County approves $18 million bond to fund flood recovery 

This will not affect taxes. This is a pledged revenue bond that will be repaid through state shared sales tax, PILT, and vehicle license tax.”

Finance Director Maryn Belling

At their April 7 meeting, the Gila County Board of Supervisors approved up to $18 million in bond financing to support ongoing flood recovery projects in southern Gila County. The bond approval allows the county to manage immediate project costs while awaiting federal and state reimbursement. 

The supervisors also authorized a new license plate recognition system for the Gila County Sheriff’s Office to enhance law enforcement capabilities, particularly to combat crime linked to border activity.

Supervisors approve $18 million bond for flood recovery projects in southern Gila County

With a unanimous roll call vote, the supervisors approved a resolution authorizing up to $18 million in pledged revenue bonds to support flood recovery efforts. The funds will provide critical cash flow for ongoing and upcoming projects while awaiting state and federal reimbursements.

Finance Director Maryn Belling emphasized that the bond is structured as a reimbursement-based financing tool, meaning funds will only be drawn as expenses are incurred and approved.

The authorization allows for up to $18 million, but the county is not required to use the full amount. Vice Chairman Woody Cline pointed out that current estimates place the county’s direct share of project costs around $13 million. County Manager James Menlove said the higher authorization is intended to ensure sufficient cash will be available to manage approximately $30 million in project activity over the coming months.

Cline voiced hesitation about the overall amount and long-term repayment obligations, noting the county’s limited financial base and existing debt commitments. He stressed the importance of restricting spending to already identified projects and avoiding unnecessary expansion.

He also raised concerns about future flood risks and the possibility of additional financial strain if another event occurs before current obligations are resolved.

Belling explained that the bonds will be repaid through existing revenue streams, including state-shared sales tax, vehicle license tax, and payments in lieu of taxes, and will not require a tax increase.

The structure also allows the county to repay the debt early using reimbursements from federal and state agencies, reducing long-term interest costs and financial risk. The first repayment is deferred until January 2027, easing short-term budget pressure.

Supervisor Tim Humphrey called the financing a necessary “safety net,” enabling the county to proceed with urgent infrastructure repairs and recovery work that cannot be delayed. He noted that although the county expects to receive reimbursement, the timing is uncertain, which makes upfront access to funds essential to maintain operations and meet project deadlines.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company will serve as underwriter, and Greenberg Traurig LLP will provide bond counsel.

Sheriff’s office to get license plate reader technology

The supervisors approved a contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. for a license plate recognition system, authorizing up to $175,840 for hardware and five years of licensing. The contract is part of a broader border-security-funded project aimed at supporting criminal investigations and interdiction efforts.

Captain Cole Labonte said the purchase will be paid for with state local border security funds, part of a roughly $624,000 allocation intended to address crimes linked to border activity, including human trafficking and drug smuggling.

About $308,000 of the funding has already gone to the county’s K-9 program, while the full license plate reader project is expected to total about $315,000. The contract with Motorola covers the camera hardware and licensing for five years.

Labonte said the system will include 25 fixed cameras placed along highways entering and leaving Gila County, along with four mobile systems for vehicles. The county has already used two license plate readers for about two years to test the technology and determine whether it would be useful in local law enforcement work.

“Our drug enforcement guys, when they pull over a vehicle, and they suspect drug smuggling, most of the time they know where that vehicle has been long before they walk up to the operator and get the information. So it's a huge tool in determining if there's deception and criminal activity occurring.” — Captain Cole Labonte

The Motorola purchase was being handled as a sole-source procurement because the system must integrate with the Motorola equipment and software the county already uses.

Labonte acknowledged that automatic license plate readers can raise concerns about government tracking, but said the system only captures vehicle license plates and locations, not images of drivers. He said the county does not store the information itself, but instead leases access to Motorola’s system, which stores the data.

Labonte said that means the sheriff’s office cannot release a person’s travel history in response to a public records request. To obtain LPR information, a person would have to submit a court order to Motorola.

Humphrey asked how access to the data would be controlled. Labonte said officers across all law enforcement agencies in Gila County, including tribal agencies, would be able to query the system directly if they are authorized users. Those searches are trackable and can be reviewed during audits or internal investigations. Alerts on plates, such as Silver Alerts and Amber Alerts, will be sent out to officers and dispatch centers.

Other actions

Belling provided a written report on the performance of the county’s general fund for the first half of FY2026. She pointed out that the county’s finances are coming in slightly better than expected, with strong revenues reported. She noted that flood expenditures are not included in the general fund, as they are being funded out of the county’s emergency fund.

