Quartzsite council adopts tentative FY2027 budget, restores tablet funding

The Quartzsite Common Council voted June 23 to adopt a tentative budget for fiscal year 2027 and an expenditure limitation, adding $8,610 to restore tablets for council members.

Staff told the council the tentative budget sets an expenditure limitation of $17,265,703 and reflects an internal revenue adjustment moving lease revenue from the enterprise fund back to the general fund. The change, staff said, does not alter total expenditures or the legal spending cap but reassigns where lease receipts are recorded.

The council debated restoring funds that earlier were cut, focused chiefly on a tablet purchase and related training. "If that's what you want to bring back, then I would just suggest when you do your motion to adopt the tentative budget is to add that to the tentative budget so that it is balanced," staff responding to council questions said.

Public commenters backed restoring the tablet line and called for a public-information function to address misinformation more quickly. "Tablets would be a great idea, especially if you have an information person that can deal with all of the rumors and crap stuff," resident Chris Lewis said during the meeting.

Councilmember Goldberg moved to adopt the tentative budget with the tablet allocation; Councilmember Nsienza seconded. The council approved the motion by voice vote; the mayor announced the motion carries.

A public hearing on the tentative budget will be held July 14; the council must adopt a final budget after that hearing. The tentative budget now proceeds to the required public notice and the scheduled final-adoption steps.