Lake Havasu City council enacts no‑tax‑rate‑increase budget; funds Station 7, pool, fuel facility and road projects

Mayor Cal Sheehy and City Manager Jessica Knudson told residents the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget took effect July 1 and contains no tax‑rate increase, although assessed value growth and new construction raised collections. “There’s no tax rate increases,” Sheehy said. “The rate has remained the same for 7 years now.” The mayor highlighted several capital projects in the budget: funding for Fire Station 7 at Sloop and McCulloch, construction of a second city pool, a city fuel facility adjacent to City Hall that will include generator backup and radio upgrades for police, and planned refurbishments of fire engines as a cost‑saving alternative to buying new rigs that take years to deliver. Sheehy said new pump/refurbishment work may extend engine life by eight to 10 years and that new engines ordered previously have delivery dates in 2027–2028. Knudson and Public Works staff outlined planned pavement projects: a mill‑and‑fill on Jamaica Boulevard (beginning within about 10 days of the Sept. 12 meeting) and an Acoma water‑main replacement program timed to precede next‑year paving. The city also said it will install a traffic signal at Jamaica and McCulloch, a highway safety‑funded project tied to past fatalities. The budget includes routine road maintenance, targeted chip‑seal and crack‑seal programs, and water mains replacements to reduce breaks. Knudson noted the city is pursuing efficiency options for fire rigs to avoid multi‑million‑dollar purchases and that the fuel facility will support vehicle fueling and emergency planning. Officials urged patience during construction and said the budget combines grant funding, reserved prize monies and general‑fund allocations for infrastructure work.