Mar 10, 2026 Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting

[ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND AGENDA Tuesday, March 10, 2026 *AMENDED NAVAJO COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL COMPLEX BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' CHAMBERS 100 EAST CODE TALKERS DRIVE HOLBROOK, AZ 86025 One or more supervisors may attend telephonically Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02(H), the public body will have physical access to the meeting place one (1) hour prior to the start of the meeting. The Board may vote to meet in a closed executive session to discuss certain matters and for legal advice on any item as indicated on the following agenda, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3). Items on the agenda may be considered out of order at the Chairperson's discretion. A copy of the agenda background material provided to the Board, except items to be considered in the executive session, is available for public inspection at the Navajo County website, www.navajocountyaz.gov WATCH THE MEETING LIVE AT: www.navajocountyaz.gov/660 All public comments will need to be made in person or in writing. Written comments will be received by the Clerk of the Board's office twenty-four (24) hours prior to the Board meeting, at leah.thomas@navajocountyaz.gov. Individuals seeking to address the Board during the Call to the Public or when an agenda item is called must fill out a “Request to Speak” form and provide it to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors before the meeting is called to order. Late submissions will not be accepted. The form must indicate whether the item the person wishes to speak on is on the agenda. Members of the public present to speak to the Board on an agenda item must so indicate, and are asked to refrain from speaking during the general Call to the Public. Persons present to address agenda items will be called on during a public comment by the Board Chairman after the relevant agenda item is called. Individuals addressing the Board during the general Call to the Public are limited to three minutes. Individuals addressing the Board when an item is called are also limited to three minutes, however, additional time may be allotted by the Chairman to address any specific questions asked by members of the Board. Persons with disabilities who need accommodation to attend or participate in the meeting may contact the Clerk of the Board's office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting, so accommodation can be arranged. “NOTICE TO PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDIANS: Parents and legal guardians have the right to consent before Navajo County makes a video or voice recording of a minor child, pursuant to A.R.S. § 1-602(A)(9). The Navajo County Board of Supervisors' regular meetings are recorded and may be viewed on Navajo County’s website and social media pages. If you permit your child to attend/participate in a televised Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting, a recording will be made, and your child’s picture may be posted on Navajo County’s social media pages. You may exercise your right not to consent by not allowing your child to attend/participate in the meeting.” 9:00 a.m. Call To Order: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance ]

[00:00:05]

I CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE PROVIDE THE ORDER BY ROAD CALL.

SEE THAT WE HAVE, UH, THREE SUPERVISORS PRESENT, UH, SUPERVISOR S AND SUPERVISOR WHITING IS ONLINE.

UH, THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MAY BE ONLINE DOING THIS BY OTHER TELECOMMUNICATION.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH, UH, A PRAYER AND A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I'LL THAT THIS MORNING.

SO JOIN OUR DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THIS DAY TO BE ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER AS CITIZENS AND LEADERS IN NAVAJO COUNTY.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FREEDOMS AND THE PEACE THAT WE ENJOY IN OUR LIVES AND THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT NATION.

FATHER, WE PRAY AT THIS TIME FOR DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE, THE LEADERS TO GUIDE AND DIRECT THIS NATION, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF DISTRESS, THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE TH SPIRIT TO HELP THEM.

AND WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THOSE SERVICE MEN WHEN WHO ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

FOR OUR THREE MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW PRECIOUS IT'S TO BE FREE.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE TO DISCUSS ITEMS TODAY CONCERNING THE MATTERS OF NAVAJO COUNTY.

WE PRAY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIKE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION TO DO SO.

FATHER, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE MOISTURE THAT WE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT THROUGHOUT THIS AREA.

WE PRAY THAT THOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US, TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR NEEDS CONCERNING MOISTURE IN THIS LAND.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE WE HAVE TO WORSHIP AND TO CHOOSE, AND TO TEACH AND TO SHARE AND LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND TEACH AND HELP US DEFINE THAT COMMON GROUND.

AND WE MIGHT ALWAYS BE ABLE TO BE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER.

NOW WE LOVE THE, AND WE GIVE THESE THINGS AND WE ASK FOR LAST SPIRIT.

BE IN THE NAME OF SON JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN IONS TO THE LACK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE VISIBLE WITH LIBERTY.

THANK FOR JOINING ATTORNEY.

[1. CALL TO THE PUBLIC: Individuals may address the Board on any issue not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors for up to 3 minutes. At the close of the call to the public, Board members may not respond to any comments but may respond to criticism, ask staff to review a matter or ask that a matter be placed on a future agenda.]

AND SO WE, WE HAVE, UH, ALLOWED, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO TALK, UH, DURING THE CALL OF THE PUBLIC ON ALSO ITEMS. SO WE'VE KIND OF CHANGED THAT, BUT WE JUST ARE GONNA HAVE CALL TO THE PUBLIC FOR GENERAL ITEMS. AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON A SPECIFIC ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, IF YOU LIST THAT, THEN WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM, YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AT THAT TIME ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.

THAT WOULD KIND OF HELP MOVE THE MEETING ALONG.

ALSO, IF WE EVER GET TO A TIME WHERE, CALL TO THE PUBLIC IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S GOING BEYOND 15 OR 20 MINUTES, WE'LL SUSPEND IT AND WE TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS.

AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE, THEY'RE LARGE GROUPS OR DIFFERENT THINGS.

UH, SO WE JUST MADE A FEW MODIFICATIONS, BUT WE HAVE, UH, CALL THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME.

WE HAVE JOHNNY LER.

CAN DONNA GO FIRST? DONNA WOULD LIKE DONNA.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN SEYMOUR AND, UH, FELLOW SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS DONNA SHERWIN AND I LIVE IN PINETOP, ARIZONA.

UH, AT YOUR FEBRUARY 10TH MEETING, I ADDRESSED YOU AS A BOARD REQUESTING AN AGENDA ITEM BE ADDED TO ONE OF YOUR UPCOMING MEETINGS SO THAT A DIALOGUE COULD HAPPEN TO FORMALLY AND NAVAJO COUNTY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH REAL A Z, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS VOLUNTARILY DISSOLVED IN OCTOBER, 2024 WITH THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT A MONTH HAS PASSED SINCE MY PROPOSAL AND YOUR AGENDA

[00:05:01]

CONCERNS ARE MOUNTING AMONG YOUR NAVAJO COUNTY CONSTITUENTS REGARDING NAVAJO COUNTY'S DEEPLY ENTANGLED INVOLVEMENT WITH REAL MANY CITIZENS.

WONDER WHY COUNTY, NAVAJO COUNTY CONTINUES TO EMBRACE A DISSOLVED COMPANY WONDERING IF IT IS EVEN LEGAL FOR THE PRIVATE ENTITY KNOWN AS REAL TO OPERATE AS NAVAJO COUNTY'S FORMAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH SHARED EMPLOYEES AND GOVERNMENT COMPLEX OFFICE SPACE.

