Sahuarita adopts $109.8 million tentative budget, schedules June 23 final hearing

Sahuarita — The Sahuarita Town Council unanimously adopted a balanced tentative budget for fiscal year 2026 on the night of the meeting, approving Resolution No. 2025-0821 that sets a $109,787,630 spending ceiling and schedules a public hearing and final adoption for June 23, 2025.

The tentative budget carries forward $54.6 million in beginning fund balances and anticipates $54.9 million in revenues next year, leaving $41.0 million in ending fund balances for future use. The town programs $20.3 million for capital projects, $6.4 million for debt service and $42.1 million for operations in the coming fiscal year.

Town finance officials said the overall budget is about 8% lower than the current year’s budget largely because capital spending funded in prior years is now being spent. Acting Town Manager and Finance & Technology Director AC Mariotti told the council the decline “is almost entirely related to capital,” noting earlier bond proceeds and one-time resources that are being used this year.

The budget includes a $7.28 million allocation for Rancho Sarita roadway acquisitions, $5.85 million for police building expansion and renovation, $1.62 million for multi-use paths on El Toro and La Vita funded by PAG, and $750,000 for the Walden Grove High School traffic signal (an intergovernmental agreement adopted separately).

Mariotti said the town is not proposing any general tax rate increases. The presentation showed the general fund at about $68.2 million; transportation funding at roughly $6.65 million; and enterprise funds (wastewater and the newly added solid waste operation) reflected in their own fund schedules.

Council members and staff discussed the town’s reliance on beginning balances and the uncertainty of state budget actions. Budget Director Karen Crews warned that pending state decisions could affect available resources but said Sahuarita’s current fund balances provide cushion.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the tentative budget by motion; the resolution directs staff to file the tentative budget with the town clerk and to publish notice of the June 23 final hearing.

If approved at the June 23 hearing, the final budget will govern the town’s spending for the fiscal year starting July 1. Any changes that increase the adopted ceiling would require further action consistent with state law.

The council’s action followed a full-day public budget retreat in April during which the town reviewed priorities and capital project sequencing; the tentative budget kept several previously-discussed project priorities while correcting a $50,000 staffing-dollar error in community development and adding $20,000 for interim playground surfacing to address safety needs.