Flagstaff advisory committee to recommend 0.5% sales tax increase and $40 million bond for public safety

An advisory committee to Flagstaff City recommended that City Council ask voters to approve a 0.50% city sales tax increase and a $40 million bond to shore up police, fire and emergency services, and agreed to present that recommendation to Council on May 26.

The recommendation followed public testimony and months of department presentations outlining staffing shortfalls, aging equipment and rising operational costs. “Firefighter burnout is not lack of dedication. It's the predicted result of chronic stress, sleep deprivation, repeated trauma, and not enough time to recover,” said Danielle, a Flagstaff resident who identified herself as the wife of a local firefighter, during public comment. She urged the committee to recommend the ballot measures to support staffing, pay and health services.

Shannon, a city staff member who briefed the panel, said the city is developing a five‑to‑ten‑year planning framework for ballot measures and clarified how ballot materials will show tax information. “It is the city. Just the city,” Shannon said when explaining that the publicity pamphlet and ballot question would reference only the city's base sales‑tax portion, not county or specialty taxes.

Committee members debated how best to balance affordability concerns with funding needs. Michelle, a committee member who argued for limiting the burden on lower‑income residents, urged a smaller sales‑tax ask: “I respectfully disagree with the 0.5, and I think it's important for us to think about affordability … I think it's our job to recommend to council something less than the 0.5.” Several other members, citing survey results showing similar public receptivity between 0.25% and 0.50% increases and rising construction and equipment costs, favored asking for the larger amount so Council could later negotiate the final number.

A long‑time public‑safety professional on the panel, Mike Stifling, who said he served 22 years with the Coconino County sheriff's office and now works with FUSD, described seeing workforce strain firsthand and supported the higher ask. “My vote is half a cent and 40 million on the bond,” Stifling said.

Panel members also stressed that bond language should be specific about how proceeds are used so future councils cannot reallocate funds. Staff said the manager's recommended budget already proposes shifting roughly 7% of available property‑tax capacity to public safety (about a half‑million dollars in ongoing funding), but members noted that the full needs run into the millions and required additional voter approval to meet capital and staffing shortfalls.

The committee did not take a formal public‑record vote on final ordinance language; it agreed to finalize a recommendation and present a staff‑prepared presentation and summary to City Council at its May 26 meeting. If Council approves referral, the city clerk’s call for election and final ballot placement would follow the city's standard calendar for a possible November 2026 ballot.

The advisory committee’s recommendation is advisory: Council will decide whether to refer any tax or bond questions to voters. The next procedural step is the committee presentation to Council on May 26, with materials submitted in advance per the city’s agenda timeline.