Coconino County facilities leaders ask supervisors to protect capital renewal, explain rising utility and construction costs

Facilities Management told the Board of Supervisors on May 14 that higher utility bills, construction price inflation and a tight maintenance budget are forcing the department to ask for targeted one‑time funding and careful prioritization of a recently adopted facilities master plan.

The department’s assistant director, Tara Clifton, and director Tom (last name not specified in the transcript) outlined operations, capital renewal and conservation programs and said the department expects continuing pressure from utility and construction markets. “We implemented WatchWire energy management software this year to understand and analyze our utility usage,” Clifton said, adding the county received a technical assistance voucher from the U.S. Department of Energy to help craft a carbon‑reduction plan. Clifton also said the department completed a county‑wide utility rate impact study to forecast future needs.

Clifton and Tom emphasized capital renewal — the board-approved program that budgets roughly $400,000–$600,000 annually for planned repairs and replacements — and described FY26 requests and one‑time additions for repair and replacement funds. The requests include electronic access control upgrades, a Center for the Arts carpet replacement, and a building‑envelope supplement. The department also highlighted work already under way: replacement of the admin building boiler, new courthouse air‑handler design, 1,500 square feet of added office space at the jail pathways program, RFPs soon to be issued for EPA brownfield remediation at the old jail, and programming/design work for a youth behavioral health center on King Street with construction slated for completion in 2026.

On costs, facilities said construction bids are now “$500 to more than $1,000 per square foot” and described a local “Flagstaff factor” of higher material and contractor costs because of transportation and limited supply. Labor shortages in skilled trades and rising furniture and custodial contract prices were also cited. Clifton said the team is pursuing cost‑saving strategies, energy‑efficiency investments and stronger local supplier relationships. “We remain committed to navigating these with transparency, adaptability, and a focus on long‑term solutions,” she said.

Board members thanked facilities staff for day‑to‑day work across the county — including remote sites such as Fredonia, Page and Williams — and pressed for clearer prioritization for the master plan and for updates tied to possible congressionally directed funding. Supervisor Ontiveros asked what the department sees as the “hottest” priorities; county management and facilities said quarterly capital updates will be provided (the first scheduled for June 3) and that project prioritization will consider available funding, including any directed federal allocations.

Tom described an internal service‑delivery model and a resurrected building representative program to give departments one or two points of contact for routine maintenance and repairs. He said the capital renewal fund paid for the recent admin elevator work and will continue to fund roofs, HVAC, and other critical infrastructure. The department also noted three federal grants it manages or supports (Tribal Nation Service Center, EPA brownfield cleanup, and an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant) and named partners including Coconino Community College and Northern Arizona University.

The presentation closed with a request that the board support steady funding for capital renewal, continued staff development and an implementation plan for the facility master plan. Clifton and Tom emphasized efforts to formalize carbon‑reduction work and to “fully vet” projects in advance so budgets better align with construction realities.

Board members said they value the department’s work and asked for ongoing transparency on funding sources and priorities; several supervisors offered to help advocate or identify funding avenues. The board scheduled a capital update and will review prioritization and any congressionally directed funding as part of upcoming capital planning updates.

Ending: Supervisors praised the facilities team’s maintenance and project work while asking for a clearer timetable to implement the facility master plan and for regular capital updates tied to funding opportunities. Facilities said it will return with quarterly capital reports and will work with county management to prioritize projects for FY26.