This is the time of year when the Arizona State Legislature hammers out the final details of next year’s budget. We need your help to encourage them to dedicate funding for Arizona Trail maintenance and construction. There is a line item in our state budget for Arizona Trail Fund, and it is used to pay conservation corps and other state-approved contractors to conduct major maintenance and trail construction projects on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Can we count on you to make a few phone calls and send emails this week?

Step 1: Find contact information for your State Reps and Senator here.

Step 2: Call and/or email each one of their offices and let them know you are a constituent; that the Arizona Trail is important to you; and you encourage them to include a $500,000 appropriation for the Arizona Trail Fund in the 2027 budget.

Step 3: Tell Governor Katie Hobbs to include an appropriation for the Arizona Trail Fund in her executive budget. You can leave a comment through the Governor’s Office website here.

In addition to funding from the State of Arizona, the Arizona Trail Association works hard to triple the state’s investment through federal grants, private and business donations, and volunteer labor. Looking at the year ahead, we hope to break ground on some new trail construction and wildfire rehabilitation projects. Especially with federal funding being cut, support from the state has never been more important.

Please take a few minutes to call and email members Arizona’s leaders this week. It really does make a difference!