THATCHER — In November, City of Safford staff presented information to the City Council about tax collections by the cities and towns in Graham County, as well as information about funding agreements.
During last week’s Thatcher Town Council meeting, Town Manager Heath Brown gave an update on who is using Thatcher’s public amenities.
“The splash pad saw about 80,000 visits in 2024, and 43 percent were from Safford and 25 percent were from Thatcher,” Brown said.
Brown added use of H. Lyle Grant Thatcher Town Park at Reay Lane and Highway 70 is 32 percent Safford residents and 28 percent Thatcher residents, the Herb Winsor Ballfields are 41 percent Thatcher to 37 percent Safford, use of the Mt. Graham Golf Course is 44 percent Safford residents and 28 percent Thatcher, and the Library is 59 percent Safford and 18 percent Thatcher.
Brown said he used data-gathering software used by the Graham County Chamber of Commerce, which can track zip codes of people in any given area, over a specific time, as well as where those people came from and where they went immediately after their visit.
In January, the Safford City Council directed staff to renegotiate its operating agreement with the Town of Thatcher for operation of Mt. Graham Golf Course.
Under the current operating agreement, for fiscal year 2024-25, Safford will pay $293,100 and provide $490,000 worth of treated effluent to water the course. Thatcher will pay $25,000, as well as up to $60,000 for in-kind services, which includes gas and electric service, as well as Town of Thatcher sewer and trash services.
There are no financial agreements between Safford and Thatcher for Safford residents’ use of Thatcher facilities, nor for Thatcher residents’ use of any Safford parks or public amenities.
The Safford City Council also directed staff to negotiate an operating agreement with other governmental bodies for the Safford City-Graham County Library.
Safford has budgeted $836,873 for the library. Graham County agreed this year to a $50,000 contribution.
