Cave Creek council earmarks $500K each year for Spur Cross land

The Cave Creek Town Council approved a measure June 2 that will allocate an additional $200,000 each year toward area land.

The council voted 6-1 for a total of $500,000 from the town’s fiscal year budget each year to go toward the purchase of about 4,000 acres near the Spur Cross Conservation Area.

On May 19, the council voted 7-0 to extend the intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona State Land Department to purchase the 4,005 acres via land auction.

Mayor Robert Morris was the lone dissenting vote after Councilor Dusty Rhoades said town officials ought to have “skin in the game” when it comes to asking voters to approve a bond election to buy the land.

The land is currently Arizona State Trust Land and abuts Spur Cross Ranch and the Tonto National Forest.

Town officials have ea