Camp Verde Town Council also OKs $44.2M town budget for FY27
The Camp Verde Town Council voted to establish a commission for the Camp Verde Equestrian Center at its regular meeting on July 1. The council also approved the town’s final Fiscal Year ’27 budget and capital plan during a special meeting preceding the Equestrian Center vote.
During a June 10 meeting, the council discussed the formation of a town manager working group or a council-appointed commission to gather input from facility users, community members, event organizers and other experts before large capital investments are put into the arena facility.
Staff brought forward three proposals: A town manager working group, an equestrian center commission and a Parks & Recreation Committee subcommittee.
■ The town manager working group is flexible and less formal than a commission. Its membership can be tailored to get representation from different groups and is not restricted by fixed terms or statutory requirements like a commission.
■ A commission would be a formal advisory body that adheres to the town code. Commissioners would be appointed by the council and serve fixed three-year terms. The main benefit of the commission is the establishment of a formal public process, which includes public meeting agendas and minutes. A commission would have greater continuity because it will stay in place regardless of changes in town administration. Unlike a working group, recommendations brought forth by the commission often require formal motions and votes.
■ A subcommittee under the Parks and Recreation Commission is an option because the equestrian center is a town-owned recreational facility.
Staff recommended using a working group or Parks and Rec subcommittee to provide flexibility while minimizing administrative requirements during the facility’s transitional period. A standalone commission could be developed later after the equestrian center’s role in the community becomes more defined.
Shawna Figy, the Parks and Recreation manager, stated that she would be more in favor of the subcommittee than a separate commission from a staffing and time-management standpoint.
Seven residents spoke during the call to the public, all of whom stated they were in favor of a separate commission.
Councilman Robert Foreman stated he was leaning toward a working group or subcommittee, but after listening to the public input, he is leaning toward a commission. Councilwoman Robin Godwin agreed, and Councilwoman Jessie Murdock was also in favor of a council-appointed commission.
Mayor Marie Moore said she requested this agenda item because “there is way too much money being considered being spent out there without having proper public input,” and believes that the center will need an enterprise fund of some kind.
“We’re going to have to make a substantial investment into it, but at some point, the money that that facility starts to make needs to continually go back into it so that we can meet the plan from here on out to continue to build it out,” Moore said. “That’s only, in my opinion, going to happen if we have a group of very committed people.”
Council requested a work session that will be open for public comment.
Final Budget
The council unanimously approved the FY27 final budget and capital plan. The final budget is identical to the proposed FY27 tentative budget, which was approved by council on June 17.
The town’s total budgeted expenses for FY27 are $44.2 million and total budgeted revenues for the town are just over $42.2 million. $20.6 million of the $42.2 million of town expenses is for capital expenditures.
The general fund, which includes the majority of town services, budgeted expenses at $14.2 million, a 1% increase from FY26’s budget.
