From Epitaph Issue 13, Published April 13, 2007

Dollars and cents aren’t doing much to keep the city’s historic courthouse roof in good condition.

“The repairs on the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park roof are to be scheduled for 2010 and include a new roof, which is estimated to be $275,000,” said Ellen Bilbrey, public information officer for Arizona State Parks. “Leaks could cause more damage and there is a crack in the roof of the law offices where we also get some leaks. As long as we are in a big drought, it probably won’t be an issue. If we start to get more rain, then it could be a problem that merits more serious steps.”

The reason the repairs haven’t been made yet is because of a delay in getting money, a problem that lies with the funding source, the State Heritage Fund.

“The Heritage Fund is Arizona State Lottery money that was established by initiative in 1990 for the protection and enhancement of our natural, cultural, and historic resources,” according to the Arizona Heritage Alliance. “Up to $20 million annually can be generated from the Lottery. However, for the last three years the Heritage Fund has not received the full funding. ”

The Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is a constituent of one of the alliance’s affected programs, Arizona State Parks.

Bilbrey said the courthouse is currently on a waiting list of more than 30 locations needing funding for repairs.

The courthouse is fairly low on the list, Bilbrey said, since it is not expected to get funding for at least three years.

“Our staff cannot go up there to replace screws and maintain the roof as it is too dangerous and we don’t have the equipment,” Bilbrey said.

The only thing Tombstone residents can do to preserve their courthouse, which was built it 1882, is start a fund within the State Parks Foundation for people to donate money to, Bilbrey said.