Flagstaff committee reviews sales-tax and bond package to shore up police, fire and emergency services

City staff on March 8 presented a draft funding package to a Flagstaff committee that would rely on a 0.25 to 0.50 percentage-point local sales-tax increase and up to $40 million in bonds to expand police and fire staffing, complete a wildland training complex and fund vehicle and evidence-warehouse projects.

Staff member Shannon, who led the presentation, said the city’s planning figures treat the revenue as a 10-year average but that voter language could extend the tax 15 years for stability. “You’ll see that 0.25 sales tax. We are suggesting that that is worth $9.1 million,” Shannon said, citing updated growth assumptions that raised the earlier $7.5 million estimate to about $9.1 million for the 0.25 amount.

Why it matters: Committee members and staff framed the package as aimed at restoring ongoing capacity the general fund can no longer sustain — from paramedic certifications and added firefighters to more police investigators and building space. Rick (staff member) and Shannon walked through priorities the city would cover if voters approve: emergency-management coordinators, station maintenance and training, three fire captains and a new quint crew tied to Station 2 under the first 0.25; an additional 12 paramedic certifications, equipment and staffing support tied to a second 0.25; and, in a bond package, land and construction for Station 7, phases of the fire training facility, police fleet and an evidence/operations warehouse.

Committee members pressed staff on durations and trade-offs. The group asked why staff used 10-year revenue planning while noting sales-tax ballot measures are often written for 15 years; staff replied that the revenue average reported is a 10-year planning figure but that a 15-year ballot term could be chosen to provide longer stability for voters. Staff also explained that the 12 paramedic figure reflects crews with paramedic certifications (not necessarily 12 separate hires) and that, if only the first 0.25 passes, Quint 2 personnel would shift to a new Station 7 quint so the building could open with a single staffed piece of apparatus until fuller staffing is affordable.

On capital, staff said the proposed $65 million project mix would rely on about $40 million of bonds, an estimated $15 million of eligible development fees (subject to project-by-project eligibility reviews) and about $10 million of early one-time sales-tax capacity because hires and purchases will be phased over the planning period. “We estimate that we’ll have approximately $15 million of development fees looking at the projects,” Shannon said when describing the package.

The committee also discussed sequencing and risk: members repeatedly raised the undesirable scenario in which the bond measure passes but the sales-tax measure does not, leaving capital projects funded but not yet supported by staffing and operating revenue. Staff said bonds can be issued and drawn over many years and that the city would phase construction and purchases to avoid building assets it cannot staff immediately.

Public outreach and timing: Staff outlined a public-engagement plan tied to a survey due April 22 and four follow-up committee meetings to hear public comment and refine a recommendation to council. Sarah Langley, the city’s public-affairs director, will coordinate outreach and post presentation slides, recordings and Q&A materials on the Connect Flagstaff site, staff said. The committee favored a three-minute limit per public speaker during the outreach meetings and discussed allowing one representative to speak for a group to preserve time for deliberation.

Concerns and context: Several members said that persuading voters will require clear demonstration of prior city investments and safeguards for promised outcomes. Resident Eric urged that the council and manager show reallocations already made and commitments to prioritize core services before asking voters for new revenue: “When I pay my taxes, public safety should be prioritized as a spend,” he said. Staff noted they had provided a March 24 summary presentation to council and will post budget materials and a “CIP at a glance” style update to show progress and annual updates tied to any new funds.

What happens next: The committee will receive survey results on April 22, hold public outreach sessions, and is scheduled to make a recommendation to council in June; if council calls an election after the committee’s recommendation, staff said outreach and voter-facing materials would be tailored to show concrete impacts and cost examples for property- and sales-tax scenarios. The committee adjourned and will reconvene to review the April survey and public input.

Quotes used in this story come from participants in the March 8 meeting and are attributed to speakers who appear by name or role in the meeting record.