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Snowflake council previews tentative FY26‑27 budget, flags police staffing needs
Summary
Town staff told the council the tentative FY26‑27 budget sets the overall ceiling but allows later internal adjustments; discussion centered on funding police-salary increases to match Show Low PD, recent hiring of seven officers/recruits, and a shift in shared‑services cost allocation after the end of Walmart revenue sharing.
Councilmember discussion at the June 9 work session focused on the town’s tentative FY26‑27 budget and the council’s ability to rearrange line items within an approved total. Town staff Brian Richards said the council’s tentative approval will “allow us to move things around within the set amount but can’t go higher than what is approved.”
Public-safety funding was the central issue. Chief Martin said the police department has been able to hire seven officers and recruits in the past year as it works toward full staffing and recommended salary levels be moved closer to the Show Low Police Department’s pay scale. “We’ve been able to hire 7 officers/recruits in the last year to try and get fully staffed,” Chief Martin said.
Councilmember Byron Lewis stressed the operational need for staffing, saying it is important to avoid leaving the night shift “flying solo.” Brian Richards explained that shared‑services budgeting pools most revenues (except HURF) and then reallocates shared revenue and expenses; with Walmart revenue sharing ending, the split with Taylor is expected to shift from about 60/40 (Taylor/Snowflake) to roughly 50/50. Richards said a motion to approve the tentative budget will be needed at the council meeting.
Councilmembers also noted the town maintains a contingency fund if the full budget is not required. No formal motion or vote was taken at the work session; councilmembers indicated the tentative budget will be presented for a formal motion and vote at the upcoming council meeting.
