Grants, Federal Money Will Fund Several County Projects In 2010

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   Despite a painful economic situation, Navajo County will be able to move forward with several major projects in 2010, thanks to grants and federal funds.
   “It’s a sign of the times that most of our capital projects are federally funded,” Assistant County Manager Dusty Parsons said.
   Among the major projects in 2010 are completion of the Show Low health building and county complex, construction of road yards in Dilkon and Piñon, energy efficiency upgrades at the Holbrook complex, a safety upgrade to the Obed Bridge near Joseph City, completion of the Lone Pine Dam Bridge, upgrades to the Chevlon Creek Bridge, an overlay on Bourdon Ranch Road and moving forward with the Winslow Levee feasibility study.
   County officials are also applying for a competitive grant to install solar panels at the Holbrook complex, and expect to hear back in spring whether the project will move forward. If awarded, the grant would pay for construction of a small solar farm that would generate most of the power for the complex.
   Deputy Finance Director Mary Springer explained that the project could also be used to provide job training for workers going into the renewable energy field.
   “It would be the first of its kind up here,” she remarked.
   Even if the county does not receive the solar energy grant, Springer explained that the energy efficiency project will allow the county to reduce electrical costs, both at the Holbrook and Show Low complexes. The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and includes energy efficient lighting, cooling and heating at both locations. Springer noted that the units will be installed from the start at the Show Low location, and fixtures at the Holbrook complex will be upgraded.
   “The lighting has an 18-month payback. After that, it’s pure savings,” she said. “And the things we are doing also come with APS (Arizona Public Service Co.) rebates, so we can use those savings to help with other energy efficiency programs. We have a laundry list of things we want to do, and the savings keeps that funded.”
   As for the general fund budget, which pays salaries, as well as maintenance and operations costs, County Manager Jimmy Jayne explained that staff will continue to monitor expenses and revenues closely, as well as work constantly with legislators to minimize funding cuts.
   “We are in a very challenging time right now,” Jayne explained. “We’re concerned because revenues seem to have bottomed out.”
   He pointed out that the county is receiving 16 to 20 percent fewer revenues than last fiscal year, and a nearly $2 billion state shortfall has not yet been addressed.
   “And that’s in addition to the $3.5 billion to $4 billion they’re estimating in 2010-11,” he remarked. “We’re very concerned that there will be more impacts this fiscal year and then again in the next fiscal year.”
   County finance staff will begin working on the 2010-11 budget in January, but Jayne pointed out that it is likely to be a long and difficult process.
   “We don’t see and we don’t think there is any economist that predicts any appreciable turnaround in local government revenues within the next 12 to 18 months,” Jayne said.
   Public Works Director Homer Vela noted, however, that regardless of the state of the county’s budget, public service remains the top priority.
   “My biggest goal, as revenues decrease,” he said, “is to do what we need to do to provide the same level of customer service or better.”
   Jayne echoed that sentiment, noting, “We will still provide public service, that’s what we exist for and we will continue to do that. We will do our best to provide quality public service while dealing with the economic constraints that we have.”