Graham County supervisors award $75,248 to Bonita schools after debate over allocation method

The Graham County Board of Supervisors voted to distribute $75,248.42 in Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds to the Bonita School District, after staff explained the county received only a partial SRS payment this year and after extended discussion about allocation methods.

County Manager Dustin Welker told the board the federal SRS payment this year was far smaller than in prior years: "Last year, the amount of funding that came down was around $425,000. This year, it's $80,000," and staff set aside $5,000 to satisfy previous audit guidance that some of the funds be retained for county highway use, leaving $75,248.42 for distribution.

The vote resolved weeks of internal discussion about whether to use the familiar mix of student population and acreage or to reweight the formula toward forest acreage. Board members debated four illustrative methods presented by staff: (1) 100% population; (2) 80% population/20% acreage (the recent default); (3) 50/50 acreage and population; and (4) 100% acreage. Supporters of the acreage-heavy option said it would align with the source of SRS funds (forest acreage). Opponents warned that switching formulas could substantially reduce checks to some districts.

Superintendent McGaughey, who had been asked for a recommendation, told the board she would support directing the full available amount to Bonita in light of its current fiscal stress: "I personally feel like if we gave Bonita Schools the full amount, I would like to think the other school districts would understand," she said. Several supervisors expressed sympathy for Bonita's situation while noting the shortfall would be temporary.

Board members pressed staff for numeric examples of the different methods. According to figures presented during the meeting, under the acreage-focused option Bonita would receive about $34,000; Pima roughly $25,000; Safford about $2,300; Thatcher about $10,700; and several smaller districts would receive little or nothing under that formula. Board members noted those example outputs were only illustrations of the four proposed methodologies and that the board could set any distribution it wished.

After discussion, a supervisor moved to award the entire $75,248.42 (the amount remaining after retaining $5,000 for county highway needs) to Bonita School District. Another supervisor seconded the motion. The board voted in favor; the chair announced the motion passed.

The board's action applies only to this year's partial SRS payment; staff told the board it may change the distribution methodology in future years and that the county has historically varied allocations year to year.

The decision follows the county's disclosure that SRS was only partially funded this federal cycle and that staff presented multiple allocation options for board direction.