The Pinal County Board of Supervisors adopted the final fiscal year 2025–26 budget at a public hearing on July 2, approving the plan the county presented as its spending ceiling for the year.

The board’s budget presentation showed the county’s overall funding mix as of the final budget: 38% general fund, 37% special revenue funds, 21% capital projects and 4% enterprise funds. The county’s flood control district mill rate moved from 0.1693 to 0.162, and the library district rate shifted from 0.0913 to 0.089. Angie Woods, director of the Office of Budget and Finance, told the board that the tentative budget ceiling did not change in the final adoption and that the board will see subsequent agenda items to authorize specific allocations requested by departments.

Why it matters: adopting the final budget establishes the legal spending limit county departments must operate under and sets the ceiling for future appropriation adjustments. Woods said the board will be asked to approve specific allocations as the finance office completes analyses and departments submit supporting documentation.

At the hearing, several members of the public raised questions about revenue certainty. Roberto Revelas of Gold Canyon asked how the county could be confident in the budget’s federal revenue assumptions while a federal-level budget process remained unresolved. Woods replied that the county builds the budget on federal dollars that have already been assigned and that any reductions or notifications of unavailable funds would be brought back to the board as amendments to reduce spending.

Board procedure and vote: after the public hearing the board voted to adopt the FY2025–26 final budget. The motion to adopt the budget was made from the dais and passed by voice vote; a roll call was not required. Woods emphasized that the adopted budget represents a ceiling and that the county can amend down if revenue assumptions change.

What’s next: departments that requested additional general fund allocations will return with supplemental agenda items and supporting documentation for the board to consider. County staff also noted that the board will monitor federal funding developments and adjust appropriations if necessary.

(Reporting for this item: Angie Woods, Director, Office of Budget and Finance; public comment from Roberto Revelas.)