Council, two CFD boards adopt budgets; council adopts solid-waste ordinance and final FY26 budget

The Rancho Sarita and Quail Creek Community Facilities District boards and the Town Council completed several budget and fee actions during the Town of Sahuarita meeting in June 2025.

Rancho Sarita Community Facilities District board members adopted the district's fiscal year 2026 budget at a stated public hearing, approving a $9,233,410 budget that the district treasurer said is balanced and down about $8.1 million from the prior year because of spent bond proceeds. The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution presented at the public hearing.

The Quail Creek Community Facilities District board then adopted its FY2026 budget, a $1,107,640 spending plan financed almost entirely by a property tax levy; the board approved the resolution unanimously after a public hearing.

On the council's regular agenda, the Town Council held a public hearing and then adopted the town's final fiscal year 2026 budget and a separate ordinance establishing the solid-waste and recycling collection fee schedule for the next four years. The council's FY2026 budget is programmed at $109,787,630 and preserves the town's rainy-day reserve level, the finance director said. The council adopted the budget and the solid-waste ordinance by unanimous voice votes of members present.

Votes at a glance

- Rancho Sarita Community Facilities District: Resolution adopting FY2026 budget ($9,233,410). Outcome: adopted unanimously (board members present: Lisk, Lytle, Morales, Priolo, Egbert, Murphy). Notes: Treasurer AC Mariotti said 79% of resources are beginning fund balance (unspent bond proceeds); property tax levy of $4.99 per $100 of assessed value provides $1.5 million in the plan.

- Quail Creek Community Facilities District: Resolution adopting FY2026 budget ($1,107,640). Outcome: adopted unanimously (board members present: Lisk, Lytle, Morales, Priolo, Egbert, Murphy). Notes: Tax rate for the district will be $2.26 per $100 assessed value; debt service paid off in 2030 except residual 30'cents per $100 unless new bonds issued.

- Ordinance 2025-185: Solid-waste and recycling collection fees (monthly $22.75; quarterly $68.25 and other fee schedule details in ordinance). Outcome: adopted unanimously by Town Council (council members present: Lisk, Lytle, Morales, Priolo, Egbert, Murphy). Staff said the rate is the negotiated contract rate and will be set as a town fee by ordinance.

- Resolution 2025-0826: Town of Sahuarita FY2026 final budget (total $109,787,630). Outcome: adopted unanimously by Town Council (council members present: Lisk, Lytle, Morales, Priolo, Egbert, Murphy). The adopted budget maintains $6,000,000 in general-fund rainy-day reserves, programs $20.3 million for capital outlay (including police building expansion and multiuse paths), and relies on approximately $54.6 million of beginning fund balances.

What council and staff said

AC Mariotti (finance director) described the town budget as balanced and said the town's FY26 program is roughly 8% lower than the current year's adopted budget. Mariotti said the largest single use in the adopted budgets for the Rancho Sarita Community Facilities District is capital outlay funded from previously issued bonds, and that the district will use essentially all its resources during the fiscal year.

Daniel Logan (deputy public works director) summarized the solid-waste ordinance and the negotiated contract rate; staff said the ordinance makes the negotiated rate a town fee and that a bin-share form and supporting materials will be published online for residents.

Why it matters

The adopted budgets set the town's spending priorities for services, capital projects and debt service in FY2026, including a major police department building project, roadway and park investments and community-facilities-district infrastructure purchases funded by earlier bond issues. The solid-waste ordinance implements the negotiated four-year collection contract and sets the required fee schedule for residents.

Ending note

Council members and staff emphasized that the budgets were the outcome of a months-long process and that adjustments can be made midyear if material state or other developments require amendments.