Yuma County moves forward with $500 million budget
Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved a tentative $584.4 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
The spending plan includes a 3.4 overall cut in appropriations and trims more the 22 full time positions from grant-funded programs.
Ian McGaughey, Yuma County Administrator, says, “Anytime grants close down those services cease, but we’re always trying to find new ways to use either existing funds or seek out new grant funding to better serve the community.”
Despite those cuts, the budget keeps a 3% performance based pay increase for current employees, and the county’s property tax rate stays the same for the 14th year.
“I think with that predictable 3% model it’ll be easy to obtain and attract excellent employees to Yuma County,” says McGaughey.
But not everyone is focused on numbers.
Some locals, like Angel Young, say they’d like to see more of that money go towards education.
“I’m a huge advocate for like change what you want to see in the public school system and don’t just abandon it. I think a lot of attention need to go towards the school systems,” said Young.
And while the county doesn’t control local school budgets, they say they’re doing what they can to maintain public service across the board.
“The heart of this budget is our mission for customer service. We’re always looking for ways to be more efficient, to be innovative, and how we can better serve our public. Our residents, our businesses, our visitors,” explained McGaughey.
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors will be presented with the final budget on June 23.