St. Johns approves tentative budget, sets aside $85,000 for fire hose

St. Johns officials approved a tentative budget that sets aside as much as $85,000 for a fire hose, putting a public-safety purchase into a spending plan that is still not final. A tentative budget is a preliminary step before final adoption, so the town can still adjust where money goes before the numbers are locked in.

The hose allocation stands out because it is not a routine maintenance item in a small town budget. In St. Johns, every line item can affect what is left for roads, utilities, administration and other services, so the decision shows the town giving fire protection a high place in the spending plan.

That priority fits the way the city operates. The City of St. Johns maintains an EMS/Fire Emergency Services department and lists an emergency after-hours phone line at 928-337-4321. The town also posts budgeting information on its Budget & Finances page, keeping the fiscal process visible as officials move from a tentative budget to final approval.

The size of the fire hose purchase also signals that the equipment is no small replacement. Hose systems are central to firefighting, and upgrading them can be costly but necessary if crews are to stay ready for structure fires and wildfire conditions. In Apache County, where dry weather and long response distances can complicate emergency calls, that kind of equipment can affect how quickly fire crews can work to protect homes and businesses.

Recent fire activity near town shows why the line item carries weight. On March 3, 2025, a brush fire near St. Johns in Apache County prompted evacuations, and evacuation orders were lifted later that day after the fire had reached about 70 acres. Against that backdrop, the $85,000 set-aside is more than a bookkeeping note. It is a choice about how much the town wants to invest in the equipment that helps first responders get water on a fire when minutes matter.