During the meeting, the supervisors went into executive session for about 30 minutes to consult with legal counsel for advice regarding economic development agreements and activities, and to give instructions to the legal department. This session was not open to the public.

Reports

County Manager James Menlove reported that he recently attended discussions with the Arizona Commerce Authority on a new round of “Opportunity Zones 2.0,” which aims to direct more investment into rural areas. He said previous funding largely bypassed rural counties like Gila in favor of metropolitan regions, but state officials and investors are now indicating that dedicated rural funding will be available. He announced an upcoming presentation in Globe to discuss how the county can utilize opportunity zone designations. There are about two opportunity zones in southern Gila County, but none in northern Gila County. Menlove suggested the county pursue having the entire Globe-Miami area declared an opportunity zone. 

Supervisor Tim Humphrey outlined several recent and upcoming engagements, including a public works project meeting, a wastewater system groundbreaking ceremony, and a regional council meeting. He also announced a Tonto Basin community meeting open to the public, and upcoming coordination meetings with county leadership, as well as plans to attend the Lincoln Day dinner on April 10.

Vice Chairman Woody Cline reported attending the Tri-City Regional Sanitary District event and participating in a recent KMOG radio program. He will be judging at a 4-H beef cookoff and attending the Lincoln Day dinner.

Board Chairman Steve Christensen attended the memorial service for county employee Jake Garrett, describing him as deeply valued and widely respected. Supervisor Christensen participated in a veterans’ coffee gathering, the recent groundbreaking event, and a meeting with community development staff to discuss ongoing projects.

Motions approved

Community, housing and social services

• Adopting the Gila County Public Housing Authority’s FY2025 Annual Plan. Paula Horn, deputy director of Gila County Health and Emergency Management, explained that there are 73 vouchers in Gila County, including 20 in Payson, five in Tonto Basin, and 48 in the Globe-Miami area, and that there is a waitlist on Section 8 housing. A public hearing was opened, but there were no comments.
• Authorizing Gila County Probation Department's participation in the FY 2026-2027 Family Counseling Program through the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, Juvenile Justice Services Division, and certifying a matching fund requirement of $1,873 for the program that will be provided by the county.
• Revising a Memorandum of Understanding between Gila County Public Health and Community Services Department and Miami Unified School District, whereby Gila County will provide $40,000 to the district to support activities that improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and promote safe travel to and from school from the date of signature through Sept. 30, and rescind the MOU by the Board of Supervisors on March 3.
• Renewing and accepting a grantee agreement in the amount of $60,000 between the Gila Regional Partnership Council, Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board (First Things First), and the Gila County Library District for fiscal year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. County Librarian Natalie Bulick explained that this is a renewal of a grant that supports services for children from birth through five years, and the county’s goal this year is to enroll 1,300 children and to distribute 15,600 books.

Economic development and tourism

• Approving an economic development agreement in the amount of $1,000 with Strawberry Patchers Inc. for a sponsorship for the Strawberry Patchers 28th Annual Quilt Show. Chris Levitro from Strawberry Patchers explained that the show brings about 1,000 people to the area. The Strawberry Patchers run a country store, selling quilts and other items, and the event results in about $10,000 every year being distributed to local nonprofit organizations.
• Approving Discover Gila County's final marketing plan and five-year strategic plan for the Tourism and Marketing Initiative for Gila County. The plans were presented at the supervisors’ previous meeting.
• Approving a request by Destree Development, representing DW Tower, for a conditional use permit for property owners Steven and Christine Lewellen at 1804 N. Pyle Ranch Road in Payson. Community Development Director Randy Pluimer explained that the tower is a 125-foot multi-use tower, and there have been no comments or complaints from the public. He said the parcel is almost 78 acres and there are no neighbors within 1,000 feet.

Law enforcement and public safety

• Approving a cooperative law enforcement agreement between the Gila County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Chief Deputy Jim Lahti explained that this is an annual renewal of an agreement that reimburses the county for patrolling and enforcing laws in Forest Service areas. The performance period is Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, and the agreement has a value of $74,800.
• Approving the use of an Arizona State procurement cooperative contract with Curtis Blue Line in the amount of $64,323.70 for the purchase of 57 ballistic helmets. Lahti explained that the helmets last about five years, and these helmets were purchased in 2021 and are reaching expiration. The new helmets come with a 10-year warranty, doubling their useful life.
• Ratifying the Board of Supervisors' approval for the Sheriff's Office electronic submission of two FY2027 grant applications to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for law enforcement projects. The first is a request for funding assistance to provide overtime funding in the amount of $75,725, of which $60,644 is for personnel and $15,081 is for employee-related expenses, to enhance speed enforcement throughout Gila County. The second is a request for funding assistance in the amount of $193,617 to purchase two unmarked vehicles. Lahti explained that the Sheriff’s Office has previously used GOHS funds to purchase equipment such as speed guns. He said the overtime would allow officers to patrol areas where there have been speed complaints or DUI driving. The unmarked cars would be “ghost marked” vehicles, which at first appear to be unmarked, but, when you look closely, do have full markings that blend in with the vehicle’s color.
• Amending an agreement with Public Communications Services, Inc., DBA ViaPath Technologies for Inmate Telephone Service, to comply with Federal Communications Commission regulations regarding rate caps, with no change to the contract term.

