[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6555446,"mediaKeyId","3339906-9ee94ae5c897b50c6c2289542c7286a4","parentId",3339906,"title","Coconino supervisors back county manager pay plan to boost patrol entry wages; sheriff supports shift from incentives to higher starting pay","audioSeconds",1438,"startMs",213000,"endMs",1651000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339906-9ee94ae5c897b50c6c2289542c7286a4&start=213&end=1651","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339906-9ee94ae5c897b50c6c2289542c7286a4/thumbnail_213000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555446/Coconino-County/Arizona/Coconino-supervisors-back-county-manager-pay-plan-to-boost-patrol-entry-wages-sheriff-supports-shift-from-incentives-to-higher-starting-pay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555446-6eaf8ed0e65a6a306ba720c82d18dfe8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770961926&Signature=lAViijkjxgLsa104I5g04Ia2yybk-k3bI5B1ayfHv25bxFFTIVtEZ2foWfXFr4tbSvRQdyxrB6-Ymsp2iH6HvNoFtlF549bdJGPBNImml9bVftuuJAn1LPW4Ycgy4GiFWBrPx5y8CFS1VUaOIY-WLIkOfTKWXUuGzf-q9ECguiLl79M2PjQPrRKqGYgYlpCCSruywgnV1LoR~H09vAw4AGnvut2l9WCR5ZNvcAjMihQuqimF-xvbGl~QqqR-dtBM2sMsWdG2Sl8v23IcLeRHur2ozDO~xvyF3FRFmGs-ZEmYodX~YsmVcq9r0rokpfuewoDYL1GdmBMsPteOhA7sEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coconino County","date","2025-05-16T00:00:00Z","article","Coconino County supervisors on May 16 heard a joint presentation from the sheriff and county manager's office recommending adjustments to the sheriff’s office patrol pay plan to raise entry pay and reduce reliance on a multi-year incentive program.

County human resources and the sheriff’s office proposed increasing the recommended patrol entry salary from about $28.25 to about $31.42 (rounded) and making plan changes intended to attract recruits at the job posting stage. The county manager’s balanced budget includes a $600,000 general fund cost for the patrol pay plan adjustments. Sheriff Brett Axland and county staff said they prefer using that money to raise starting pay rather than continuing the previous incentive payout structure for new hires.

Why it matters: supervisors and county managers described recruitment and retention as the primary goal. Board members said they were open to the recommended changes so the sheriff can staff patrol and detention positions and avoid repeated midyear requests for incremental positions.

Key details discussed
- Scope: County staff said the figures presented cover positions currently filled at a point-in-time count of about 63 patrol staff and about 83 detention staff (filled positions only; vacancies excluded). The patrol proposal under discussion would change patrol pay ranges and entry rates; detention changes were discussed on May 15 and carried into this review.
- Incentive shift: County HR proposed ending the law-enforcement incentive program for new hires (a phased payout designed in prior years that could total about $20,000 over eight years) and using those funds instead to raise the advertised entry salary. The sheriff’s office agreed that a higher entry rate is more effective for attracting applicants than the long-term incentive payout.
- Step change: For patrol employees the county manager’s recommendation would “forgo the step” (employees would not advance a step that year) so that the plan yields a net 6% cost instead of the full 10% step/adjustment; detention employees would receive a normal step increase in their plan.
- Cost and budget placement: The county manager’s recommended balanced budget includes the $600,000 cost to the general fund for these patrol pay adjustments.

What supervisors said
Supervisors repeatedly framed the changes as a pragmatic, county-wide budgeting choice: several board members said they supported the recommendation because the sheriff’s office and the county manager’s office prioritized pay-plan changes over adding new positions. Supervisor Tammy Ontiveras, Supervisor Geronimo Vasquez and others said they were satisfied with the sheriff’s concurrence on prioritizing entry pay and filling vacancies before adding positions.

Unresolved or contingent items
County staff and the sheriff noted market pressure remains—Flagstaff Police Department entry and mid-level pay remain higher in some classifications (board members cited a mid-level sergeant step about $30,000 higher than the county’s comparable step). Supervisors and staff said pay remains a multi-jurisdictional market issue and that the county must balance competitiveness against overall county budget constraints.

