SAFFORD — Safford residents will be required to show a city-issued ID in order to receive pricing and benefits not offered to other Gila Valley citizens.
By a 6-1 vote Monday, the Safford City Council approved the creation and issuance of Safford ID cards.
City Manager John Cassella said “we owe it to the people in the City of Safford” to create the new ID system.
“For example, at the landfill, it does us no good to have resident/non-resident rates if we can’t identify those who are non-residents,” Cassella said.
Deputy Finance Director Matt Hoshal said the city had already purchased the machine to make the cards, and card blanks, before the council voted on whether to implement the new requirement. He said $20,000 was included in the 2025-26 budget for the program, and the cards cost $1,300 for 500 cards.
Safford has an estimated 2025 population of 10,217, with about 7,300 18 and older.
The card will contain the resident’s name, address, photo, and list any dependents. It will also contain a QR code for city staff to scan to determine if the resident has an active utility account in good standing. The cards will be issued by Customer Service at City Hall or online; however, it was not detailed how a photo will be included for those who apply for a card online.
As detailed in the city’s Resident ID Card policy, the purpose of the card is “to provide eligible residents with access to City of Safford resident rates and designated City facilities and services, including but not limited to the Landfill, swimming pool, library, and golf course. The cards also serve as verification for residents who pay for City trash services to utilize the once-per-month free landfill disposal benefit.”
Currently, any Gila Valley resident may make use of the pool and golf course at the same rate as Safford residents and, like Safford residents, at no cost at the library.
The dissenting vote was cast by Vice Mayor Arnold Lopez, who questioned the equipment purchase before the vote, and asked why the QR code couldn’t just be included on a utility bill to show if an account was in arrears.
“I think we’re forcing more government on our citizens, and we have the means to do it already,” Lopez said.
The policy includes penalties if a card is used for fraudulent activity. The cards will be issued at no cost, but there is a cost for replacement of a lost card. The cards must be renewed annually, at no cost if renewed in the expiration month.
