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Cochise County adopts FY2025–26 budgets for five light improvement districts; supervisors question APS maintenance
Summary
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the boards for five light improvement districts, adopted final budgets for fiscal year 2025–26. Supervisors raised concerns about whether Arizona Public Service maintains street lights residents are taxed to support.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the governing boards for five light improvement districts, adopted final budgets for fiscal year 2025–26 and held a public hearing on the districts' spending and service delivery.
The board approved final budgets, as previously included in the county's tentative budget, for the Bowie, Golden Acres, Nauqua, Porterville and SunSites Light Improvement Districts. The budgets are intended to cover utility bills for street lights in unincorporated areas; the board noted tax rates for each district will be set in August based on revenues and reserves.
Ms. Gilman, a county staff member presenting the item, said the districts exist to pay utility bills for street lights in the unincorporated areas and that staff factor historic utility trends and current reserves into the proposed budgets. “I don't believe we have an actual contract with APS just because it's in their service area,” Gilman said when asked about whether Arizona Public Service (APS) is contractually required to maintain lights in the districts.
Supervisors voted on each district separately after a combined public hearing. Motions to adopt the final budgets were made and seconded for each district; recorded vote tallies were announced by the chair for each motion.
Votes at a glance
- Bowie Light Improvement District — Adopted final budget of $14,183; motion passed (recorded as 3 0). - Golden Acres Light Improvement District — Adopted final budget of $8,388; motion passed (recorded as 3 0). - Nauqua Light Improvement District — Adopted final budget of $9,931; motion passed (recorded as 3 0). - Porterville Light Improvement District — Adopted final budget of $32,044; motion passed (recorded as 3 0). - SunSites Light Improvement District — Adopted final budget of $34,364; motion passed (recorded as 3 0).
Board discussion and resident concerns
A supervisor raised concerns that residents were being taxed to pay utility bills while many street lights in some districts were not functioning. The supervisor said constituents reported numerous nonworking light posts during a recent outreach effort and questioned how the county ensures it receives the service it funds.
Gilman replied that the county does not have an active contract with APS for light maintenance in those service areas, and that the county pays based on usage reported by the utility. She said county facilities staff could perform spot checks, particularly in Porterville, and recommended residents continue to report outages so staff can follow up.
Procedure and next steps
Gilman reminded the board that the budgets approved at the meeting had been included in the tentative budget adopted in June and explained that staff will calculate tax rates in August after accounting for current tax revenues and any reserves. The board adjourned after completing the budget items and noting the next meeting would consider library district business.
The board's actions at this meeting were limited to budget adoption and did not create a new maintenance agreement with APS; Gilman indicated any change to service arrangements would require separate action.
