Supervisors approve $5,500 sponsorship for 'Tombstone' TV series amid questions about public benefit

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 to approve a $5,500 community enhancement fund expenditure to sponsor a six-episode television series titled Tombstone in the Heart of Cochise County on the Cowboy Channel, which a supervisor said reaches a national rural audience.

Eli Dalton Webb, a public commenter, questioned why county funds would go to a private-sector production and asked what measurable return would accrue to taxpayers. Webb asked whether the county would see a direct economic return that justifies spending the funds.

Supervisor Gomez defended the expenditure as a strategic, budgeted use of community enhancement funds authorized under state law (discussed in meeting as ARS 42-17101), saying the county maintains an annual schedule of estimated expenditures and that community enhancement funds are specifically designated for district-level community investments. Gomez said the Cowboy Channel and related rural networks reach a national audience and argued that tourism marketing can multiply local spending and generate jobs and tax revenue.

Supervisor Krasner (speaker identified in the transcript) urged producers to include other county attractions in the series, naming Kartchner Caverns, Slaughter Ranch, Camp Naco and the Buffalo Soldier Museum as sites that should be featured to broaden benefits across the county.

The board noted they have recommended a 50–60% reduction in supervisors’ community enhancement funds in budget discussions but said limited funds remain for targeted investments. The motion to approve the $5,500 sponsorship passed by voice vote, 3-0.