Ending note
Supervisors indicated support for the county manager’s recommended patrol compensation adjustment, and the sheriff publicly endorsed prioritizing competitive starting pay to fill vacancies. The recommendation is included in the county manager’s balanced budget for board consideration at upcoming budget adoption dates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coconino County Board of Supervisors | FY26 Budget Hearings | May 16, 2025 | 8:30am","oneSentenceSummary","Coconino County supervisors on May 16 heard a joint presentation from the sheriff and county manager's office recommending adjustments to the sheriff’s office patrol pay plan to raise entry pay and reduce reliance on a multi-year incentive program.","taxTitle","Coconino County, Arizona","taxId",2575,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555442,"Supervisors defer new County Attorney program requests, say systemwide review needed for alternative prosecution and related positions",1366,1534000,2900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339906-9ee94ae5c897b50c6c2289542c7286a4&start=1534&end=2900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339906-9ee94ae5c897b50c6c2289542c7286a4/thumbnail_1534000.jpg","/articles/6555442/Coconino-County/Arizona/Supervisors-defer-new-County-Attorney-program-requests-say-systemwide-review-needed-for-alternative-prosecution-and-related-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555442-de8e45cc08f397333339978e15740192/orig.mp4?Expires=1770961926&Signature=Upl4AVc7LERQWqeemAP~CnjBLSlEN11yolrTjQsEb54ySyn3i2nUVLFWfgglV3Xq0kBOzoZML671zoE2blez~JjQz-n6xPVGOaiaMREY6znY0sQX~Vhp~8WYnRc3edBpcUxWUIBo1mBDIknvY8sRO0fnUe6ZwKoqKr6G-c6pPvt6Ctmnfhkc52NFoUkY0RuIeJD6LsEDUVk5pFwyARkxu9P5Ybkwi9IQCB8dRiRLMQwOz29ARZvTqpuUabaSlglO~z5npBO~ZRgkJsJwDCqPotECm-4k1ziXPleaBC4BTiwJAo5QLmUAluqDfiu4Q1b3K2LzKUa072sxJMPCJ9jV3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coconino County supervisors on May 16 reviewed increment requests from the County Attorney’s Office that would create or expand recurring programs, including an alternative prosecution position, an expansion of a human‑trafficking unit, and additional law‑clerk hours.

County management reported it prioritized five increment requests from the office for the balanced budget and did not recommend the alternative‑prosecution increment (priority 7 in the office’s list), primarily because the request would create a new recurring program. The county manager’s recommendation instead emphasized software purchases (Axon Evidence Management and Jaspersoft) and one division‑level position to support existing operations.

Why it matters: supervisors expressed interest in alternatives to traditional prosecution and transformation across the criminal-justice system but said now is not the appropriate time to establish new recurring positions because of budget uncertainty. Multiple supervisors asked that the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) or a systemwide review assess capacity and overlap across prosecution, pretrial, probation, juvenile services and related programs before adding new recurring county positions.

Key points
- Size and cost: At a board request, staff identified the alternative‑prosecution increment cost as approximately $192,000 (presented verbally). Supervisors noted that number while weighing program value versus budget risk.
- County manager position: The manager’s recommended budget prioritized existing County Attorney needs (a division 7 position, county civil counsel funding, and evidence management software) rather than new program expansions.
- Supervisor concerns: Supervisors and the manager said many diversionary and alternative programs already exist across local partners (mental health court, mediation, Pathways‑funded attorneys) and that adding new recurring positions should be examined in the context of systemwide capacity and existing grant opportunities. Several board members suggested exploring part‑time or shared FTE options if the County Attorney pursues alternative‑prosecution work in the near term.

Next steps
Supervisors asked that CJCC or a similar cross‑system review examine workload and capacity across criminal‑justice partners before returning to the board with specific proposals for new recurring positions. Several board members also encouraged the County Attorney’s Office to pursue external grant funding where appropriate before seeking county recurring dollars.","Coconino County supervisors on May 16 reviewed increment requests from the County Attorney’s Office that would create or expand recurring programs, including an alternative prosecution position and an expanded anti‑human‑trafficking unit.","actionData","errors"]

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Coconino supervisors back county manager pay plan to boost patrol entry wages; sheriff supports shift from incentives to higher starting pay

Supervisors defer new County Attorney program requests, say systemwide review needed for alternative prosecution and related positions