The Mohave County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed its final budget for this year, but just barely.

The Board has an even number of Supervisors after one recently left to become a Superior Court judge.

Following several tie votes on the final budget, the remaining supervisors had to scramble to avoid automatically reverting back to last year’s budget.

The Board voted to cover most of a roughly $2.8 million deficit by transferring internal funds, instead of raising property taxes.

The move leaves the Mohave County Sheriff's Office without money to give senior deputies much-needed raises. The agency' has been plagued by attrition for years.

Sheriff Doug Schuster has called the problem an epidemic that threatens public safety.