ADDITIONALLY, AND ALARMINGLY REAL AZ SEEMS TO ONLY PURSUE THE VERY RELIABLE, UNRELIABLE GREEN ENERGY INDUSTRY, A PURSUIT THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO FOSTER BALANCED ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR NAVAJO COUNTY, BUT INSTEAD SEEMS TO WANNA HOBBLE DAMAGE AND COUNTER NAVAJO COUNTY'S LONGSTANDING, VARIED AND MOST IMPORTANT TOURISM INDUSTRY.

IT IS HOW IS IT FAIR THAT REAL ONLY PRIMARILY LEANS ON PRACTICES AND POLICIES THAT REWARD THEIR PAYING MEMBERS VERSUS LOOKING OUT FOR NAVAJO COUNTY CITIZENS' BEST INTEREST? LOOKING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE, RELAY SEEMS TO ONLY WANT A CIDAL UP TO ENTITIES WHO WANNA LINE THEIR POCKETS WITH GREEN NEW DEAL SUBSIDIES AND TAX INCENTIVES, WHICH ARE AT THE EXPENSE OF NAVAJO COUNTY CITIZENS WHO WILL ULTIMATELY BEAR THE COST OF THESE VAST INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING PROJECTS THROUGH TAXES, HIGHER ENERGY BILLS, AND A VARIETY OF DIMINISHED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

NAVAJO COUNTY CITIZENS HAVE ALREADY HAD SPRAWLING SOLAR FARMS AND MONSTROUS WIND TURBINES.

RAM ROTTED DOWN THEIR THROATS AS THEY HAVE WITNESSED THE CONSUMING OF VAST TRACKS OF LAND, THE DISRUPTION OF SACRED SITES, THE INTERRUPTING OF THE LIFESTYLE AND HABITATS OF OUR WILDLIFE AND THE ERADICATION OF OUR LONGSTANDING AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

AT THE SAME TIME, GREEN ENERGY PROJECTS OFFER FLEETING JOBS, DEVALUED PROPERTIES, AND DEFLATED LEGACIES, EXACERBATING HIGHER THAN AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT.

THEY DO NOT QUELL RISING EVERYDAY LIVING COSTS AND LEAVE BEHIND NO ENDURING BENEFITS.

THIS IS NOT PROGRESS.

IT'S PREDATION WHICH HARMS CITIZENS THAT REAL AZ CLAIMS TO WANNA HELP.

WE ASKED YOU TO PLEASE FAVOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS SERVING NAVAJO COUNTY CITIZENS.

FIRST, NOT LAST.

PLEASE PLACE OUR PROPOSED ITEMS ON YOUR MARCH 24TH MEETING AGENDA.

IMPOSING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON ALL NAVAJO COUNTY WIND, SOLAR, AND BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTS.

SO AS TO ALLOW TIME TO BETTER EVALUATE LONG AND SHORT TERM IMPACTS OF GREEN ENERGY.

WE NEED TO STOP THE ENABLING OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS WHO RUIN OUR LAND.

ALSO, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NAVAJO COUNTY DISASSOCIATE FROM AND HELP TO DISSOLVE REAL AZ IN ORDER TO RESTORE FAIRNESS TO NAVAJO COUNTY'S ENERGY POLICY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, DONNA, WE'LL BE HAVING SOMETHING ON THE 24TH AGENDA.

OH, THANK YOU.

FANTASTIC.

OKAY, JOANNE.

OH, YOU DON'T WANT ME TO GO NOW? PARDON ME? DO YOU WANT ME TO GO NOW? KELLY CAN GO FIRST.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU DONNA.

AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR HEARING US.

I'M KELLY LER, A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING OUR COUNTY'S FUTURE ECHOING DONNA'S REQUEST.

I IMPLORE YOU TO PLACE THESE SUGGESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR MARCH 24TH.

GLAD TO HEAR WE'RE DOING THAT, GIVING US THE SWIFT ACTION DENIED IN FEBRUARY SO WE CAN PROTECT NAVAJO COUNTY WITHOUT MORE DELAYS.

BUILDING ON THE MORATORIUM SHE'S ASKED FOR AND DISSOLVING REAL.

LET'S TURN TO ACTIONABLE STEPS THAT PROTECT OUR GRID PROPERTY VALUES AND PEOPLE.

FIRST, WE MUST RESCIND RESOLUTION 17, 20 25 IMMEDIATELY.

THIS MEASURE INFLUENCED BY THE LOBBY, LIKE REAL, HAS ENABLED UNCHECKED RENEWABLE EXPANSION WITHOUT SUFFICIENT PROTECTIONS LEADING TO GRID INSTABILITY FROM INTERMITTENT SOURCES AND PROPERTY DEVALUATION.

STUDIES SHOW HOMES NEAR IN INDUSTRIAL SOLAR SITES LOSE 10 TO 20% IN VALUE, RESCINDING IT DURING THE MORATORIUM, CLEARS THE WAY FOR POLICIES CENTERED ON RELIABILITY AND COMMUNITY DEANS WHILE ADDRESSING THE PRIVACY OVERREACH FROM TOOLS LIKE FLOCK CAMERAS THAT SB ONE 11 AND MARSHALL'S BILL CURB TO AIM.

I MEANT TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF FLOCK.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA IN ITS PLACE.

LET'S FIGHT FOR A SMALL NUCLEAR REACTOR, AN SNR AT THE CHOA POWER PLANT.

MOTH VAULT SINCE 2025 WITH ITS COAL ACID SOLD TOYA'S EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, ITS TRANSMISSION LINES WATER ACCESS AND WORKFORCE BASE MAKES AN IDEAL FOR A THORIUM BASE.

SNR OFFERING HOPEFUL ADVANCEMENTS IN SAFE, EFFICIENT NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY WITH MINIMAL WASTE AND ENHANCED SAFETY FEATURES.

THIS COULD SPARK A BOOM IN ARIZONA MINING, REVITALIZING THORIUM EXTRACTION AND CREATING A NEW INDUSTRIAL HUB RIGHT HERE.

UNLIKE RENEWABLES THAT RELY ON OUT STATE TURBINE CREWS AND INSTALLING CHINESE PARTS, BRINGING TEMPORARY UNRELIABLE JOBS AND SNR WOULD GENERATE HUNDREDS OF PERMANENT HIGH WAGE SKILLED POSITIONS FROM LOCALS, FROM CONSTRUCTION TO OPERATIONS, BOOSTING OUR TAX BASE AND OUR ECONOMIC LONG TERM.

