Mojave County adopts FY27 budget and approves full repayment of landfill loan

The Mojave County Board of Supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2026–27 tax levies and final budget on June 15, approving a modification to fully repay the general fund’s interfund loan to the landfill.

Director Andrew Morian told the board the county faces a structural budget gap in FY27 and presented three options for the landfill loan: keep current repayment terms, amend to 0% interest, or fully prepay the loan. Morian said the interfund loan, taken in FY23, carries roughly $1.5 million in interest over the original 10‑year term and that prepaying would save about $850,000 in interest costs while boosting the landfill fund’s balance ahead of upcoming cell development and closure/post‑closure obligations.

Supervisor Gold and Supervisor Martin voiced concerns that using general‑fund surplus for the repayment would reduce the county’s cash reserves and limit flexibility for near‑term general‑fund needs. Supporters, including Supervisor Leman and Supervisor Belli, countered that strengthening the landfill enterprise fund is prudent because that fund must cover closure and capital projects and that the general fund had a significant surplus and a 10% contingency line.

The board moved to adopt the final budget and include a full repayment of the landfill loan (staff characterized this as the budget modification “option three”). The roll‑call vote on the motion to include the landfill repayment was 3–2: Supervisors Leman and Belli and Chairman Lingfelter voted yes; Supervisors Martin and Gold voted no. The motion passed and the special meeting adjourned.

What happens next: Finance staff will transfer the approved amount from the general‑fund surplus into the landfill fund per the adopted modification and reflect that movement in the final budget accounting. Staff noted that if future emergencies arise the board retains the authority to reallocate or create a new interfund loan under standard procedures.

Votes and key figures: the board described the FY27 budget as requiring a several‑million‑dollar draw on surplus to close the structural gap; staff estimated the landfill loan prepayment would reduce interest expense by about $800,000 and leave a projected general‑fund surplus (after the transfer) of roughly $8 million at the end of FY27.

The board’s adoption of the FY27 levies and budget concludes the county’s budget process for the coming fiscal year; staff said they project a return to a non‑deficit position by FY29 absent new recurring initiatives.