHS GOOD MORNING SANDY YOU KNOW THE DRILL. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MALLORY YES I DO VICE CHAIR THANK YOU.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I ACCEPT YOUR TENTATIVE BUDGET.

I MAY NOT AGREE WITH SOME OF THE PROCESSES AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD, BUT I DO ACCEPT IT. AND AS MR. WOLFE SAID, THIS BUDGET IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COUNTY AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE

[00:15:06]

THAT'S WHERE I WAS LEARNING TO CRAWL AND THANKFULLY TO YOUR GREAT STAFF, MR. WOLFE, MR. GOODMAN, MR. SIMMONS, I FEEL THAT AS OF TODAY, I AM WELL ON MY WAY TO POST SECONDARY EDUCATION IN YOUR BUDGET. I'VE LEARNED QUITE A BIT I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WORKS THE WAY IT DOES AND HOW IT WORKS. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND NOW THE CONCEPT OF THE LIBRARY FEE CONTRIBUTION I DID NOT AT FIRST. I UNDERSTAND THE FLOODPLAIN. I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT NEXT YEAR OUR BUDGET BOOKS COME OUT SOONER THAN LATER, AS THIS YEAR IT DID PRESENT A PROBLEM AND IT WAS LAST MINUTE, NOT YOUR FAULT.

I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO HAVE THOSE BOOKS EARLIER BECAUSE I WILL BE REQUESTING THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS MY VERY OWN BUDGET BOOK I HOPE THAT'S POSSIBLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE LOOK AT THE OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS.

THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF NONPROFITS, OTHER ENTITIES THAT REQUEST CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COUNTY.

AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED WHEN I DID GO OVER THAT LIST.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE LIST REQUESTING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COUNTY IN 2025.

THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THESE ENTITIES $402,000 THE REQUESTED AMOUNT FOR THESE SAME ENTITIES IN 2026 $799,000. YOUR TENTATIVE BUDGET HAS PUT IN A NUMBER OF $689,000. SO I WOULD LIKE MORE, MAYBE IMPLEMENTATION AND MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS GOING FORWARD.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS BUDGET IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COUNTY, AND MAYBE NOT ALL OF THESE ENTITIES SHOULD BE COMING TO THE COUNTY FOR THEIR HANDOUT. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND A HAND UP, BUT IN SOME CASES A HANDOUT IS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD GO.

ASSESSED VALUES I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S A JUGGLING ACT THAT MR. SIMMONS HAS TO DO. I'VE SEEN PROPERTY VALUES DECLINING NOW, AND THAT'S WHAT THE ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING AS WELL.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE MATERIAL PRICES GOING SKY HIGH WE'RE IN A FIRE AREA THAT'S ADDING TO PRICES.

SO APPRAISED PROPERTY VALUES ARE SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, MR. SIMMONS HAS A HUGE JOB TO HANDLE AND MANAGE FOR THE CITIZENS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY.

I DON'T LIKE TO SEE MY TAXES GOING UP HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND I GET IT AND I SUPPORT YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND HELP AGAIN IN EDUCATING ME AND BRINGING ME TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR MALLORY THOSE ARE ALL THE GREEN SHEETS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH VICE CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR. OKAY GO AHEAD I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A MENTION AND SEE IF THE BOARD AND COUNCIL AGREES.

I THINK BEFORE CALL TO THE PUBLIC, WE NEED TO HAVE A SHORT SCRIPT THAT LETS THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR US TO RESPOND TO THEM.

BECAUSE SOME OF THEM, THEY WANT TO, THEY WONDER WHY WE'RE NOT RESPONDING TO THEIR QUESTIONS WHEN IT'S ILLEGAL FOR US TO DO SO.

THERE SHOULD BE A SCRIPT THAT WE READ WITH CALL TO THE PUBLIC, I THINK.

OKAY CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERVISOR KUKNYO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND COMMENT.