IT ALIGNS WITH FEDERAL PRO ENERGY INITIATIVES, POTENTIALLY SECURING 225 TO 625 MILLION IN DOE MODERNIZATION FUNDS UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES, ENSURING SAFE, SECURE POWER WITHOUT FOREIGN DEPENDENCIES.

TO ENFORCE THIS VISION, WE NEED ROBUST ORDINANCES, NOT VAGUE RESOLUTIONS THAT TRULY

[00:10:01]

IMPLEMENT GRID SAFEGUARDS MANDATING 99% RELIABILITY PROOFS WITH PENALTIES FOR FAILURE THAT COULD COST MILLIONS AND OUTAGES.

FINALLY CREATE A LOCAL ENERGY FUND FROM DEVELOPER FEES TO SUPPORT WORKER TRANSITIONS AND OFFSET RATE INCREASES.

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST BOARD MEMBERS.

THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

A MORATORIUM ON RENEWABLES DISSOLVING RESENDING RESOLUTION 17 20 25, FIGHTING FOR AN SNR AT CHOA AND PROTECTIVE ORDINANCES.

THIS RECLAIMS OUR FUTURE.

IT HONORS OUR HERITAGE, IT STABILIZES OUR ECONOMY, SECURES OUR GRID AND UPHOLDS PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR ALL OF NAVAJO COUNTY'S RESIDENTS.

WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT AND ASK YOU TO LEAD ARIZONA TOWARDS TRUE PROSPERITY.

THANK YOU.

I'M TURNING IN SOME ARTICLES THAT SUPPORT THIS, INCLUDING A PS RESEARCHING, UH, AN SNR FOR CHOA.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT.

MM-HMM .

JOAN? HI.

IT'S GOOD MORNING.

IT'S JOAN LEWIS.

I'M SORRY.

NO, YOU'RE OKAY.

UM, GOOD MORNING.

UM, MY NAME IS JOAN LEWIS.

I'M FROM SNOWFLAKE.

I'M A LONG, UM, TIME RESIDENT OF NAVAJO COUNTY, ALMOST 40 YEARS.

I LIVED IN WINSLOW SHOW, LOW TAYLOR.

I LIVE NOW IN SNOWFLAKE.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO REVISIT THE RESOLUTION 17, 20, 25.

I'VE BEEN, UM, FAMILIAR WITH IT AND THE ZONING UPDATES FROM JUNE, 2025 THAT WEAKENED OUR TURBINE SETBACKS AND EASED APPROVALS FOR NEW RENEWABLES.

WHILE IT ADDED SOME CONDITIONS, IT STILL PRIORITIZES INTERMITTENT PROJECTS OVER OUR RURAL CHARACTER AND NEEDS.

RESIDENTS ASKED FOR STRONGER PROTECTIONS LIKE LARGER BUFFERS AND WERE DENIED.

THE FINAL VOTE WAS RUSHED IN JUST THREE BUSINESS DAYS.

WITH LITTLE OVERREACH OR OUTREACH, EVEN COUNTY STAFF TRACKING, THE CHANGES WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

THE IRONY IS CLEAR.

LAST WEEK THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION APPROVED GAS CONVERSIONS AT SPRINGERVILLE AND CORONADO.

RELIABLE BASE LOADS THAT KEEP JOBS AND CUT EMISSIONS WITHOUT BATTERIES OR BLACKOUTS.

THEY ALSO REPEALED REST.

NO MORE MANDATES FOR SOLAR WIND IN ARIZONA.

THE STATE IS CHOOSING WHAT WORKS, BUT NAVAJO COUNTY IS STILL BENDING TO DEVELOPERS.

THIS ISN'T PROGRESS, IT'S A MISMATCH.

OUR TRANSMISSION LINES SHOULD CARRY FIRM POWER GAS NOW AND NUCLEAR LATER, NOT JUNK THAT FORCES BACKUPS AND HIKES, RAKES, WIND THROWS, FLICKER, HUMS AT NIGHT, KILLS BIRDS, SOLAR LEECHES CHEMICALS, AND IS FOREIGN INDEPENDENT BATTERIES DOUBLE COST AND FAIL WHEN NEEDED.

WE CAN'T WAIT.

IMPOSE AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON ALL RENEWABLES, SOLAR, WIND, AND BATTERIES TO HALT THE DAMAGE AND ASSESS THE REAL COST.

EXTENDED ALSO TO THE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS.

THESE TOOLS COST US 48,000 LAST DECEMBER ALONE.

INVADE OUR PRI PRIVACY AMID REPRESENTATIVE MARSHALL'S BILL AND SB 1 1 1 1 PUSHING FOR PROTECTIONS AND THE TIMELINE.

DEVELOPERS SAY IT'S YEARS FOR A TURBINE FARM, PERMITS, APPEALS AND BUILD OUT GAS AT SPRINGERVILLE START THIS YEAR.

WE COULD BE ONLINE BY 2030.

THAT'S A FOUR YEAR MAX.

LESS DISRUPTION AND FASTER POWER.

NAVAJO COUNTY DESERVES BETTER.

WE CAN SAY NOT TO SPRAWL, DEMAND BUFFERS AND PROTECT PEOPLE 10 MILES, NOT THE WEAK.

AND TWO MILES CUT TIES WITH RURAL ARIZONA WHO IS NOT BUILDING OUR ECONOMY BUT WEAKENING IT.

YOU CAN PURSUE NUCLEAR AND BUILD REAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NAVAJO COUNTY.

YOU HAVE TIME PULLBACK 17, 20, 25.

PUT PEOPLE OVER PERMITS BECAUSE IF WE LET THIS SLIDE, WE'LL WAKE UP TO A COUNTY THAT LOOKS LIKE A SUBSTATION AND NOT A HOME.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE WALK IN BEAUTY.

THE ARIZONA COMMISSION PROVED.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

NO, THERE'S NO OTHER CALL THE PUBLIC ANY ONLINE

[2. CONSENT AGENDA: These items are considered to be routine or administrative in nature and will be approved in a single motion. A Board member may request for any item to be removed from the consent agenda and considered on the regular agenda:]

WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOW OR DISCUSSING? JUST A FEW THINGS THERE.

I JUST WANT THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR.

UH, WE'RE RENEWING OUR CONTRACT WITH OUR INSURANCE, UH, PROVIDER FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND THAT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE, UH, THING THAT WE HAVE AND GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT

[00:15:01]

AND THEN ALSO THE GREAT WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE BOARD.

WE HAD OVER 180 PROPERTIES SOLD ONLINE, UH, ABLE TO COLLECT SOME BACK TAXES THAT AMOUNT AROUND 30,000 AND THAT APPRECIATE THE WORK'S DONE ON THOSE AREAS AS WELL AS ANY OTHERS THAT WE HAVE ON AGENDA.

SO, YOU KNOW, OTHER ITEMS, UH, TO BE DISCUSSED OR LOOK FOR A MOTION.

