The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget, totaling $1.8 billion and serving as the county’s financial roadmap for the next year.
The budget plan is aligned with the Pima County Strategic Plan, as well as the “Prosperity” and “One Pima” initiatives, focused on strengthening public services, improving residents’ quality of life, promoting economic mobility and addressing long-term community challenges such as housing.
The decision came after a June 23 meeting in which supervisors discussed spending priorities and investments in key programs. The board approved the budget 4-1, withSupervisor Steve Christy the only member opposed, citing disagreement with the tax increase.
The budget is for the fiscal year beginning July 1. It represents approximately $58.5 million more than the current fiscal year, a roughly 3.3% increase. Part of the increase will be primarily covered by property tax revenues.
Among the developments during the meeting, supervisors approved a last-minute $1,000 bonus for permanent employees hired before June 28 who earn less than $45,000 annually. The measure will cost a total of $1.3 million and “will be allocated to the fund that staff considers most appropriate,” said Board Chair Jennifer Allen.
“It is because of the difficult situation our county and our employees are facing due to rising costs. I feel it is something meaningful and important that we are doing for our staff in these difficult times,” Allen said.
Credit: Summer Williams
The approved budget includes total resources of approximately $2.19 billion and estimated expenditures of $1.81 billion. According to county budget documents, projected revenues total $1.53 billion, coming primarily from property taxes ($652.7 million), intergovernmental revenues ($544 million), and service charges ($264.6 million). In addition, the budget includes $660.9 million in fund balances carried over from previous years, bringing total available funds to approximately $2.19 billion.
Resources will primarily be allocated to general government services ($581 million), public safety and justice ($453.5 million), and infrastructure ($446.9 million), among other areas.
The Board of Supervisors voted separately on different parts of the budget:
By a 4-1 vote, they approved the general county budget, which includes a primary property tax rate of $4.27 per $100 of net assessed value, a 7.9-cent increase from the previous fiscal year.
The board also unanimously approved the Regional Flood Control District budget, with a tax rate of $0.34, a 1.2-cent increase. In a 4-1 vote, it also approved the Library District budget, with a rate of $0.58, 2.4 cents higher than the previous year.
Separately, supervisors unanimously approved the Debt Service budget, with a tax rate of $0.09, a 2.8-cent decrease compared to Fiscal Year 2025–2026.
The approved budget also reflects priorities set in the Board’s Strategic Plan. The largest allocation goes to public services, with $957 million for core county functions and resident services.
Additionally, $525 million is allocated to quality-of-life initiatives, $306 million to infrastructure and economic growth, and $23 million to conservation, sustainability, and climate resilience projects.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
