$25M for flood relief could get second chance

At their May 19 meeting, the Gila County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation on the state budget and three bills coming before the Arizona legislature. They also received a report on the county's 2025 fiscal year financial audit and heard a brief update on flood recovery projects getting under way in Globe.

Rep. Allen pushes for Gila County flood relief

The supervisors heard an update from Policy Development Group, a bipartisan public affairs and lobbying firm based in Phoenix, on legislative session activities at the Arizona Capitol. Lobbyists Todd Baughman and Andy Jacobs pointed out that the legislature is still in session, so a complete report could not be given. 

The state budget is currently being renegotiated after budget negotiations first broke down, and then a budget was passed but vetoed. Baughman felt a budget might be passed soon after June 1, when the legislature reconvenes after a Memorial Day break.

Baughman highlighted three bills that PDG has been working on in collaboration with county staff:

• Gila County flood relief. Flood relief was not included in the budget that was already vetoed, but Rep. Sylvia Allen is advocating for it to be included in the new budget. Baughman said various numbers have been discussed, and he is fighting for as much as he can get for Gila County.
• The blight bill. SB 1067 allows counties to add property blight cleanup liens to property tax bills. It was introduced by Sen. Wendy Rogers and has the close involvement of the County Supervisors Association and Pima County as well as Gila County. However, the bill has been opposed by the Arizona Tax Research Association and Rep. Justin Olson, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill has passed the House and Senate in a compromise form that includes a two-year sunset. It is slated for a final vote in the Senate once the budget passes.
• Cesspools/WIFA bill. HB 2096 allows counties to apply for and receive financial assistance from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona for cesspool remediation and also allows for WIFA assistance for the construction and improvement of wastewater treatment facilities. The bill has the sponsorship of Rep. Gail Griffin and support from Sens. T.J. Shope and Rogers. It has been transmitted to the Senate and is awaiting a final vote.

County gets clean audit on FY2025 financials

Taryn Stangle and Daniel Hunt from the Arizona Auditor General's Office presented to the supervisors on the results of Gila County's fiscal year 2025 financial and single audit, completed on March 31. The county received an “unmodified” — clean — opinion, meaning the financial statements are reliable. 

Stangle noted that the county's revenues reached a high of $93.8 million in fiscal year 2023. Fiscal year 2025 revenues were $91.4 million, consisting mainly of property taxes, federal and state grants, shared sales taxes and county sales tax.

Expenses have increased every year in recent years, reaching a high of $85.8 million in 2025. The primary expenses are general government, public safety, health and welfare, and highways and streets. The county's net position as of June 30, 2025, was $51.5 million.

With regard to internal control and compliance, the auditors reported four findings, relating to the safeguarding of monies by the treasurer's office, spending of public monies via purchasing cards, management of risks relating to data, and IT systems control procedures.

There was one additional finding with regard to documentation related to COVID-19 state and local fiscal recovery programs, where county staff had failed to confirm that a recipient of monies met all requirements.

Flood recovery projects get green light

During a brief work session, the supervisors heard an update from Matthew Rencher, deputy public works director, on the status of flood recovery projects receiving emergency watershed funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which imposes a 220-day completion timeline requirement. Rencher said the NRCS has provided verbal approval for work to start on the Six Shooter and Ice House Canyon projects. Culverts at Copper Hills and the hospital crossing are the next priorities.

The supervisors also approved the purchase of four new Chevy Silverado 4X4 police pursuit vehicles from Courtesy Chevrolet at a total price of $386,350, and a contract with the S.J. Anderson Company for the Rally Round the Flags project, which involves installing nine flagpoles and lighting at the Tommy Cline Martin Complex in Payson as a monument for Gila County's heroes. This contract has a maximum compensation not to exceed $333,546.98.