Infrastructure, projects and professional services

• Amending a contract with D2 Surveying LLC for professional on-call land surveyor services, extending the term of the contract through April 17, 2027, with no change to the maximum compensation of $100,000 annually. D2 Surveying works on an as-needed basis, providing assistance on projects county staff doesn’t have capacity to perform.
• Amending a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. for environmental documents for county-owned material source pits, including Braddock, Ramer, Castle Dome, and 824, extending the term of the contract through Dec. 31, 2026, with no modification to the contract amount. The pits are used for road work and backfill.
• Approving a contract with Dibble & Associates Consulting Engineers Inc. to provide archaeological monitoring for the Gibson Ranch Road Roadway Improvement Project, for a not-to-exceed contract amount of $99,567, with a term of April 7 through May 6, 2027. Thomas Goodman explained that the county is working toward chipseal on Gibson Ranch Road and is required to have an on-site archaeological monitor.
• Modifying two forest road project agreements and the Forest Service Master Agreement to reflect a change in the template for the agreement cover page.

Technology and internal operations

• Approving the use of a 1Government procurement alliance contract with Sentinel Technologies Inc. in the amount of $70,195.33, for the purchase of 16 storage drives needed to store data.
• Approving a contract with Frontier Technology LLC, DBA MicroAge, for Payson firewall replacement, for a maximum contract amount not to exceed $53,001.44.
• Amending a contract with Iron Mountain Inc. for Digitizing Permit and Parcel Files, extending the term of the contract through July 10, with no change to the original contract amount of $538,197.46.

Employee benefits and administration

• Adopting premium rates for employee insurance contributions for FY2027 in the Arizona Local Government Employee Benefit Trust for Gila County’s employee insurance and benefit plans, effective July 1. Belling noted that the county covers 90% of costs for single plans and 76% for family plans. She said some employees will see higher per-paycheck contributions, due to rising insurance costs. Although the new rates represent an increase over prior years, Belling said the benefit trust did work to keep the impact as minimal as possible.

Taxation and property exemptions

• Approving six petitions for redemption of an exemption waiver on property taxes deemed waived by A.R.S. § 42-11153(A) for tax year 2026. County Assessor Sherra Kissee explained that a new law allows full exemption for a primary residence for 100% disabled veterans, and that widows also qualify for a partial property tax exemption. People can check the county website for information about these exemptions and how to apply for them.
• James Muhr, individual tax exemption as 100% disabled veteran
• Benjamin V. Holston, individual tax exemption as 100% disabled veteran
• Janice M. Smoot, partial property tax exemption on parcel 304-12-046 as a widow
• Mary F. Lowe, partial property tax exemption on parcel 301-16-069 as a widow
• Stephen L. Cantrill, property tax exemption on parcel 304-07-006B as 100% disabled veteran
• Joyce Colaw, partial property tax exemption on parcel 301-24-096 as a widow

Appointments

• Appointing Ms. Renu Sapra as Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore with a term expiring on Dec. 31.
• Appointing Mr. Shelby Barrowdale to the Gila County Planning and Zoning Commission, representing Supervisor Humphrey's district, to fulfill Spencer Scott's unexpired term of office that ends on Dec. 31, 2028. Supervisor Humphrey thanked Borrowdale, a local general contractor, for stepping up to replace Scott Spencer on the commission.

Proclamations

• Proclaiming April 2026 as National County Government Month in Gila County. Menlove explained that the month is intended to showcase how the county supports residents and builds healthy, safe and vibrant communities.
• Proclaiming April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in Gila County. Horn explained that the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, leasing and financing of housing or land to be used for construction of housing or the provision of brokerage services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status or national origin.
• Proclaiming April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Gila County. Horn explained that the month is about raising awareness about keeping children safe and healthy. She said people who have concerns about incidents can call 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445), and mentioned that blue ribbons are used to represent this issue.

To view this meeting online, click here. To access documents related to the meeting, click here.