THAT IS TRUE IN RELATION TO CALL TO THE PUBLIC.

I JUST NOTE FOR CLARIFICATION, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A HEARING, AND SO THESE COMMENTS ARE BEING PROVIDED AS PART OF THAT HEARING PROCESS.

AND SO IN RELATION TO THIS HEARING ITEM, THE BOARD CAN MAKE COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION AND COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN

[00:20:06]

WELL, WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I HOPE THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE IF YOU ARE A SENIOR CITIZEN AND YOU'RE UNDER A CERTAIN INCOME THRESHOLD, YOU CAN FREEZE YOUR LIMITED PROPERTY VALUE WHERE THIS INCREASE THAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT AFFECT YOU. AND I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY SHOULD.

MADAM CHAIR. YES. I WANT TO THANK SANDY FOR HER COMMENTS THEY REFLECT MUCH OF WHAT I DESIRED IN A PROCESS CHANGE.

AND SO IN OUR LAST BUDGET HEARING, THERE WAS DIRECTION THAT WE MIGHT SET UP A BUDGET COMMITTEE.

I KNOW I'M WILLING TO SERVE ON THAT I BELIEVE SUPERVISOR JENKINS IS WILLING TO SERVE ON THAT.

AND SO YOU'VE BEEN HEARD ON THAT ITEM. AND I ANTICIPATE A MUCH MORE THOROUGH PROCESS AND ENGAGEMENT EARLIER IN THE SEASON NEXT TIME AROUND. THANK YOU OKAY WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOTION TO LEVY INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES, AS INDICATED IN THE TRUTH IN TAXATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026. SECOND. OKAY I HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

SUPERVISOR CHECK. YES. VICE CHAIR COMPTON. YES.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS. AYE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. YES.

CHAIR MALLORY. YES. ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD ON TO HEARING ITEM NUMBER 2 LIBRARY DISTRICT,

[2. Library District - The Board of Supervisors will resolve into the Board of Directors of the Yavapai County Free Library District and following consideration of this item, will reconvene as the Board of Supervisors - Truth in Taxation hearing for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 budget.]

AND FOLLOWING CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM WILL RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 -2026 ZACH WELCOME BACK. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, CHAIR MALLORY, VICE CHAIR COMPTON, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN THE OTHER SLIDES.

LET ME, OOPS, LET ME GO BACKWARDS SO WE CAN GO FORWARD.

THE LIBRARY DISTRICT 2025 RATE WAS .1346 THE T AX RATE BEING PROPOSED IS AT A FLAT TAX RATE AT .1346, WHICH, AS SUPERVISOR KUKNYO JUST MENTIONED, ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE SENIOR FREEZE PROGRAM IT'S A THREE YEAR PROGRAM. ONCE YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR IT, THAT IT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THREE YEARS. THAT WOULD ACTUALLY LEAD TO A FLAT TAX RATE, SO INDIVIDUALS ON THAT PROGRAM WOULD NOT PAY ANY MORE FOR THE LIBRARY DISTRICT.

FOR THE TOTALITY OF THE THREE RATES, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A REDUCTION YEAR OVER YEAR BECAUSE THE TOTAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLLED RATES ARE DECREASING.

THE TNT RATE RIGHT NOW IS FOR THE LIBRARY DISTRICT, WHICH IS BEING PROPOSED AT A 44¢ INCREASE PER $100,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION.

OKAY THANK YOU, ZACH. AND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? OKAY AND DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT OKAY WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOW CLOSE THIS HEARING. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO LEVY THE INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES, AS INDICATED IN THE TRUTH IN TAXATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026. SECOND. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND.

CAN I CALL FOR THE VOTE, PLEASE? SUPERVISOR CHECK.

YES. VICE CHAIR COMPTON. YES. SUPERVISOR JENKINS.

AYE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. YES. CHAIR MALLORY. YES.

ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 3 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEARING ON COUNTY TAX LEVIES AND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 -2026

[3. Board of Supervisors - Hearing on County tax levies and budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 and Resolution No. 2158 adopting the budget.]

CORRECT WE ARE NOW IN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTED BUDGET ITSELF.

TO REITERATE, THE TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET NET, ANY TRANSFERS OUT OR TRANSFERS IN IS $424,356,065.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY MORE GREEN SHEETS? ANY COMMENTS? OKAY THAT'S GREAT.

ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? NO? OF COURSE.

YES GO RIGHT AHEAD, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.

[00:25:02]

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD TO GET THAT OUT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY SO NOW I WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4. ITEM NUMBER 4 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL RESOLVE INTO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOLLOWING

[4. Board of Supervisors - The Board of Supervisors will resolve into the Board of Directors of the following special improvement districts and after consideration of this item, will reconvene as the Board of Supervisors - Hearing on tax levies and budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 and Resolution No. 2158 adopting the budget: a. Yavapai County Flood Control District b. Yavapai County Free Library District c. Yavapai County Jail District d. Ash Fork Street Lighting Improvement District e. Seligman Street Lighting Improvement District f. Yarnell Street Lighting Improvement District g. Seligman Sanitary District]

2158 ADOPTING THE BUDGET. YEAH CHAIR MALLORY, VICE CHAIR COMPTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

SIMILAR TO THE LAST FIGURE THIS IS A REQUIREMENT PER THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS PORTION OF IT.

AND SO THIS WOULD BE COVERING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THE YAVAPAI COUNTY FREE LIBRARY DISTRICT, THE JAIL DISTRICT, ASH FORK STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, THE SELIGMAN STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, THE YARNELL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND THEN THE SELIGMAN SANITARY DISTRICT THANK YOU.

OKAY THANK YOU ZACH. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT FROM THE FROM THE PUBLIC? NO? ALL RIGHT. DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? NO? OKAY WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL MOVE ON. I WILL NOW MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE

[ NOTICE OF SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING & AGENDA THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL CONVENE IN A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BUDGET AND FOLLOWING THE ACTION ITEMS, WILL RECONVENE INTO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ]

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. CAN WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? SUPERVISOR CHECK. YES. VICE CHAIR COMPTON. YES.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS. AYE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. YES.

CHAIR MALLORY. YES. YOU ARE NOW IN A SPECIAL MEETING.

ALL RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER 1, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, FINAL APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH

[1. Board of Supervisors - Final approval of the County budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 and Resolution No. 2158 adopting the budget. ]

SO DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? NO. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ITEM NUMBER 1. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND CALL FOR THE VOTE. SUPERVISOR CHECK. YES. VICE CHAIR COMPTON.

YES. SUPERVISOR JENKINS. AYE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.

YES. CHAIR MALLORY. YES. ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY THANK YOU MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 2. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL RESOLVE INTO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

[2. Board of Supervisors - The Board of Supervisors will resolve into the Board of Directors of the following special improvement districts and after consideration of this item, will reconvene as the Board of Supervisors - Final approval of the budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 and Resolution No. 2158 adopting the budget: a. Yavapai County Flood Control District b. Yavapai County Free Library District c. Yavapai County Jail District d. Ash Fork Street Lighting Improvement District e. Seligman Street Lighting Improvement District f. Yarnell Street Lighting Improvement District g. Seligman Sanitary District]

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ITEM NUMBER 2.

SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CALL FOR THE VOTE.

SUPERVISOR CHECK. YES. VICE CHAIR COMPTON. YES.

SUPERVISOR JENKINS. AYE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO. YES.

CHAIR MALLORY. YES. ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING HERE.

I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. SUPERVISOR CHECK. YES. VICE CHAIR COMPTON.

YES. SUPERVISOR JENKINS. AYE. SUPERVISOR KUKNYO.

YES. CHAIR MALLORY. YES. YOUR MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH HAVE A SAFE DAY, EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.