Cochise County Library District presents FY26 budget forecast, requests board guidance on contingency and long-range planning

The Cochise County Library District presented its FY26 budget forecast to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, saying property-tax revenue for the district is expected to rise to $1,695,086 for fiscal year 2026 while the district plans modest branch maintenance, continued investment in digital collections and further analysis of long-range needs.

Library District director Britney (last name not provided) told the board, “the library district is a small department, but we provide countywide service. We operate 5 branch libraries in rural locations and provide support services for the 7 municipal libraries across the county.” She said the district operates five branches plus a headquarters in Bisbee and provides a shared online catalog, e-books, digital collections and access to research databases.

Why this matters: the district serves a predominantly rural county where residential broadband gaps make branch Internet service and outside-access Wi‑Fi an important public resource. The director urged supervisors to provide direction for a multi-year plan that aligns services with county priorities and addresses staffing and contingency uses.

The district reported staffing and service levels: 13 staff members (several part time), representing “just under 10 full-time equivalents across 6 locations,” with one position fully dedicated to delivering materials to…