By Mike Scerbo

What has 500 people and a general fund budget of $2.5 million? The answer is Tusayan. If you do the math that means the cost of running a micro municipal government is $5000 per person.

At its May 29^th, meeting the Tusayan town council Ok’d the spending portion of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Highlights include:

$9,000 to pay the mayor and council
$12,000 to cover the mayor and council’s mileage, lodging, and meals
$150,000 to cover the cost of a Town Manager
$60,000 to cover the cost of a Town Clerk
$84,000 a year to cover the cost of legal representation
$360,000 a year to cover the cost of law enforcement

These expenses did not exist prior to incorporation because Coconino County handled these obligations. It should also be noted that not every town pays the mayor and council. Paradise Valley, with a population of about 14,000 does not pay its elected officials.

Here is a link to the detailed budget breakdown.

The Town has also set aside $20,000 for a housing needs study.  While Stilo had promised Tusayan affordable housing by now, that promise has yet to be kept.