Carefree council adopts $14.5 million tentative budget, sets June public hearing

The Carefree Town Council on May 6 adopted Resolution 2025-09, establishing a tentative bottom-line budget of $14.5 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and set a public hearing for June 3.

The budget presentation by town finance staff said forecasted general-fund revenues total about $8.5 million against roughly $7.7 million in operational expenses, yielding a minimum projected surplus of $700,000 and a potential upside to $2.2 million depending on sales-tax performance and investment earnings. Town staff also outlined about $4.8 million in capital projects, including $2.5 million for street mill-and-overlay work, $400,000 for town-center signage and $1.8 million for parking and sidewalk improvements.

Why it matters: council members and staff described the tentative budget as the implementation tool for the town’s recently adopted strategic plan. Gary Neece, town finance staff, summarized the multi-step budgeting process and said, “The fiscal health and the physical health of Carefree has never been better.” The council’s adoption of a tentative bottom line allows the town to publish required schedules and proceed to a final budget hearing next month.

Details: staff said the budget uses a five-year average to forecast volatile sales-tax revenue (about $5.32 million on the five-year average). The presentation listed restricted and grant sources for capital projects, including highway-user funds and a fee from Southwest Gas. The town’s capital-reserve balance was reported as “over $15,000,000.” Expenditure-limit calculations shown at the meeting placed the town under its statutory limit by about $1.18 million.

Public comment and council discussion: three residents spoke during the budget item. John Trainor, a 25-year resident, urged caution on long-term bonding and emphasized engineering review for major projects. Maureen Benedetto and other residents asked for clearer line-item presentation and easier public access to salary and contract details; staff agreed the budget document has expanded salary disclosure compared with prior years and offered follow-up meetings. Several council members said the program-based format provides useful narrative context while acknowledging there is room for additional summary spreadsheets or line-item rollups.

Action and next steps: a council motion to adopt Resolution 2025-09 passed unanimously. Staff will post Schedule A through G and other statutory exhibits online and hold a public hearing on June 3 before final adoption.