The Town Council has officially approved the Fiscal Year 25/26 Budget, following six open public meetings throughout the spring where various aspects of the budget were discussed. You can view all the presentations and video recordings from these meetings HERE or with the buttons below. At the final meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved the budget with a 5-0 vote.
Key Highlights of the FY 25/26 Budget:
Operational Surplus:
The Town is projected to have an operational surplus ranging between $700,000 and $2 million. This surplus will be influenced by local sales tax performance and interest income from the Town’s investments.
Public Safety & Infrastructure:
About two-thirds of the Town’s $12.5 million budget will be dedicated to public safety and infrastructure improvements. The largest public safety expenditure is for fire and emergency services, which will receive approximately $2.25 million in funding.
Infrastructure Investments:
The budget includes significant funds to replace the 50-60 year-old asphalt in the Carefree Shadows and Rolling Hills subdivisions, improving road safety and long-term durability.
Capital Reserve Fund:
The Town’s capital reserve fund—which is used to invest in future infrastructure projects—remains strong at over $15 million, maintaining historically high levels despite ongoing infrastructure investments.
The Town Council is dedicated to ensuring both fiscal responsibility and strategic investments that benefit the community. The fiscal and physical health of Carefree has never been stronger, as reflected in the 87% of residents who rate their quality of life within Carefree as good to excellent (Source: General Plan survey).
Thank you for being a part of this process. We look forward to continuing our work to enhance the community’s future!
Watch Hearing
View Final Budget
To view the program-based budget, watch recordings of each budget workshop, or access supporting materials, click HERE.