Public Safety Citizen Committee - February 25, 2026

The City of Flagstaff's Public Safety Citizen Committee convened on February 25, 2026, to discuss the financial challenges and funding strategies related to public safety services, including police, fire, emergency management, and airport rescue fire operations. The meeting focused extensively on the city's general fund, which primarily supports these services, highlighting that police and fire departments constitute nearly half of the general fund expenditures. Budget director Heidi Dairberry provided detailed insights into revenue sources such as local sales tax, state-shared taxes, and intergovernmental grants, noting recent reductions and limited growth potential in these areas. The committee examined ongoing and one-time funding mechanisms, including primary and secondary property taxes, development impact fees, general obligation bonds, and various sales and transaction privilege taxes. Discussions also addressed the complexities of reallocating existing resources versus generating new revenue, with considerations of community impact, tax capacity, and legal constraints on tax usage. The committee reviewed long-term financial projections for public safety needs over a ten-year horizon, emphasizing the significant funding gap and the necessity for a combination of funding sources to sustain and enhance public safety operations. The meeting underscored the importance of balancing fiscal responsibility with community priorities and the challenges of maintaining core services amid evolving economic conditions.