PIMA — Last July, U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., announced he was able to get $1 million included in an Appropriations bill that would help the Town of Pima build a road to the new Pima High School, scheduled to open in Fall 2025.
Ciscomani also included $1.2 million to Graham County to run treated effluent lines from Safford to the Fairgrounds for irrigation, and $1.9 million to the Town of Duncan to repave more than 4,000 feet of Main and High streets.
Late last week, Pima Town Manager Vernon Batty learned the funding for his project, as well as the others, are gone.
“We will continue to work on other options,” Batty said in a text message to Gila Valley Central.
The House of Representatives’ Full-Year Continuing Resolution cut $13 billion in federal spending that is not defense related, including all Congressionally Directed Spending (also known as earmarks), which is the funding Ciscomani included in the Appropriations bill.
Ciscomani voted for the Continuing Resolution.
The new Pima High School is currently under construction on 44 acres of land at U.S. Highway 70 and 200 South. It will be able to accommodate up to 500 students at full expansion.
Cost to construct the school is about $40 million, with the State of Arizona providing about $26 million. The Town of Pima is working on securing funding for the roadway and upgrades to the town’s sewer system, which will be impacted when the school opens.
Pima School Superintendent Sean Rickert said the cuts in federal funding for the road will not impact the school’s planned opening this fall.