CHAIRMAN I MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THE ITEMS OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

MOTION IS SECOND THAT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION.

I'LL CALL THE VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYE.

SEE THAT THAT PASSED.

NEXT ITEM IS,

[a. Navajo County recognizes the following employees for their excellence in personal performance for exceeding organization expectations for the month of January: Maribel Chavira Pozos – Jail Operations, Jody Thomas – Facilities Management, Shannon Wilson - Library District, and Shannon Queen – Facilities Management]

AT THIS TIME WE'LL TURN THE TIME TO RON SMITH.

GOOD MORNING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS RON SMITH AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE NAVAJO COUNTY CARE COMMITTEE.

LAST MONTH WE RECOGNIZED FOUR EXCELLENT EMPLOYEES WHO WERE NOT PRESENT DURING THE PRESENTATION.

WE FOUND OUT AFTER THE MEETING DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISCOMMUNICATION, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THEIR INVITATIONS.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THEM UP AND RECOGNIZE THEM TODAY AT THIS TIME.

SO IF JODY THOMAS IS HERE? YES.

OKAY, COME ON UP.

JODY, UH, SHANNON, QUEEN SHANNON WILSON.

AND MARI MARIBEL SHAVIRA.

I HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT.

SHA HUMIRA.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ON BEHALF OF THE CARE COMMITTEE, I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO THESE FOUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REGULAR WORK TO DESERVE THIS REWARD.

WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL LISTEN TO THEIR NOMINATIONS LIKE ALL TOGETHER.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SHOULD WE PAUSE YOU FOUR ARE THE STARS TODAY.

SHOOTING STARS LIKE THIS.

OKAY.

1, 2, 3.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

TEAMWORK.

THE SHOW.

LOW HEALTH BUILDING HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT HVAC ISSUES SINCE IT WAS BUILT AND COMFORTABLE.

TEMPERATURES WERE NOT ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED.

OFFICES WERE EITHER FREEZING OR EXTREMELY HOT.

MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES EVALUATED THE HVAC WITH VARIOUS EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES.

ONCE JODY CAME ON BOARD AND CAME TO ASSESS THE HVAC, HE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE.

AND THOUGH NOT EASY, HE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED.

HE KEPT US APPRAISED OF THE IDENTIFIED ISSUES PLANNED TO ADDRESS AND STATUS OF THE PROJECT.

ACCOUNTABILITY.

JODY HAS RETURNED TO OUR BUILDING MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS TO ENSURE THAT THE HVAC PROVISIONS ARE COMPLETE AND THAT THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

GREAT JOB.

INTEGRITY.

JODY IS VERY PLEASANT.

AND THROUGHOUT THIS TEDIOUS HVAC FIX REMAIN CHEERFUL AND EAGER TO COMPLETE THE WORK EXCELLENCE.

DUE TO JODY'S DEDICATION AND QUALITY WORK, OUR STAFF ARE NOW ABLE TO WORK COMFORTABLY IN THEIR OFFICES WITHOUT NEEDING TO WEAR COATS IN BLANKETS AND RUN FACE HEATERS.

STAFF ARE SO PLEASED AND ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF JODI'S WORK AND COMMITTED INNOVATION.

JODI'S THOROUGH AND EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE HVAC ISSUES LED TO BEING ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE INCONSISTENT TEMPERATURES IN OUR OFFICES.

HE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TIME CONSUMING AND RESOLVED ISSUES OTHERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY SINCE 2009.

TEAMWORK, SHANNON AND THE WHOLE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TEAM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THE CHRISTMAS PARTY SUCCESS.

SHANNON MADE GOOD COORDINATION SO EASY AND APPROACH EVERY CHALLENGE OF POSITIVITY AND A WILLINGNESS TO HELP ACCOUNTABILITY.

I HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT REGARDING THE CHRISTMAS PARTY AND EVERYTHING I ASKED OF THEM WAS DONE QUICKLY AND PRECISELY.

SHANNON IS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR AND EASY TO WORK WITH IF ANY LOGISTICS ISSUES CAME UP.

INTEGRITY.

[00:20:01]

EXCELLENT.

SHANNON AND THE FACILITIES TEAM HELPED US DECORATE MARTINEZ HALL, HAULED HEAVY ITEMS TO AND FROM THE HALLBROOK COMPLEX AND COORDINATED WITH THE PUBLIC JUDICIARY TO DELIVER OUR HOLIDAY MEAL.

THEY WERE INTEGRAL IN MAKING THE CELEBRATION A REALITY INNOVATION.

IF I ASKED SHANNON FOR HELP WITH THE PARTY AND IT WAS SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY SCOPE, SHE WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE AND THINKING OF WAYS TO GET THE JOB DONE, WHICH I APPRECIATED SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

I EVER FAILS TO COMPLETE PROJECTS OR DAY TO DAY'S LIBRARY BUSINESS WITHOUT THINKING OF HER FELLOW TEAM MEMBERS.

SHANNON COMMITS TWO TRANSPARENT PROCEDURES, RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES AND CONSISTENT SERVICE STANDARDS.

SHANNON HOLDS HERSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO PROVIDE DEPENDABLE, ACCURATE, AND RESPECTFUL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.

SHANNON COMMITS HERSELF TO TRANSPARENT PROCEDURES AND CONSISTENT SERVICE STANDARDS.

SHE DOES HER BEST TO PROVIDE DEPENDABLE, ACCURATE, AND RESPECTFUL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.

SHANNON UPHOLDS ETHICAL STANDARDS, OFFERING UNBIASED INFORMATION, ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS, AND MAKING DECISIONS ROOTED IN HONESTY AND FAIRNESS.

SHANNON EMBRACES NEW TECHNOLOGY AND PROMOTES SOLVING PROBLEMS FOR THE DISTRICT.

I, SERGEANT COLEY HAD COME ON SHIFT.

ICS MARIBEL HAD STAYED OVER TO HELP ME WITH BOOK OUTS AND MADE SURE ALL ARREST PAPERWORK HAD BEEN SENT TO THE COURTS.

MARIBEL HAS SHOWN EXCELLENT TEAMWORK EVERY TIME I'VE SEEN HER AT WORK.

SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE MY SHIFT IS ALL SET UP BEFORE SHE LEAVES WORK.

MARIBEL ALWAYS TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HERSELF.

IT'S VERY RARE FOR MARIBEL TO MAKE A MISTAKE, BUT WHEN SHE DOES, SHE ALWAYS CORRECTS HERSELF AND DOES NOT LEAVE WORK UNTIL IT'S CORRECTED.

MARIBEL IS A PERSON OF INTEGRITY.

SHE'S HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY, AND I'VE NEVER HAD HAVE WITNESSED HER SHOW ANY SIGNS OTHERWISE.

MARIBEL IS GREAT AT WHAT SHE DOES.

