Globe City Council Summary
Week of June 24, 2026
City adopts $97.69 million budget, keeps property tax levy flat
City offers concessions on controversial flood damage citations
Fire chief honored for 25 years of service
Gila Community College achieves independent accreditation
Discounted medical flight memberships secured for residents
Five local organizations receive bed tax distributions
High school student journalists commended for flood documentary
City adopts $97.69 million budget, keeps property tax levy flat
GLOBE, Ariz. — The city council unanimously adopted a $97.69 million final budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, marking a $40.2 million increase from the previous year. Despite the large bottom line, city officials clarified that much of the increase builds necessary legal capacity to spend anticipated state and federal flood recovery grants, alongside $16 million in bonds allocated for a new fire station. To protect taxpayers, the city reduced the property tax rate to offset rising property values, ensuring the overall property tax levy remains flat, with new revenue coming only from new construction.
City offers concessions on controversial flood damage citations
GLOBE, Ariz. — City Manager Paul Jepson announced that code enforcement citations issued to residents with flood-damaged properties, particularly those along Jesse Hayes Road, will be deferred if the homeowners pull demolition permits. The citations recently drew heavy criticism from community members, who argued the city lacked empathy and communication when issuing court summons to residents still recovering from catastrophic flooding. Jepson pledged to personally contact the affected families to explain the process, and the city plans to host a comprehensive public presentation on post-flood code enforcement at a future meeting.
Fire chief honored for 25 years of service
GLOBE, Ariz. — Fire Chief Gary Robinson was honored with an award recognizing his 25 years of service to the city's fire department. Robinson began his local career taking firefighter certification classes at Gila Community College before being hired as a reserve firefighter and later joining the department full-time. After climbing the ranks to paramedic and captain, he was eventually appointed fire chief, earning the respect of both his department and the community for his leadership through numerous local crises.
Gila Community College achieves independent accreditation
GLOBE, Ariz. — Gila Community College has officially received its standalone accreditation. The landmark educational achievement means the college is now fully accredited on its own merits and no longer needs to operate under the umbrella of another institution. The college will retain its current name and can now independently dictate its administrative and academic future.
Discounted medical flight memberships secured for residents
GLOBE, Ariz. — Due to mounting flood recovery costs, the city will not renew its municipal contract providing blanket Air Evac medical flight coverage for all residents this year, but officials have negotiated a heavily discounted alternative. Residents can purchase a household membership with PHI Air Medical for $30 annually, which is roughly one-third of the standard cost. City officials are urging interested residents to sign up for the discounted family plan before the Aug. 12 enrollment deadline.
Five local organizations receive bed tax distributions
GLOBE, Ariz. — Five community organizations will each receive $25,000 in spring bed tax distributions following unanimous council approval. Sourced from hotel and motel tax revenues, the distributions are earmarked to support local tourism, arts and economic development. The recipients include the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts, the Gila County Historical Museum, the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation, the Globe-Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Globe Downtown Association.
High school student journalists commended for flood documentary
GLOBE, Ariz. — Three Globe High School Future Business Leaders of America students were recognized by the council for their award-winning broadcast journalism project detailing the city's post-flood recovery. The student journalists produced a professional, seven-minute news package highlighting the resilience of downtown businesses and the city's holiday events following the disaster. The project earned the student team first place at their regional competition and secured them a top-15 finish at the state leadership conference.
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