Nearly 15% of Coconino County’s budget comes from the federal government.
But, as the Trump administration cancels grants and holds up funding, officials are unsure just how reliable that money will be as they draw up next year’s budget.
More than $76 million in federal funding support nearly 40 full-time jobs with Coconino County.
Supervisor Patrice Horstman says that includes the entire emergency management division staff.
She worries that funding is no longer a sure thing.
“God forbid there is any kind of emergency such as a wildfire or post-wildfire flooding, now we're talking about a whole new different way to have to rearrange and rebalance our budget," Horstman says.
So far federal cuts to the county have been limited but it did lay off five staff members from its Health and Human Services Department after the Trump administration pulled $1.8 million in March.
Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez says if more cuts come, they’ll have to prioritize the services that are mandated by law.
“We can't take away jail services. We can't take away court services. Those are things that have to be funded. So what's that mean? We end up cutting Meals on Wheels," Vasquez says.
He says it’s a challenge felt by counties across the state.
Coconino officials began a two-week series of budget meetings this week.
