SAFFORD — The City of Safford issued public notice that the City Council and city staff will hold a work session with the Graham County Board of Supervisors and county staff.
The topic is “cost sharing services with the City of Safford,” according to the agenda published by Graham County. There is no supporting documentation included to detail what will be discussed, and the City of Safford has not published an agenda or background materials.
The work session, which will include discussion only and no action taken by either governing body, will take place at 9 a.m. Monday, June 30, at the Graham County General Services Building. The work session is open to the public.
During a Nov. 18, 2024, meeting, Safford staff presented to the City Council information on the city’s agreements with other local governments, as well as the sales and property tax revenues for each community.
In the presentation, it was reported that, for fiscal year 2024-25, Safford is paying $532,431 to Graham County for law enforcement dispatch services. Dispatch also serves Thatcher, at a cost of $274,983; Pima, at $150,642; Eastern Arizona College, at $19,082; and Graham County Sheriff’s Office, at $889,517.
During a May 7 press conference, Safford City Manager John Cassella said he and others from this region went to Cochise County to see if Sierra Vista’s regional law enforcement dispatch — which he said is known as C-Com — could include Safford.
“But again, what we do as managers is we look at these service provisions and say, ‘Hey, is there an opportunity for us to do this better, cheaper (or) both?’ ” Cassella said.
Safford, as well as Pima and Thatcher, are also paying Graham County for animal control services. Cost for FY25 is:
- Graham County — $155,280
- Safford — $72,974
- Thatcher — $37,689
- Pima — $20,647
Safford makes up 29 percent of Graham County’s population, Thatcher 15 percent and Pima 8 percent, with the balance living in unincorporated Graham County.
For dispatch, Safford’s portion of the total cost matches exactly its population percentage; however, for animal control, Safford is paying a lower share as compared to its population — 26 percent of the cost versus 29 percent of the population.
Graham County also contributed $50,000 for operation of the Safford City-Graham County Library. The city pays the difference — $836,873.
In January, the Safford City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate new intergovernmental agreements with Graham County, and with Thatcher on operation of Mt. Graham Golf Course. In April, Safford notified Thatcher it was terminating its agreement to jointly fund the golf course, and Safford would assume full responsibility, funding and operation.