SHE'S QUICK AND KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING IN BOOKING.

WHEN I'M RUNNING SHIFTS AND I KNOW MARIBEL IS MY BOOKING CLERK, I HAVE NO WORRIES THAT HER DUTY WILL BE DONE BEFORE HER SHIFT ENDS.

SHE HAS PROVEN TO ME THAT SHE IS AN EXCELLENT ASSET TO NAVAJO COUNTY.

MARIBEL IS FOR SURE A CREATIVE THINKER, PROBLEM SOLVER, AND THINKS OF SOLUTIONS TO GET THINGS DONE.

ALWAYS EAGER TO LEARN FROM PROBLEMS AND NEW WAYS TO BETTER COMPLETE HER JOB DUTIES.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I SEE A MESS OF PAPERWORK, BUT MARIBEL HAS EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL AND SHE IS DEFINITELY AN INNOVATIVE PERSON.

THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

LET'S LOOK DOWN.

EACH OF THESE EMPLOYEES ALREADY RECEIVED A RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE, A LEAF THAT'S BEHIND US, UH, ON THE TREE OF EXCELLENCE AND $50 ADDED TO THEIR PAYCHECK.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND EFFORT YOU PUT IN ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SOME OF NAVAJO COUNTY'S BEST.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU RON SMITH.

THANK YOU.

GREAT JOB, RON.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO KEEP THE, THE MOTIVATION GREATER OUT HERE.

GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE MIGHT NEED YOU TO HELP SOME OF THE ACOS ON THIS GOING TOO.

ABSOLUTELY.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

WE THANK YOU .

OUR

[a. Winners of the 2026 Wellness First Quarter Challenge: Iron Chef Competition ]

.

GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THIS MORNING I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE WINNER OF THE IRON CHEF QUARTER ONE CHALLENGE FOR 2026 AT NAVAJO COUNTY, WE WORK HARD TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND GREATLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S SUPPORT AND DIRECTION IN THIS THIS AREA.

OVER THE RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE MADE A PUSH TO ADDRESS OUR EMPLOYEES' WELLNESS AS A WHOLE.

WE HAVE HAD MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THROUGH OUR EEAP FOR MANY YEARS, AND RECENTLY

[00:25:01]

WE ALSO RECENTLY BROUGHT ON BOARD YOUR MONEY LINE, A FINANCIAL WELLNESS TOOL.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE OPTIONS TO OUR EMPLOYEES, AND AGAIN, GRATEFUL FOR THE BOARDS RECOGNITION AND EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING OUR EMPLOYEES AND OVER OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ALLOWING OUR TEAM TO BRING THEIR BEST SELVES TO WORK EVERY DAY.

WE'VE BEEN HOLDING OUR QUARTERLY WELLNESS CHALLENGES FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND HISTORICALLY OUR FIRST QUARTER CHALLENGE HAS BEEN OUR HEALTHY MEAL CHALLENGE WITH IRON CHEF NAVAJO COUNTY.

WE HAVE A BIT OF FUN WITH THIS AND END WITH SELECTING THE IRON CHEF WINNER THAT GETS TO HOLD THIS, UH, TRAVELING TROPHY.

THEY GET TO HOLD THIS AT THEIR DESK OR IN THEIR OFFICE, AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE BACK THEY'VE, THEY'VE EACH, UH, PUT THEIR INITIALS THERE.

SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HAVE THAT TRAVELING TROPHY FOR THE THE YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE CONTINUED THE SAME TRADITION WITH IRON CHEF NAVAJO COUNTY, BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING A LIST OF SECRET INGREDIENTS, WE DECIDED TO CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT AND HAVE EMPLOYEES PREPARE A SUPER BOWL DISH THAT WAS BOTH LOW CARB AND DIABETIC FRIENDLY EMPLOYEES JOINED THE, THE CHALLENGE, THEY WERE SPLIT INTO TEAMS. THERE WAS A TEAM CAPTAIN FOR EACH, EACH TEAM AND THE EMPLOYEES MET TOGETHER IN THEIR TEAMS, SHARED THEIR DISH AMONGST THEIR, THEIR TEAM, AND THEN THE TEAM SELECTED A WINNER OF EACH TEAM THAT MOVED ON TO THE NEXT ROUND.

THERE WAS A, A WELLNESS COMMITTEE THAT, THAT REVIEWED THOSE WINNERS OF THOSE TEAMS. AND, AND THEN THERE WERE THREE FINALISTS THAT WERE SELECTED TO GO TO THE FINAL ROUND.

AND THE THREE FINALISTS WERE CHRIS PASTORS, DONNA POROUS AND KAYA ROSE.

AND IF THOSE THREE CAN COME ON UP REAL QUICK, THESE THREE FINALISTS THEN PREPARED THEIR WINNING DISHES FOR A PANEL OF FIVE JUDGES.

YEAH, AND THE, THE PANELISTS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SELECTING A WINNER, BUT THEY WERE ULTIMATELY ABLE TO, TO SELECT A WINNER.

BUT BEFORE WE, WE GO OVER WHO THE WINNER IS FOR THE CHALLENGE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THESE THREE UP TO BRIEFLY GO OVER WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR DISH WAS, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR DISH, UH, MAYBE ANYTHING ELSE THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT IT.

OKAY.

HI, HOW'S IT GOING, ? UM, SO FOR MY DISH, I MADE COCONUT MACAROONS IN THE SHAPE OF FOOTBALLS FOR IT.

I DID UNSWEETENED, SHREDDED COCONUT, VANILLA EXTRACT, A STEVIA SWEETENER AND, UH, COCONUT OIL, LILIES CHOCOLATE.

AND YEAH, I REALLY PLAYED INTO THE SUPER BOWL THING WITH IT.

VERY NICE.

AND I MADE THE, UH, CUCUMBER CHICKEN SALAD BOAT ONE WITH RANCH AND, UM, THE OTHER ONE OR THE RANCH AND THE BACON.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE HAD CRANBERRIES AND WALNUTS WITH THE CHICKEN SALAD ALSO.

AND FROM MY DISH, I, UH, I TOOK A PAGE OUTTA MY WIFE'S COOKBOOK AND IT WAS A SWEET POTATO BOAT WITH, UM, CHICKEN CHIPOTLE, CHICKEN, UH, SOUR CREAM, AVOCADO, CILANTRO, AND UH, A LITTLE BIT OF FIESTA CHIPS, UH, IN THE, UH, SHAPE OF A, A SWEET OF POTATO FOOTBALL.

SO, .

THANK YOU.

SO, UH, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE, INVITE, UH, KRISTEN SAUNDERS UP HERE.

KRISTEN WAS THE, THE WINNER OF 2025.

SO SHE'S HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS TRAVELING TROPHY, UM, WITH HER FOR THE PAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE HER HAND IT OVER TO THE NEW WINNER.

