Public Safety Citizen Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026

The City of Flagstaff Public Safety Citizen Committee met on April 29, 2026, to discuss recommendations for funding public safety services through potential ballot measures. The committee reviewed the need for a sales tax increase and a bond measure to address chronic understaffing, aging equipment, and compensation issues in the fire department and other public safety divisions. Public comments highlighted the critical need for sustainable funding to support firefighters and first responders. Committee members debated whether to recommend a 0.25% or 0.5% sales tax increase alongside a $40 million bond, with concerns about the regressive nature of sales taxes and voter fatigue due to multiple recent tax measures. The committee emphasized the importance of clear bond language to ensure funds are used specifically for public safety and acknowledged the city’s limited capacity to reallocate existing budget funds. Ultimately, the committee aimed to provide a recommendation to the City Council, which will decide the final ballot measures.