COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a budget of $460,432,509 for FY27, which runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The budget process with the Board of Supervisors began on April 20, with a budget development presentation, followed by department presentations, public input, board discussions, and tentative budget adoption, culminating on June 23, with the official vote and adoption of a balanced budget.
“Knowing that there is uncertainty in the economy and some federal funding is at risk, the FY26 budget outlook remains cautious,” Coconino County Manager Andy Bertelsen said. “Each year we strive to deliver the best services to Coconino County residents while working within our financial means. With this fiscal year 2027 budget, I believe we have reached that balance.”
FY27 budget highlights:
- Continued to maintain a $15 million stability fund to provide a gradual conclusion to services and a cushion to address additional unexpected revenue impacts.
- Grand opening of the new Peaks Youth Center and lobby renovation at the Health and Human Services building on King Street.
- Dedication of the donated 488-acre Gonzalez Ranch just north of I-40 near Williams, as a natural recreation site that will be maintained by Parks and Recreation.
- Authorization for Parks and Recreation to receive grant funding to improve the Fort Tuthill Campground and create a destination experience for campers.
- Facilities Management will begin a project to demolish the old jail in downtown Flagstaff and reactivate a piece of County-owned property that has been dormant since 2001.
- The budget adopts a new formula for distribution of federal Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding which provides more funding directly to public schools in Coconino County while simultaneously increasing the federal Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) revenue for the County. The new formula ensures additional education funding over three years of federal SRS authorizations recently passed by Congress.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has a five-year strategic plan called Coconino Forward: Where Vision Meets Action which has six strategic priority areas including Public Lands/Cultural and Natural Resources; Organizational/Fiscal Health; Economic Development/Vitality; Community Vitality/Arts/Culture; Public Safety/Emergency Preparedness; and Health and Human Services/Public Health.
The projects, initiatives and actions approved in the FY27 budget align with these six priorities. A new public dashboard designed to provide residents with insight into the County’s progress to achieving the Board’s strategic plan is available at coconino.az.gov/coconinoforward