Coconino County supervisors adopt $460.4M tentative budget, proclaim Pride Month and approve major land donation

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors met June 2, 2026 in Flagstaff and handled a full agenda of proclamations, funding measures, budget actions and policy updates.

The board proclaimed June 2026 as Pride Month after Flagstaff Pride president Zayn Jacobs read a county proclamation noting Pride'Month''s history and local activities. The motion passed 4-1 following brief comments from several supervisors emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

In a separate action the board approved a $9,500 funding agreement, drawn from board community initiative dollars, to support Flagstaff Dark Sky Coalition events marking Flagstaff's 25th anniversary as an international dark-sky city. Coalition representatives described year-round public programs including star parties and an arts exhibition; board members praised recent conversions to night-sky friendly amber lighting across the city and county.

Major budget votes The board then moved to financial business. Finance Director Siri Melany presented the county'wide tentative FY2027 budget, with a spending ceiling of $460,432,590 (a 3.9% increase over the prior year) and a general fund of about $147 million (a 5% increase). Melany explained that the tentative adoption establishes a legal spending ceiling, reflects a 2.5% employee compensation assumption, includes a $15 million stability fund and maintains the county's 25% general fund reserve policy (roughly $40 million). She also described a placeholder for "unawarded grants" that will be adjusted as federal or state awards are received.

After questions and clarifications about specific line items and memberships, the board unanimously adopted the tentative county budget and a series of special-district tentative budgets (flood control, public health services, jail district, library district and a small street-lighting district). Adoption of the tentative budgets triggers public notice and the truth-in-taxation hearings ahead of final adoption later in June.

Land donation approved Parks and Recreation staff briefed the board on an imminent closing in which Trust for Public Land will transfer 488 acres known as Gonzalez Ranch near Williams to the county for $10. The parcel will be held as public land for passive recreation. The special warranty deed includes a reversion restriction: if the county ever divests the parcel it may only transfer to a government or nonprofit and must preserve the donors' stated purpose. The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-31 and authorized the county manager or designee to execute closing documents; a public dedication is planned for Oct. 3.

Elections briefing County elections officials gave an in-depth presentation on the elections framework (a draft internal plan the department will bring back for formal adoption). Key dates for the July 21 primary: overseas ballots start June 6, voter registration deadline is June 22, early ballots are mailed and early voting begins June 24, last day to request a mailed early ballot is July 10, last day to vote early in person is July 17, and election day is July 21; the board will meet to canvas results on July 31. Officials outlined polling-place and vote-center plans (38 locations countywide, 17 vote centers), staffing needs, logic-and-accuracy testing (June 15) and contingency arrangements.

Codes and planning Community Development presented an update to adopt the 2024 International Code Council suite with local amendments. Staff noted two clerical items to be corrected before final signatures (a sentence prescribing 95% efficiency furnaces and a snow-load table for a specific alternative construction type). Local builders and design professionals spoke in support of the updated code text; the board unanimously adopted the ordinances with the staff-requested corrections.

Opportunity Zones Economic development staff reviewed eligible census tracts for Arizona's Opportunity Zones 2.0 process and recommended two Flagstaff-area tracts (by tract IDs selected from the treasury's eligibility list) as the county's nominations based on readiness, parcel availability and likely near-term projects such as housing and mixed-use development. The board voted to forward those two tract recommendations to the state.

Other actions and notes - The board approved consent-agenda items and several interdepartmental contracts including an amendment to a detention-facility health contract and budget adjustments carried on the consent calendar. - The Board heard and adopted the Rogers Lake County Natural Area Management Plan, which documents recent investments in trails, viewing platforms, habitat improvements and a community-forest designation.

What's next These are tentative budget adoptions: the county will publish required notices and hold the truth-in-taxation hearings before a final budget adoption later in June. Elections staff will return the elections framework for formal adoption and begin operational steps for the July 21 primary. Parks staff will announce details of the Gonzalez Ranch dedication in October.

The meeting adjourned for lunch; the board reconvened later in the day for further agenda items.