Council adopts FY 2024-25 Final Budget
At its regular meeting on Thursday, July 25, the Sierra Vista City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Final Budget.
The final budget amount of $172,359,341 remains unchanged from the tentative budget approved on June 27, 2024. The final budget book will be developed and made available in early October. The public will be able to access the budget book on the City’s website, at the Sierra Vista Public Library, and at City Hall. The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.
The City Council also held a public hearing on the adoption of the proposed property tax levy rate at $0.1033 per $100 of assessed valuation, which would generate an estimated $387,068 in FY24. The tax levy rate was decreased slightly due to an increase in valuation of taxable property, so the amount paid by citizens remains the same. The total revenue is slightly higher than the $382,261 collected last year due to new construction.
The City Council will take final action to adopt the property tax levy at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 5 p.m.
In other business:
- Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the month of August 2024 as Hummingbird Month in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
- Heinfeld Meech and Company, P.C. presented the Fiscal Year 2023 audit as required by Arizona law.
- City Chief Financial Officer David Felix presented the City’s compliance with ARS 9-481 and ARS 41-1494.
- City Council reappointed Gary Smith and Victoria Yarbrough to the Fire and Police Pension Board.
- City Council accepted the resignations of Sophia Rosa and Lexi Prickett from the Youth Commission and appointed Ian Burnett and Anna Burnett.
- City Council authorized the Industrial Development Authority to issue Educational Facility Revenue Bonds to benefit the American Leadership Academy. As usual, the City incurs no financial responsibility or risk with these bonds.
- City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Cochise County for funding a consultant to promote retention and expansion of missions on Fort Huachuca.
- City Council approved the release of the payment plan with Castle & Cooke, contingent on the transfer of the Pueblo del Sol golf course property.
- City Council approved updates to the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations, including adding a definition of a domestic partner; changing the falsification of an employment application disqualification time from indefinite to two years from the date of the application; adding a definition for mandatory holdover and defining its compensation; changing vacation usage eligibility from six months to 30 days; adding domestic partner as an eligible family member for the purpose of bereavement leave; and modifying the amount of paid bereavement leave from 24 hours to 40 hours and from 60 to 48 for Fire personnel.
More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, July 25, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the City’s website at www.sierravistaaz.gov/government/city-council/council-documents.
City Council meetings can be streamed live and past meetings can be viewed on YouTube. The meetings are also aired on Cox Channel 12. Learn more at www.sierravistaaz.gov/government/city-council/council-meetings or in the “Council HQ” page at engage.sierravistaaz.gov.
