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Sedona council adopts $97.96 million budget for fiscal 2026–27
Summary
The Sedona City Council on June 23 adopted a $97,963,222 budget for fiscal year 2026–27, cutting total spending 5.2% from the prior year while increasing operating spending and adding a handful of staff positions; the adoption followed a brief public comment and a staff presentation explaining revenue assumptions and capital priorities.
The Sedona City Council adopted a $97,963,222 budget for fiscal year 2026–27 at its June 23 meeting after a final staff presentation and brief public comment.
Deputy City Manager Barbara Whitehorn summarized staff assumptions and changes, saying revenue projections hold sales and bed‑tax receipts flat "given the global uncertainty," and noting that reserves meet policy requirements. She told the council the overall budget decreased by 5.2% from the prior year while the operating budget increases about 4.4%, roughly $2.7 million.
Whitehorn and Sterling West, the city's budget and investment manager, described personnel changes included in the adopted plan: conversion of a municipal court position from part time to full time, a public‑works pedestrian and bike coordinator, an IT position and two parks roles intended to support the school district's facilities maintenance and youth programs. Staff described decision packages totaling about $2.8 million (approximately $1.1 million ongoing and $1.7 million one‑time).
On debt and capital, staff reported debt payoffs this year of $948,000 with estimated interest savings of $75,500. The capital program for the coming year was summarized as $34,400,000 in total capital improvements. Whitehorn clarified that a previously listed placeholder for a West Sedona intercept lot and an anticipated parking garage are not funded in the next 10 years and that a $10,000,000 placeholder within the city’s real‑estate/land acquisition line is illustrative rather than a negotiated purchase price.
Staff explained lease details for the Brewer Road facility: a lease effective Aug. 1, 2021, with a 19‑year term and an option to purchase (earliest availability July 26, 2029). "We do not have a negotiated price for the purchase of the property," Whitehorn said; staff noted the city pays $13,500 per month for roughly 13,000 square feet (adjusted for CPI) and receives a $2,000 monthly credit toward any future purchase.
A member of the public, Tim Perry, criticized the size of the budget and urged councilors to reject it, calling it wasteful. "The waste, fraud, and abuse contained in this $98,000,000 budget stem from two main factors," Perry said, urging the council to "reject this budget." No council member echoed his recommendation and staff proceeded to the adoption motion.
A council member moved to approve the resolution adopting the budget (referred to in the meeting as "resolution number 88, 2026‑8"); another member seconded. The chair called the question and the ayes were recorded by voice; the motion passed and the council adjourned. The meeting record does not show a roll‑call vote or a recorded tally in the transcript.
Next steps identified by staff included continued monitoring of economic conditions, quarterly financial updates to the council and preparatory work for the FY28 budget process.
