Quartzsite council reviews proposed FY2027 budget and debates hiring consultant to speed federal projects

At a May 13 budget workshop of the Allen Quartzsite Common Council, town staff presented a draft FY2027 budget that remains provisional while the town awaits final state shared revenues.

Finance staff told the council the town has not yet received final state shared revenues and that wages in the proposed budget include annual evaluations, promotions and reclassifications. The presentation listed multiple department adjustments and one‑time purchases, including a proposed $80,000 council‑chambers sound system, a $78,000 server for town hall, and capital projects such as $300,000 for Northwest Quadrant project engineering and $400,000 for the Quail Trail pathway.

Jim, the town manager, urged the council to include $60,000 in the tentative budget for a month‑to‑month contract with a consultant he identified by name as Mike Ford, saying the firm "works on that every day" and can act as de facto staff to move federal and state approvals more quickly. "I want the 60,000 in this budget, for that purpose," Jim said, arguing the consultant has regional and national contacts that can accelerate work with agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Several council members pushed back, saying residents might expect those responsibilities to fall to town staff and criticizing the idea of paying an outside consultant for work the town pays staff to perform. One council member said critics will ask why the town hires an outside consultant "when that should be your job." Proponents pointed to other local governments that contract similar services and the county’s ongoing $7,500‑per‑month contract as examples of how outside specialists can shorten multiyear approval processes.

Staff also reported moving an Arizona Community Foundation bridge loan payoff of $525,000 into the administration budget and discussed options for treating proceeds from a recently received offer to buy a communications tower; the town manager said an offer was "just short of a half million" and that proceeds could reduce general‑fund long‑term debt or be allocated to the wastewater fund, subject to contract language and auditor review.

The draft budget includes police staffing contingency funds to cover vacancies, library Internet and security allocations using E‑rate discounts, and a $250,000 Army Corps grant match in the water capital plan. Finance staff cautioned that some items remain subject to the state expenditure limitation and that final numbers will be clearer once the state shared revenue figures arrive.

Council did not take a final vote on the consultant or other tentative budget items at the workshop; staff said the items will be included in the tentative budget for later council action and that the manager will return with contracts or additional detail before any final appropriation.