Graham County supervisors adopt preliminary budget, ratify legal contracts, approve grants and opioid settlements

The Graham County Board of Supervisors on July 21 adopted a preliminary fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved a slate of contracts, grants and settlements affecting county operations.

County Manager Hannah Welker, presenting the budget, described the process as “a very arduous task” and said the county’s proposed budget includes a $62,800,000 general fund and a $132,200,000 total budget. The board voted to adopt the preliminary budget retroactive to July 1, 2025.

The budget presentation listed contingency, capital and personnel items the county plans to fund in the coming year and noted a 4% market increase for all employees. Welker detailed recent and planned capital projects, including a $2,300,000 Motorola upgrade to county dispatch equipment completed this year and multiple fairgrounds, park and highway projects planned in FY2025–26.

Separately, the board ratified several legal services agreements brought forward by the county attorney’s office. The board approved continuing contracts with attorneys who provide misdemeanor, felony and conflict prosecution services and ratified a part‑time consulting contract with Debbie Barnes for work on economic development and administrative matters. The county attorney’s office described the agreements as routine renewals the office has used for multiple years.

Sheriff P.J. Allred asked the board to ratify a modification to a cooperative agreement with the Coronado National Forest to allow additional reimbursement for patrol time on Mount Graham. “We’re going to be able to receive an additional, like, $6,000, in this grant,” Allred said; the board approved the modification.

Probation Department staff asked the board to accept a grant from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to fund a drug‑detection canine. Probation staff said the grant covers the canine and related training and that the dog may be used in schools and to assist other counties and schools when needed; the board approved acceptance of the grant.

The board also approved two engineering and drafting contracts: an agreement with Spencer Udall Engineering Services LLC for structural engineering on the Tallywash Bridle project and a five‑month drafting services agreement with JP Drafting and Design LLC.

Two procurement items were opened and referred to staff for compliance review and award: bids for the jail food services contract (three proposals were submitted; packets will be reviewed for compliance and the award will be made to the lowest responsible, compliant bidder) and bids for fairgrounds curbing and sidewalks (three bids opened; staff to review and recommend award).

In an executive session the board discussed and later approved participation in opioid settlements. The board approved a settlement with Purdue (and members of the Sackler family) and approved participation in settlements with multiple manufacturers listed in the docket (including Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma/ICMA, Endeavor, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus — names taken from the executive session discussion). County officials said settlement details, including amounts and payment schedules, were not specified at the meeting and are expected to be paid out over multiple years.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt preliminary FY2025–26 budget (retroactive to 07/01/2025): outcome — approved. - Ratify cooperative agreement modification with Coronado National Forest (Graham County Sheriff’s Office patrol on Mount Graham; grant modification adds approximately $6,000): outcome — approved. - Ratify FY25–26 legal service agreements: Matt Clifford (misdemeanor prosecution), Matt Clifford (felony/conflict hourly with cap), Daniel Taylor (annual set fee for felony prosecution), Debbie Barnes (part‑time consultant/contract): outcome — all approved. - Accept Arizona Criminal Justice Commission grant for a probation drug‑detection K‑9: outcome — approved. - Approve agreement with Spencer Udall Engineering Services LLC for Tallywash Bridle structural design: outcome — approved. - Approve five‑month agreement with JP Drafting and Design LLC for drafting services: outcome — approved. - Open and refer for review: jail food service bids (multiple proposals including Trinity Services Group/Summit/Trinity/other): outcome — referred to staff for compliance review and award to lowest responsible bidder. - Open and refer for review: Fairgrounds curbing and sidewalk bids (three bids opened): outcome — referred to staff for compliance review and award to lowest responsible bidder. - Approve proclamations presented (child support awareness month / Week of the Young Child 2025): outcome — approved. - Approve participation in opioid settlements (Purdue/Sackler and additional manufacturer settlements listed in executive session): outcome — approved (terms and amounts not specified at meeting).

Board members and staff emphasized that several items will return to staff or later reports for details (for example, the jail food bid review and contract award). Several presenters noted that some contract amounts or payment schedules — including opioid settlement payouts — were not provided during the meeting.

The board recessed into and returned from an executive session before voting to approve the opioid settlement participations. The meeting adjourned after the board completed the consent, contract and budget votes.