Maricopa County Board unanimously adopts $4.16 billion FY2027 budget, funds eviction‑prevention and mental‑health pilots

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the county’s fiscal year 2027 budget at a special meeting on June 22, approving the appropriation, a five‑year capital improvement plan and a set of pilot programs the board said will address housing instability and behavioral‑health needs.

Chief Financial Officer Mike McGee, who introduced the staff presentation, said the FY2027 plan “provides a lot of flexibility to navigate economic surprises” and that the increase in the overall budget is driven primarily by capital project spending. McGee told the board the plan reduces the overall number of county positions by 61 and prioritizes investments such as a new tabulation and election center and an animal care shelter in the west Valley.

Deputy Budget Director Kirsten Prindle outlined programmatic changes in the final budget, including a $809,000 reallocation from contingency to the county attorney and public health to launch a two‑year mental‑health pilot that staff said is expected to begin at the end of July; remaining funding would be provided in fiscal year 2028. Prindle also reported a FY27 combined tax rate of 1.3353 and a primary property tax rate of 1.1463, which she said is lower than in prior years after multiple rate reductions.

The board discussed the budget briefly before voting. Supervisor Gallardo and Chair Brophy McGee emphasized housing as a priority and praised a new eviction‑prevention pilot that Chair Brophy McGee said will involve landlords, tenants and stakeholders to keep families in their homes. Supervisor Galvin used his explanatory comments during a roll call to thank budget staff and to describe the vote as consistent with the board’s commitment to fiscal conservatism.

The board also approved a Truth in Taxation motion earlier in the meeting to levy a primary tax increase of $16,463,705; clerk actions to transmit required documents to the Property Tax Oversight Commission were directed. Following the county budget adoption, the board recessed to consider and adopt budgets for the Flood Control District, Library District and county improvement districts; each was approved by unanimous roll call.

Next steps specified in the hearing record include clerk filings related to the Truth in Taxation levies and a property tax levy adoption date noted in staff materials as August 17. The board adjourned the public session and moved to an executive session in the Sullivan conference room.