Historic Preservation Finds Success Amid Arizona's FY26 Budget Challenges

The recently approved Arizona Fiscal Year 2026 budget brings welcome news for historic preservation, delivering meaningful victories that deserve both celebration and careful consideration. In a state where political divisions run deep and economic uncertainties loom large, these achievements represent hard-won progress that required bridging differences and building consensus across traditional boundaries.

A Million-Dollar Investment in Our Heritage

Working alongside the Arizona Heritage Alliance, we helped to secure $1 million in General Fund support for the State Parks Heritage Fund. This isn't just another line item in the budget; it's a commitment to Arizona's story. With 30% of Heritage Fund dollars directly supporting cultural and historic sites, this investment will fuel protection and interpretation projects that make our state's rich heritage accessible to current and future generations.

Governor Hobbs deserves recognition for her leadership on this issue, particularly given the challenging political climate and competing budget priorities. The 76% voter support for Heritage Fund restoration, as shown in Noble Predictive Insights polling from October of last year provided crucial bipartisan cover that helped make this investment possible despite Arizona's divided political landscape.

Preserving Essential Services Through Uncertain Times

Our most critical achievement was preventing the operational shutdown of Arizona's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) – a victory that came only after federal funding uncertainty threatened to eliminate this essential state function. The mobilization of hundreds of advocates across Arizona demonstrated that preservation transcends party lines, but it also highlighted how vulnerable our preservation infrastructure remains to shifting federal priorities.

Representatives Chris Mathis and Betty Villegas of Tucson championed crucial budget language that stipulates the Arizona State Parks Board may spend up to $865,000 from the State Parks Revenue Fund as emergency bridge funding for SHPO operations. This allocation would ensure continuity of services that property owners, developers, and communities rely on daily:

• Section 106 reviews that protect historic properties from federal projects

• National Register of Historic Places administration

• Technical assistance for preservation projects statewide

• Stewardship of Arizona's archaeological and historical records

• Support for Certified Local Government programs

The preservation of SHPO's 12 full-time staff positions maintains Arizona's capacity to meet federal preservation mandates while serving communities across the state. This victory demonstrates that thoughtful advocacy and respectful dialogue can produce results, even in today's challenging political environment.

Statewide Preservation Investment Expands

Beyond these headline victories, the FY26 budget includes approximately $4.5 million for preservation and cultural projects throughout Arizona. This increased investment reflects growing recognition that historic preservation drives economic development, strengthens community identity, and attracts visitors to both urban and rural areas.

These projects will create jobs and demonstrate the tangible benefits of preservation funding while ensuring that heritage tourism reaches every corner of our state.

Building on Success While Preparing for Challenges

These victories represent meaningful progress, but they also underscore the fragility of preservation funding in an era of fiscal uncertainty and federal budget volatility. The coordinated response to the SHPO crisis revealed both the strength of preservation advocacy and the precarious nature of programs that depend on federal support.

As we look ahead, the changing federal landscape may bring new challenges to state budgets and preservation programs nationwide. These realities make our Arizona victories more significant—and more fragile—than they might have been in more stable times.

Moving Forward with Gratitude and Vigilance

While we're grateful for these budget victories, they highlight the ongoing need for sustainable, long-term funding solutions that can weather political changes and economic uncertainties. The SHPO bridge funding provides essential stability, but the underlying vulnerabilities that created this crisis remain.

Our path forward requires continued vigilance, respectful engagement across political divides, and recognition that preservation's future depends on building lasting partnerships rather than temporary wins. We must monitor implementation of bridge funding carefully, nurture the bipartisan support these victories revealed, and develop resilient sustainability strategies for both SHPO and Heritage Fund programs.

The preservation community's response to this year's challenges has demonstrated our capacity for effective advocacy, but it has also reminded us that progress in Arizona – like everywhere – requires patience, persistence, and respect for the complex realities of governance in divided times.

Arizona's historic places tell the story of who we are and where we came from. These budget victories help ensure those stories continue to be told, but only if we remain committed to the hard work of building lasting support for preservation in an uncertain world.