Abitibi Consolidated Sales Corporation, Arizona's only pulp and paper mill, is Snowflake and Taylor's largest industry. Located on a 640-acre site 15 miles west of Taylor, is one of the most modern and efficient facilities of its type in America. Its daily production of newsprint and kraft linerboard supplies the fast-growing Southwest region. The plant's permanent employees are supplemented by another large group who work as wood cutters, truckers and in other plant-affiliated jobs. The present annual payroll and substantial contribution to local taxes has contributed immensely to the economy and growth of the Snowflake/Taylor area.

Precision Pine and Timber maintains a sawmill in the Heber area that converts the logs into rough boards. Precision Pine and Timber Planer Mill surfaces the rough lumber that is wholesaled to retailers and dealers needing finished lumber and also rough lumber for railroad ties, and all kinds of timber posts. There are thee moulding companies that are large employers in the Snowflake/Taylor vicinity, manufacturing interior and exterior pine mouldings.

Livestock production in the Snowflake/Taylor area is significant. Recently, 32,000 head of cattle have grazed annually in the county, many of them in the Snowflake/Taylor area. Hog production has also greatly increased in importance, reaching 250,000 head annually.

Principal Economic Activities

Population

1980

1990

1998

2000

2006

Taylor
Snowflake/Taylor
Navajo County
Arizona

1,915
5,425
67,629
2,716,546

2,418
6,097
77,658
3,665,228

2,840
7,445
92,500
4,764,025

3,176
N/A
97,470
5,130,632

4,270
N/A
113,470
6,305,210

Sources: Arizona Department of Economic Security and U.S. Census Bureau.

Taylor Labor Force Data

1980

1990

1998

2000

2006

Civilian Labor Force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment Rate

690
645
45
6.5%

942
906
36
3.8%

1,056
1,003
53
5.0%

1,311
N/A
43
3.3%

1,425
N/A
50
3.5%

Source: Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Growth Indicators

1990

1997

1998

2000

2006

Taxable Sales ($)
Postal Receipts ($)*
School Enrollment**
New Building Permits***
Net Assessed Valuation ($)

16,164,200
103,462
2,665
30
6,429,536

19,395,800
140,148
2,585
55
7,133,396

19,686,600
148,608
2,564
80
7,680,718

20,900,000
N/A
N/A
64
9,100,000

33,800,000
N/A
N/A
179
16,300,000

* Postal Receipts are for fiscal year.
** Snowflake Unified School District.
*** Arizona Business, Arizona State University; figure not for entire year.

Property Tax Rate Per $100 Assessed Valuation

1990

1997

1998

2000

2006

AZ State Tax
Community College
Flood
Library
County Fire District
County

County Total
School District
City

Total

$0.47
$0.81
0.07
 
0.05
0.91

$2.31
5.26
0.00

$7.57

$0.00
1.48
0.23
0.02
0.08
1.08

$2.89
5.68
0.00

$8.57

$0.00
$1.49
0.27
0.02
0.09
1.10

$2.97
5.68
0.00

$8.65

Source: Arizona Tax Research Foundation.
Note: Property tax in Arizona is based on assessed valuation which is 10 percent of market value for residential property. Average tax rate on homes in Arizona before exemptions and rebates is 1.3% of market value.