UM, SO IF WE COULD HAVE A, A DRUM ROLL FOR A LITTLE BIT.

EVERYONE WANNA DO A DRUM ROLL? THE, THE WINNER FOR 2026 IS CHRIS PASTORS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SO CHRIS, UH, HE, HE, HE WINS, UH, A KNIFE SET THAT HAS A PLAQUE WITH HIS, HIS NAME ON IT FOR WINNING THE CHALLENGE FOR THE YEAR.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE TWO RUNNER UP CERTIFICATES FOR KAYA AND DONNA.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY DONNA'S SECOND TIME IN THE FINAL THREE.

SO WE HAVE DONNA FOR BEST OVERALL DIABETIC FRIENDLY DISH, AND WE HAVE KAYA THE WINNER OF THE BEST APPEARANCE FOR DISH.

AND IF WE COULD GET A, A PHOTO WITH ALL THREE OF YOU.

CHRIS, YOU WANT TO HOLD THIS TOO? OH, SINCE WE'RE BOSSING CHRIS AROUND, CAN

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

1, 2, 3.

ERIC, HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS DID WE HAVE TOTAL? YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

CHAIRMAN, I'M SORRY.

EIGHTY A HUNDRED EIGHTY, A HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT.

THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL.

UH, IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT.

CRYSTAL IS THE, THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS CHALLENGE AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB AT PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, CRYSTAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

[b. Budget presentation for fiscal year 2026-2027 General Fund revenue projections. ]

OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE PROJECTIONS, UH, MR. JASON B YOU SAY BUDGET AND HALF THE ROOM CLEARS OUT, BUT I WON'T GET PERSONALLY OFFENDED BY THAT.

BUT, UM, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO, TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS WE, UM, KICK OFF OUR FISCAL 27, UM, BUDGET.

AND THAT, THAT PROCESS, UM, THAT THAT FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS IS KIND OF, UM, LOOKING AT REVENUES AND, AND DOING A FORECAST AND PROJECTIONS.

AND SO WE WOULD KINDA LIKE TO PRESENT THAT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD TODAY.

UM, WE'RE GONNA FOCUS, LIKE I SAID, SPECIFICALLY ON REVENUES AND SPECIFICALLY THOSE AT THE GENERAL FUND HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UM, TOUCH THE GENERAL FUND AND, AND THAT'S KIND OF A, A, A, A MELTING POT OF WHERE A LOT OF, UM, SERVICES ARE, ARE PROVIDED FOR OUT, OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

AND, AND SO WE'D LIKE TO START WITH THAT.

UM, OKAY.

TAKE A TEMPORARY PAUSE ON THAT.

SO JUST, JUST WHILE LEAH'S RETRIEVING THAT, UM, OVERALL I WOULD SAY, UM, THE GENERAL GIST OF THIS PRESENTATION IS THAT REVENUES ARE, ARE STRONG AND ROBUST AND WE'RE, WE'RE PLEASED WITH KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT, WHERE WE'RE SITTING AT AS A COUNTY.

THANK YOU, .

OKAY.

SO TYPICALLY BEFORE WE KIND OF START PROJECTING AND LOOKING FORWARD, WE KINDA LIKE TO, TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO KIND OF ABOVE THE LINE THERE.

UM, THAT'S OUR, OUR FISCAL 24, 25, THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO OVERALL IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE BUDGETED ABOUT $45.3 MILLION.

OUR ACTUAL AMOUNTS THAT, THAT WE JUST, UM, FINALIZED WITH OUR AUDITS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT FOR FISCAL 2025 CAME OUT TO $48.6 MILLION.

AND SO THAT'S A POSITIVE VARIANCE OF ABOUT $3.3 MILLION.

AND SO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY, A LITTLE OVER HALFWAY THROUGH IN FISCAL 25, 26, AND THAT'S KIND OF BELOW THE LINE.

TOTAL REVENUES, WE BUDGETED ABOUT $48.1 MILLION.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROJECTING, UM, A POSITIVE INCREASE AGAIN TO, WITH, UH, COLLECTIONS TO BE ABOUT 50.5 MILLION.

AND SO THAT'S STILL A POSITIVE VARIANCE OF ABOUT 2.4 MILLION.

SO BOTH THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THE CURRENT YEAR ARE, ARE LOOKING.

UM, WELL, AS FAR AS WHERE, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND, 79% OF THE REVENUES THAT ARE COLLECTED IN THE GENERAL FUND COME FROM SOME KIND OF TAX.

AND SO WE CAN SEE THAT OUR STATE SHARED SALES TAX ROUGHLY MAKES UP ABOUT 38% AND COUNTY SALES TAX, ABOUT 22% PEN PROPERTY TAX, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES SOME PENALTIES AND INTERESTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY TAX ABOUT 19%.

AND LIKE I SAID, THAT'S ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF IT RIGHT THERE, 79%.

WE DO RECEIVE SOME VLT THAT'S BEEN ABOUT $3.8 MILLION OR SO PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN A LITTLE RIGHT AROUND $2 MILLION.

WE DO HAVE SOME INTERGOVERNMENTAL, WHICH ARE CONTRACTS WITH OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS IN THE STATE.

AND THEN FINALLY WE HAVE JUST KIND OF OUR OTHER CATEGORY, WHICH, UM, IS WHERE WE PUT OUR INTEREST CHARGE US FOR SERVICES, FINES, PERMITS, AND TRANSFERS.

SO WITH THAT, UM, WE KIND OF JUST, I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF FOCUS ON THE, ON THE TAX PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT DOES MAKE UP THE, THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUES AND, AND HAS A TENDENCY TO, TO FLUCTUATE THE MOST.

SO FIRST, UM, WITH OUR STATE SHARED SALES TAX, UM, THE LINE IN ORANGE REPRESENTS OUR BUDGET AMOUNT AND THE LINE IN BLUE KIND OF REPRESENTS OUR, OUR ACTUAL AMOUNTS.

UM, AND YOU CAN SEE STARTING OUT FISCAL 21, UM, WE BUDGETED FAIRLY CONSERVATIVELY, UM, THERE, AND THAT WAS DUE TO COVID.

WE JUST WEREN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE IMPACT OF COVID WAS GONNA HAVE ON OUR, ON OUR REVENUE STREAMS. SO WE BUDGETED FAIRLY CONSERVATIVELY THERE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE, UM, ON THE ACTUAL, ON THE BLUE LINE THAT WE'VE KIND OF YEAR OVER YEAR

[00:35:01]

AND THAT'S A A FIVE YEAR AVERAGE INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR OF ABOUT 7.3%.

SO IF WE LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT FISCAL 26, UM, WE BUDGETED AT 18.1 IN STATE SHARED SALES TAX, UM, WE'RE PROJECTING THAT THAT NUMBER TO END ABOUT $19.4 MILLION.

