If
you are having trouble viewing this e-mail with images, click
here. Please add to your address book to ensure our e-mails reach your inbox. |
 |
|
Leadership ♦ Research ♦ Advocacy ♦ Newsletter ♦ Speakers ♦ Counties ♦ Alliances ♦ Calendar ♦ Contact
|
 CSA expressed appreciation to three legislators this week at a Santa Cruz County board meeting, rewarding Senator Tim Bee (R-30), Representative Jennifer Burns (R-25) and Representative Jonathan Paton (R-30) for their work in the 2008 legislative session."We are grateful for the support these leaders have provided to us," stated CSA Executive Director Craig Sullivan. "They work hard for local communities, and we are proud to honor them as 'County Advocates.'"
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors joined in praising the work their delegates had accomplished on their behalf. "We're fortunate to have legislators who listen to us and who understand our local issues," said Chairman Manny Ruiz. On behalf of Santa Cruz County, these three legislators, along with Representative Manny Alvarez (also a CSA County Advocate), championed a bill that allows the county to work with the Santa Cruz Training Center to upgrade their facilities and obtain federal funding for their efforts to provide job training to the developmentally disabled.
The efforts of these legislators enabled many of CSA's 2008 legislative agenda items to be enacted into law, and they staunchly opposed proposals that would have significantly impacted county finances and operations. They helped lead the charge against a proposed shift of state prisoners to county jails, and responded to local requests to protect county resources for libraries, flood control and public health services.
A report on state revenues for the first month of FY09 casts still more dark shadows across budget forecasts. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee's (JLBC) summary of July revenues finds FY09 revenues $88.9 million below forecasts.
Sales tax decreases continue to be the largest dollar decline, though the state's individual income and corporate tax revenues have also dropped. Sales tax collections were down 9.3 percent compared to the same month last year, causing sales tax collections to be $60.2 million below the forecasted amount for July. Individual income taxes were $19.3 million below the monthly forecast, and corporate income taxes were $10.3 below forecasts.
The FY09 state budget was based on a forecast of 1.9 percent revenue growth over FY08, but due to ongoing decreases in both this fiscal year and last, FY09 revenues will have to increase by 6.1 percent to meet the $9.98 billion necessary to meet the budget's demands.
The state's Finance Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet next month and will assist with updated forecasts for FY09.
 The Arizona Department of Water Resources kicked off a series of stakeholder meetings this week, gathering a roomful of stakeholders to discuss potential changes to surface water practices and policies.ADWR Director Herb Guenther outlined the discussion as a chance to hear input on how to improve the methods his department uses to enforce existing surface water laws, evaluate surface water use and protect riparian areas. In addition, he suggested an expansion of projects that can be funded through the Water Protection Fund.
The meeting did not provide detailed feedback on how the proposals would be structured moving forward, but the attendees welcomed the chance to provide input on the proposals. "It's refreshing to be asked for our ideas before we see something introduced at the legislature," stated Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis. "I appreciate the fact that in spite of being in hard budget times, ADWR is not afraid to tackle big issues that affect our rural areas of the state."
The group is expected to meet again to further develop potential legislation for the 2009 legislative session.
Click here to view Director Guenther's presentation
Forest Health Council Moves State Implementation Plan Forward The Governor's Forest Health Council discussed the latest moves to implement the Statewide Strategy for Restoring Arizona's Forests at their meeting in Chairman Ethan Aumuck of the Grand Canyon Trust spoke first about the Council's progress on the Statewide Strategy Scorecard, which measures the progress that local governments, the state, and Congress have made towards implementing the Statewide Strategy since its adoption last year. The Council also focused on the execution of the Forest Service Implementation Plan and the related Northern Arizona Pilot Project. The Pilot Project is an attempt to coordinate state and federal forest management agencies and to get the most advanced, evidence-based forest management practices put into practice on the ground. Lori Faeth, the Governor's Policy Adviser for Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment and a member of the Council, said, "The implementation of the Statewide Strategy is the Council's most important task and the culmination of years of work. The Northern Arizona Pilot Project is an effort to work with strategies that are science-based and socially acceptable, with the health of the forest being the most important goal. The work of the Council in implementing these practices so far has placed The Council meets again on October 9 at CSA.
Visit the CSA Calendar of Events at www.countysupervisors.org/calendar.
|
|
County Supervisors Association of Arizona
1905 W. Washington, Suite 100 Phoenix, Arizona 85009 Privacy & Security Statement Leadership / Research / Advocacy / Newsletter / Speakers / Counties / Alliances / Calendar / Contact |