Mohave County adopts FY26 budget, raises sheriff pay effective July 12 amid board split

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2025–26 primary property tax levy and final budget on June 16 and voted 3–2 to make sheriff office compensation adjustments effective July 12.

The board, sitting as the county’s budget authority, adopted the budget package that includes pay and staffing increases for the sheriff’s office, courts and prosecutors, as well as $6 million set aside for Phase 2B of the Law and Justice Center and $3 million earmarked in case the county builds a morgue. Supervisor Ezra Gould and Supervisor Martin voted no on the motion to set the sheriff pay adjustment effective July 12; Supervisors Lettman, Borelli and Chair Lingenfelter voted yes.

Why it matters: the budget sets county spending levels for the new fiscal year starting July 1 and funds near‑term steps aimed at addressing staffing and public‑safety pressures that county leaders and local judges said are acute. The board also adopted a new fund‑balance policy intended to keep cash reserves and contingency levels that staff said will protect the county from revenue volatility.

Board discussion and votes - The board moved the county’s primary tax rate to the proposed level used in the adopted budget; staff said the change results in roughly a $3.1 million increase in levy amount countywide compared with the prior year and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $11.81 more in county primary tax than last year. Director Mornien and finance staff walked the board through illustrative examples used for Truth in Taxation requirements. - Supervisor Lettman offered the motion to adopt the final budget with a modification specifying that the compensation package for the sheriff’s department be effective July 12; the motion was seconded and passed 3–2. Vote record captured on the transcript: Lettman — yes; Borelli — yes; Martin — no; Gould — no; Lingenfelter — yes.

Sheriff staffing and pay timing County Manager Elders (county manager) and finance staff briefed the board that the budget ceiling was set by the tentative budget adopted earlier; staff said advancing the effective date of the sheriff pay adjustments to the start of the fiscal year would require tapping contingency funds or the sheriff delaying hiring to cover the cost. Sheriff Shuster told the board he had agreed to stagger implementation by anniversary date while negotiating with staff but said his “end game is to get more staffing.” He also said the office currently carries vacancies and that pay competitiveness is a critical retention and recruitment issue.

Fund balance policy The board adopted a new general fund balance policy that staff said sets targets tied to cash‑flow needs and a contingency percentage. Staff described the policy as a framework to guide how the county maintains cash on hand, replenish reserves if necessary and prioritize uses of surplus (debt reduction, capital improvements or one‑time investments). The county manager said the policy will be used in future budget planning.

Next steps and context The budget contains recurring and nonrecurring items, including market adjustments and career progression series for multiple departments. Directors told the board there remains a modest recurring operating deficit projected for FY27; nonrecurring funds are reserved for specific capital items in FY26. Implementation of the sheriff compensation changes begins July 12 per the adopted motion; budget managers will return with contracts and implementation details as required.

Ending: The board’s adoption sets the county’s spending and levy authority for the coming year while leaving room for the supervisors to revisit allocations or addenda during the fiscal year. Action items approved at the meeting require staff follow‑through to finalize contracts, payroll adjustments and reporting to state bodies.