Board of Supervisors Defers Budget Decisions Until More Data Available

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors is holding back on finalizing next year’s budget until more complete sales tax and state-shared revenue details are announced. 
Supervisors ordinarily do not formally approve the next year’s fiscal budget until July. Diminished sales tax revenue has prompted the board to delay preliminary decisions until more data is available. 
In “virtual” meetings on April 27, May 6 and May 20, supervisors acknowledged that lower tax revenue are predicted. Intense discussions, which took place using video and teleconferencing technology, strongly focused on budgetary issues. 
These prompted several “freeze” or “contingency” actions related to hiring, non-essential expenditures, employee raises and postponing a $4.5 million payment to the state Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. 
The supervisors are also considering the transfer of $1.5 million from the county’s Flood Control District budget to the general fund.
County Administrator Phil Bourdon said sales tax and state-shared revenues could be down as much as $4 million because of the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. 
Chairman Craig Brown said he and other supervisors agreed that holding off on final deliberations for the next fiscal budget will provide for flexibility in future decisions.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting is set for June 17. The county is required to adopt its tentative budget by July 1 and a final budget by Aug. 3.