AND SO WHEN WE DO THAT CALCULATION AND FORECASTING, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES.

THAT CALCULATION, UM, HAS LED US TO KIND OF FORECAST FOR FISCAL 27, ABOUT $19.4 MILLION IN, IN STATE SHARED TEST SALES TAX REVENUE FOR, FOR FISCAL 27.

UM, THE COUNTY, UM, DESIGNATED, UM, SALES TAX, UM, KIND OF THE SAME THING IN FISCAL 21.

UM, WE BUDGETED FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE FOR COVID, THAT'S WHY THAT NUMBER'S DOWN ABOUT 5.4.

BUT IN GENERAL, YOU CAN SEE, UM, IT'S STILL KIND OF A POSITIVE TREND, UM, GOING UP.

I'LL ADDRESS FISCAL 24 HERE IN A SECOND.

UM, SPECIFICALLY WHY, UM, THE ACTUAL DIP BELOW THE BUDGET, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT TREND IS KIND OF ON AN UPWARD TREND IN OUR, IN OUR BUDGET AMOUNT IS FAR FALLING THAT, SO IN FISCAL 26 WE BUDGETED ABOUT 10.6 AND WE'RE PROJECTING THAT AMOUNT, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IN RED TO BE ABOUT $11.2 MILLION.

AND THEN, SO IN FISCAL 27 WITH THAT ANALYSIS AND THAT CALCULATION, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE PROJECTING, UM, RECOMMENDING A BUDGET AMOUNT OF ABOUT $11.4 MILLION.

AND THAT FIVE YEAR INCREASE FOR OUR COUNTY SALES TAX YEAR OVER YEAR, UM, FROM FISCAL 21 TO FISCAL 25 IS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 7.5%.

AND JUST REAL QUICK TO, TO ADDRESS THAT, THAT FISCAL 24, UM, THERE WAS A LARGE REFUND.

UM, A COMPANY PETITIONED THE DEPARTMENT, THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND THEY WERE AWARDED THAT REFUND IN THAT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH, UM, CAUSED THAT, THAT MONEY TO DIP DOWN.

UM, WE CONSIDER THAT A ONE-TIME INFREQUENT AND UNUSUAL ITEM.

AND WITHOUT THAT, UM, THAT REFUND THAT WENT BACK TO THAT TAXPAYER, WE KIND OF EXPECTED THAT NUMBER TO BE ABOVE THE 9.5, UM, BUDGETED AMOUNT AND KIND OF CONTINUE CONTINUING THAT TREND.

I'D JUST LIKE TO STOP HERE FOR A SECOND AND TALK ABOUT SALES TAX.

UM, WE TYPICALLY ARE PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ON OUR PROJECTIONS AND OUR FORECASTS.

UM, AND WE DO THAT TO KIND OF PROTECT AGAINST POTENTIAL RECESSIONARY IMPACTS.

UM, STATEWIDE, UM, UM, WE DO SEE A SLOWING OF THE SALES TAX GROWTH, UM, WHICH ON AVERAGE, UM, YEAR OVER YEAR IS ABOUT FIVE TO FIVE AND A HALF PERCENT.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE, THE COUNTY IS IS, UM, OVERPERFORMED THAT FIVE TO FIVE AND A HALF PERCENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

UM, BUT WE STILL, UM, ARE KIND OF, LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE KIND OF FORECAST AND PROJECT THAT, THAT, UM, TO PROTECT AGAINST THOSE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES OR THOSE RECESSIONARY PRESSURES KIND OF LOOKING AT A STATEWIDE IMPACT.

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THAT TOO IS INFLATION.

UM, THAT UPWARD PRESSURE OF INFLATION IS SLOWING A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO AS INFLATION SLOWS, YOU KNOW, THE SALES TAX IS NOT COLLECTED ON THAT.

UM, THERE ARE SOME AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY WITH HOUSING, UM, AND PEOPLE SAVINGS, UM, NOT BEING QUITE WHAT THEY WERE.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, IS, UM, WE'VE SEEN, UM, WITH OUR SALES TAX IS, UH, MORE OF A RELIANCE ON RETAIL AND REMOTE SALES, WHICH MAKE UP A LARGER PORTION OF THAT TOTAL SALES TAX THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

UM, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE SLIGHTLY MORE EXPOSED TO SWINGS IN, IN CONSUMER SPENDING.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE DRIVER'S KIND OF WHY WE, WE'VE KIND OF STAYED CONSERVATIVE YEAR OVER YEAR IN OUR PROJECTIONS OF, OF OUR SALES TAX, UM, REVENUE.

MOVING ON TO, TO PROPERTY TAX.

UM, THE LAST ONE, UM, SO IN FISCAL 27, UM, WE'RE PROPOSING TO KEEP THE, THE SAME TAX RATE, UM, WHICH IS THE CURRENT TAX RATE THAT WE'VE HAD AND WE'VE DONE THIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH IS 0.8114.

UM, I THINK WE'RE EITHER THIRD OR FOURTH LOWEST IN THE ENTIRE STATE FOR OUR SALES TAX RATE.

UM, SO YOU CAN SEE THE, THE DIFFERENCE, UM, FOR THE, THE PROPOSED WOULD BE FOR NEXT YEAR.

UM, THE ASSESSMENT THAT, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ABOUT $9.3 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT $408,000 OVER, OVER WHAT WE WOULD, UM, ASSESS IN THE, IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

UM, JUST OVER TO THE RIGHT, I DO WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE COUNTY IS WE ARE ALLOWED TO ASSESS, UM, PROPERTY TAXES UP TO $9.8 MILLION, UM, WHICH WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE OF RIGHT AROUND $980,000.

AND THAT TAX RATE WOULD INCREASE TO 0.861, WHICH IS ABOUT A 5 CENT PER $1,000 OR PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUATION.

UM, BUT AT THIS POINT, UM, THROUGH OUR PRELIMINARY PLANNING WHERE WE'RE PLANNING FOR THAT, THAT FLAT TAX RATE AND THAT RATE TO REMAINS THE, THE SAME.

AND SO THIS, THIS AS FAR WHEN PROPERTY TAX, THIS IS, THIS IS A GRAPH WE'D LIKE TO SHOW, UM, DURING OUR, OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION.

[00:40:01]

AND THAT KIND OF SHOWS THAT GRAPHICALLY IS THAT THE COUNTY IN THE DARK RED THERE, UM, WE'VE, WE WERE, UM, THE MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT THE COUNTY COULD ASSESS IT WAS REPRESENTED IN THAT, IN THAT DARK LINE IN THAT OR THAT DARK SHADED AREA AND THAT LIGHTER SHADED PINK AREA IS THAT THE TAX THAT THE ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, UM, ASSESS TO THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS.

