Sedona: State Rep. Katie Bliss Says Infrastructure Funding for Ranger Road and Training Academy Fell Short in Tight Budget

Sedona State Representative Katie Bliss said she is not optimistic that $18 million in state funding for two Sedona infrastructure projects will be approved by the legislature this session. The money was tied up in a tight budget deal between Governor Katie Hobbs and Republican lawmakers.

Bliss sponsored House Bill 2201, which sought $8 million from the state General Fund for the Ranger Road extension and the Sedona in Motion 5E transit project. She also co-sponsored House Bill 2225 with Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-District 1), which requested $10 million for the expansion of the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy at Yavapai College.

"Because of our revenues and expenses at the state, we only have $10.1 million left to spend. So if you think about it, no one got anything," Bliss told the Sedona Red Rock News. "We were told by leadership, … that there were no legislative asks. … It's disappointing, but no member gets to take home a legislative ask because there's just no money."

The House passed a $17.9 billion budget on April 29 along party lines. Bliss called it a "skinny budget" that left little room for local project funding.

Sedona Road Projects May Still Move Forward Through ADOT

Bliss said there remains a path for the road projects through the Arizona Department of Transportation.

"There's still a chance of getting the road projects done," she said. "The legislature is working through the Arizona Department of Transportation because they have their funding for road projects."

ADOT maintains its own funding stream separate from the General Fund legislative process. The department has authority to allocate money for transportation projects without requiring new legislative appropriation.

Ranger Road Extension and Sedona in Motion 5E

The Ranger Road extension has been a long-standing infrastructure priority for Sedona. The project aims to improve traffic flow and connectivity in the growing community.

Sedona in Motion 5E is a transit initiative designed to expand public transportation options for residents and visitors in the Verde Valley.

Training Academy Expansion Stalled

The Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy at Yavapai College currently graduates two classes of law enforcement officers annually. The proposed expansion would increase training capacity for regional agencies.

Bliss did not specify when the funding requests might be revisited. The state budget deadline is June 30, and Governor Hobbs and Senate President Warren Petersen have indicated a deal is within reach.

Deed Fraud Law Already Signed

Bliss also sponsored House Bill 2952, a mirror bill to Senate Bill 1479, which Governor Hobbs signed into law on April 9. The deed fraud law upgrades penalties for submitting false property documents from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony and requires photo identification for in-person document recording.

"We were able to fast-track it and get it signed into law before the governor started her moratorium on signing bills," Bliss said. "We were one of the lucky few that got signed into law before the moratorium."

Bliss said the bill was personal. Her father, Donald Sieh, previously served in local office and urged her to act on deed fraud protections before he died.

"My father, Donald Sieh, passed away a year ago, and while I was in office, this is the thing he kept telling me I had to do something about," she said. "So when I testified in committee, I said, 'This is for you, Dad,' because people are so afraid of their property being stolen."

The deed fraud law takes effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns.

What Sedona Residents Can Expect

Sedona residents should expect the following from the current legislative session:

• Ranger Road extension and Sedona in Motion 5E funding remains uncertain through the General Fund process
• ADOT may still provide transportation funding outside the legislative budget
• The Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy expansion faces no guaranteed state funding this session
• The new deed fraud law will take effect in the coming months, adding protections for Yavapai County property owners

The legislature is expected to finalize a budget deal in early June, according to Senate President Petersen.