Gila Bend council adopts 2026–27 budget, sends home‑rule spending measure to ballot and approves local service contracts

GILA BEND, Ariz. — The Gila Bend Town Council on June 23 adopted the Fiscal Year 2026–27 final budget, approved placing an extension of the town's Alternative Expenditure Limitation (the "home‑rule" option) on the 2026 town election ballot, and moved forward with a package of local service contracts affecting ambulance billing, water operations, solid waste and security.

The council approved Resolution No. 26‑05, to submit an extension of the Alternative Expenditure Limitation (home‑rule option) to qualified town voters in the 2026 election. Councilmember Will Sipes made the motion to place the measure on the ballot; Councilmember Fernando Fernandez seconded. The roll call recorded five ayes and two absences, and the special meeting portion adjourned at 6:06 p.m.

Mayor Tommy Sikes then reopened the public hearing on the town's final budget and the council approved Resolution No. 26‑06 adopting the Fiscal Year 2026–27 Final Budget and Tax Levy. The budget vote also recorded five ayes and two absences.

Council members approved a new ambulance‑billing contract with EMS Managements & Consultants, Inc. during the business portion of the meeting. Town EMS Chief Arelia Henry said the firm offers a toll‑free number and bilingual staff; she told the council the current provider collects about 60% of outstanding bills while the new contractor projects a collection rate of about 85%, which Henry said would amount to an estimated $200,000 more per year for the town. "They have a 1‑800 number which will allow individuals to contact them more easily. They do have bilingual staff," Henry said. The motion to approve the contract passed unanimously (five ayes, two absences).

The council also approved three related extensions with Logan Simpson Design Inc. — an on‑call professional services agreement, the town code update agreement, and the zoning ordinance/subdivision and map updates — each extended through June 30, 2027, on motions that passed unanimously.

A professional services agreement naming Kevin Larson as the town's water operator of record for FY 2026–27, not to exceed $49,465.70, was approved with one abstention. Councilmember Will Sipes abstained from discussion and the vote; Mary Grogg moved to approve and Fernando Fernandez seconded. The motion passed with four ayes and one abstention.

The council approved an extension of the town's solid waste services contract with Waste Management and a Paloma Security contract for up to $34,560 for FY 2026–27; both passed unanimously. Town Manager Katherine Valenzuela said Paloma Security typically provides about 10–16 hours of service per week depending on activity.

Councilmembers approved renewal of a First Things First grant to support a family‑centered early childhood system for FY 2026–27 in an amount not to exceed $200,000, and a contract with Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Inc. for congregate and home‑delivered meals, multicenter operations and transportation for seniors; both motions passed unanimously.

During the reports section, Councilmember Scott Swanson said he is conducting feral‑cat trapping efforts ("I have put 16 traps in one colony and successfully caught 10," he reported), and Mayor Sikes noted upcoming travel to Range 2 and a meeting at Luke Air Force Base. Town Manager Valenzuela said the town is closing the fiscal year, pursuing a waterline project, working on a park at the town entrance and plans to move the library into the community center by the end of the calendar year.

The council convened an executive session to consult the town attorney on litigation involving Aluminum Dynamics, Inc. and on issues related to non‑disclosure agreements; no public action was taken in closed session. The meeting adjourned at about 6:51 p.m.

The home‑rule measure approved for the ballot will appear to qualified town voters in the 2026 Town Election; the adopted budget takes effect for Fiscal Year 2026–27.