AND SO KINDA WHAT THAT REPRESENTS IS AS WE, AS WE LOOK FORWARD THAT THE BOARD'S BEEN VERY CON UM, CONSERVATIVE AND, AND, UM, THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATES AND, AND ALLOWING, UM, PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS TO, TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND, AND THAT'S KINDA WHAT THAT, THAT THAT DELTA KIND OF SHOWS US IS, IS WHERE THAT'S GOING.

SO IN SUMMARY, UM, AS WE LOOK AT OUR FISCAL 26 BUDGETED AMOUNTS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE BLUE, UM, TOTAL ABOUT $37.5 MILLION FOR THE, FOR THE TAXES.

UM, FISCAL 27 BUDGETED AMOUNTS THERE IN RED, WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST A LITTLE OVER 40 MILLION.

AND THAT'S A DIFFERENCE, UM, FROM YEAR, FROM FISCAL 26 TO FISCAL 27, ABOUT 2.5 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 6.7%.

AND SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT INCREASE IS OCCURRING YEAR OVER YEAR, UM, IN, IN OUR, IN OUR TAX, IN OUR TAX REVENUES.

UM, SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF A, A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING INTO FISCAL 27.

UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS INFORMATION, IT IS STILL KIND OF PRELIMINARY AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT BIT AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION.

UM, THIS IS KIND OF BASED ON LIKE HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR THROUGH THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

AND SO WE'RE STILL MONITORING THOSE REVENUES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEM AND, AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF SOME SLIGHT TWEAKS KIND OF GOING FORWARD AS, AS WE LOOK AT THAT AND KIND OF SEE WHAT THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BRINGS AS FAR AS OUR, OUR PROP, OUR SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX.

UM, I'M NOT REALLY EXPECTING ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO, TO OCCUR.

I THINK WE'RE ON A, A NICE SOLID GOOD TRAJECTORY GOING YEAR OVER YEAR.

AND SO WE DON'T EXPECT ANY MAJOR IMPACTS TO, TO OUR TAX REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND.

AND SO WITH THAT, UM, THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION AND I'D BE OPEN TO ANY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS? GO AHEAD, VICE CHAIR.

UH, THANK YOU SIR.

UM, JUST DUE GRATITUDE, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THIS AND ALL OF THE SUPPORTS THAT HAVE ALLOWED FOR US TO HAVE A BALANCE BUDGET.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT STAND OUT, BUT AS A PROPERTY OWNER AND BEING COGNIZANT OF WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A FLAT RATE, UM, YEAR AFTER YEAR, UM, THOSE ARE BELTS ARE TIGHTENING AND BUDGETS ARE DIMINISHING OR GETTING SMALLER, UM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS MATTER.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT IT'S DONE TO HELP US TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE, UM, WITH THE PROJECTION OF A FLAT RATE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? LET'S TAKE A SECOND.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY BATTLING BECAUSE THEY'RE WANTING TO RAISE THIS AND THROW THE DOLLARS BACK ON TO BE FUNDED BY THE COUNTIES AND WHICH ARE REALLY STATE ISSUES.

AND WE OFTEN FIND OURSELF WITH THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION AT ODDS WITH SOME OF THE LAWMAKERS TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE VALUES THERE.

THEY STILL HAVE NOT ADDRESSED WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL OF HOW THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT ON THE ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE GONNA HIT THE STATE THIS YEAR THAT THEY ARE MANDATED TO DO.

SO.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND PROJECTING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL AS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR STATE.

AND YOU'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB OVER THE YEARS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND WE JUST APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND TEAM THAT WORKS WITH YOU TO, TO DO THAT.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THIS YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THAT FINALIZES OUT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.

I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR

[a. Presentation by the Family Advocacy Center]

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU ALL.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE DOYLE AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE NAVAJO COUNTY FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER.

WE ARE A 5 0 1 C3 THAT OPERATES UNDER THE NAVAJO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I'M JUST HERE TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE SERVE THE MEMBERS OF OUR COUNTY, MAYBE YOU.

OKAY.

SO WE ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WE'RE SERVICE ORIENTED AND

[00:45:01]

LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE COMPLETELY BASED OFF OF DONATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I ALWAYS PUT THIS IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF MY PRESENTATIONS.

WHY DO WE CARE? WHY AM I HERE? WHY IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL GET BEHIND? UM, MY STATISTICS ARE NAVAJO AND APACHE COUNTY SPECIFIC.

I TRY TO NOT PULL FROM NATIONAL STATISTICS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES TO KNOW WHAT WE LOOK LIKE.

UM, SO IN NAVAJO AND APACHE COUNTIES, EVERY 36 HOURS A CHILD CRIME IS COMMITTED.

UM, WE KNOW STATISTICALLY NATIONALLY, ONE IN THREE CHILD CRIMES ARE REPORTED IN RURAL ENVIRONMENTS.

SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT IT COULD BE.

UM, 84% OF THE VICTIMS THAT WE SEE AT OUR CENTER ARE BELOW THE NATIONAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RUNNING WATER.

THEY ARE HOME INSECURE, FOOD INSECURE, THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET.

AND THEN THEY'RE BEING, UM, HANDED THIS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

76% OF OUR VICTIMS ARE CAUCASIAN WITH 16% HISPANIC, 6% AMERICAN INDIAN, 2% OTHER.

WE KNOW WITHIN OUR COUNTIES THAT THAT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE HAVE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE SERVICE GAPS THAT WE CONSISTENTLY TRY TO MEET.

UM, 84, 80 5% OF ALL OF OUR VICTIMS ARE 14 OR YOUNGER.

70% ARE FEMALE, 29% ARE MALE.

1% IDENTIFY AS NON-BINARY.

AND IN 2025 AND 2024 AS WELL, 99% OF OUR VICTIMS KNEW THEIR OFFENDER.

UM, SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING THESE KIDDOS ARE PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW, PEOPLE THAT THEY TRUST, AND PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN EASILY IDENTIFY.

UM, WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN VICTIMS IN 2023 TO 2024.

WE SAW A 60% INCREASE.

2024 TO 2025, WE SAW 45% INCREASE.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASES EVERY SINGLE YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY.

UM, SO WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR SERVICES.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT THE NAVAJO COUNTY FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER'S GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE STRESS THAT FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, MAY FACE AS VICTIMS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF A CRIME AGAINST THEM.

IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THIS MISSION STATEMENT, IT DOESN'T MENTION ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE NOW PROVIDE.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN THIS, UM, WHEN WE WERE CREATED BACK IN 2011, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CRIME TYPES THAT WERE BEING IDENTIFIED AND NOW WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE AND RESPOND TO THOSE CRIME TYPES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO OUR CENTER.