Coconino supervisors set constable salaries for 2027–2030 term after extended debate

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 on June 9 to adopt staff-recommended salaries for elected constables, setting the Flagstaff constable at $55,000 and the Williams constable at $16,000 for the term beginning in January 2027.

The vote followed a lengthy discussion in which county staff explained the statutory formula that governs constable pay under state law. Deputy County Manager Eric Peterson and Strategic Initiatives Director James Roloski told the board the statute uses two metrics — the number of documents successfully served averaged over the term and precinct population — to determine the allowable salary range. Roloski told the board the Williams precinct reported 420 documents served over the last four years (about 105 per year), which meets the statutory threshold to place the precinct in the population-based portion of the formula.

Constable Gregory King, who represents Precinct 3 and is based in Williams, described the work behind those numbers. "I drive a lot of back country," King said. "It may take me two or three trips into the back country to find a place where the person is supposed to be." King said he logged 1,168 hours and about 7,000 miles last year and described duties beyond serving papers, including acting as a bailiff and backing up deputies on remote calls. King asked the board to raise the Williams salary to $26,000 to better reflect the time and hazard of the work.

Supervisors acknowledged King’s service but pointed to the constraints of state statute and equity across precincts. "While we appreciate the extra duties you undertake, our determination must be equitable across constable precincts and within the statutory framework," Vice Chair Heron Vasquez said. Supervisor Beay urged the county to pursue more administrative support for constables to reduce field workload.

The board and staff discussed administrative support options. County staff said temporary administrative help exists in Flagstaff and that the county will explore models to provide cross-precinct administrative support beginning in the next term. Board members noted any salary decision made now applies to the full four-year term and cannot be changed mid-term.

The motion to accept staff recommendations passed by roll call: 3 in favor, 2 opposed. The record shows the board set the salaries for the next elected term consistent with the statutory formula and directed staff to evaluate administrative support for constable offices.

What happens next: The salaries take effect when newly elected constables are sworn in after the November election. Staff told the board they will follow up in the next budget cycle about administrative-support options.