• Register Now for CSA's 2009 Legislative Summit
• CSA Recognizes Aguirre, Pancrazi and Ulmer for Outstanding Leadership
• CSA Participates on Employer Sanctions Panel
• Yavapai County Educates Citizens on Jail District Proposal
• County Surveys Show High Resident Satisfaction
• Economic Forecast Brings Little Reason for Cheer
• Lawsuit Challenges State Raid of Funds
• Pinal County Considers Enhanced Private Partnerships
• Arizona Supreme Court Addresses Photo Radar with New Rule Package
• Calendar

It's time for county supervisors to prepare for the 2009 legislative session at the fourth annual CSA Legislative Summit on November 18-20.  Santa Cruz County will host the event in Rio Rico, Arizona. 

Senator Amanda Aguirre, Representative Lynne Pancrazi and Representative Theresa Ulmer were recognized by CSA this week for their dedication to county issues during the 2008 legislative session.

"As state senator representing Yuma and La Paz counties, it is an honor to be acknowledged by CSA for my work in promoting issues that are vital to our counties' needs," said Sen. Aguirre.  "I will continue to keep our counties a priority as we consider issues during the next legislative session."

"I am honored that the County Supervisors Association recognized my efforts to protect the interests of counties," Rep. Pancrazi said.  "Counties play a huge role in the lives of people in rural parts of Arizona. That's why we need to preserve their autonomy and give them the tools to make stronger communities."

Yavapai County residents can take a tour of the Yavapai County Jails and get a chance to look "behind the scenes" during the Jail Tours in the Prescott and Camp Verde facilities. The tours will teach the history of the Jail District and will provide detailed information on the proposed Jail District Sales Tax scheduled for Yavapai County voter consideration on November 4.

The tour will provide a rare look at the inner workings of the county's jails, including housing, meal logistics, inmate services, and booking procedures.  If you ever had a question about the Yavapai County jails, or are just curious to see how inmates are processed and housed in these facilities, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for. Unlike the inmates in these facilities, you get to leave!  No appointment is necessary for these tours, but participants must be 18 or older. Refreshments will be served.

The Jail Tours will take place at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on September 20, 21, 27 and 28 at both the Prescott jail (255 E. Gurley Street) and the Camp Verde jail (3505 W. Highway 260).

Surveys Show Support for County Services, Need for Resources

 

Arizona's counties are using surveys of their constituents to inform decision-making and assist with strategic planning. 

 

A recent survey of Navajo County residents showed that 80 percent of citizens are satisfied with the county and the services it provides.  It also illustrated an understanding of the fact that these services do not come without cost: 65 percent of those surveyed said they would support additional sales tax in order to solve the problem of overcrowding in county jails.

 

The Navajo County effort was modeled after a similar survey conducted last year in Coconino County, which also highlighted approval of the county's work.  Seventy-three percent of survey participants said they thought the level of services they received from Coconino County was a good value for the property taxes they paid.

 

Both surveys were performed by the Northern Arizona University Social Research Laboratory, and utilized telephone calls to gauge citizens' perceptions of life in their region.  The Navajo County survey also hosted two focus groups that allowed residents more opportunity to expand upon their views of the county.

 

Click here to view a summary of the Navajo County survey, and here for the Coconino County survey results.

 

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Economic Forecast Brings Little Reason for Cheer

 

Noted economist Elliot Pollack presented a grim picture of the economy at this week's CSA Board meeting, declaring "There is no quick fix.  Things will not recover rapidly."  The presentation, aptly titled "2009: A Good Year to Stay Away from Sharp Objects," illustrated a state and national economy that will likely not recover until 2012.  For counties this will mean lower property tax collections and lower vehicle license and state shared sales tax collections.

 

Some of the main points of the presentation:

 

• Consumers have too much debt, not enough savings and have been taking equity out of their houses to support their purchases
• Jobs market, housing market and stock market have all been declining
• Price of basics (such as oil and food) have been increasing
• Consumer spending is squeezed and spending by consumers is going down
• Housing market is overbuilt and over capacity, and will likely take years to absorb
• Tightening of credit is impacting both consumers and businesses

The national blue chips panel places odds of a recession at 61 percent.  In Arizona, the job growth has slowed to the point that we are 47th in the nation (Arizona was in second place just two years ago). 

 

Counties will be fine in the long run, Pollack predicted, but the next few years will mean "you'll have to make decisions and cuts you don't want to make."

 

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Lawsuit Challenges State Raid of Funds

 

Though many interest groups have expressed frustration with fund sweeps and revenue cuts that helped balance the state's large budget deficit, a group of farming representatives have taken their concerns a step farther: to the Maricopa County Superior Court.

 

The Arizona Farm Bureau Federation, the Western Growers Association, the Arizona Wheat Growers Association and the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association allege the state lacks authority to sweep agriculture funds that are made up of voluntary contributions from farmers and growers to pay for research grants.

 

The principle behind the lawsuit holds that the state cannot use funds that are generated by private dollars for state operations.  A court ruling could impact state sweeps of other funds that were previously designated for specific, non-general fund purposes.

 

Mary Jo Pitzl's article in The Arizona Republic contributed to the information used in this newsletter.

 

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Pinal County Considers Enhanced Private Partnerships

 

Pinal County hosted a meeting this week with a representative from the Alliance for Construction Excellence (ACE) to discuss the potential for enhanced Public-Private Partnership (P3) legislation in the 2009 session. 

 

The legislature has considered a variety of P3 options over the last two years but has not yet enacted changes. 

 

Many in the construction industry believe that Arizona's current P3 statute is lacking a comprehensive and cohesive element that is necessary for Arizona to mirror other states' success with P3 at the local levels.  P3 is commonly referred to as toll road legislation, but ACE hopes to educate policy makers on the many areas to which a partnership can be applied.  Most infrastructure projects, such as wastewater treatment plants or other high-cost development, may benefit from enhanced P3 legislation. 

 

Pinal County Manager Terry Doolittle is optimistic about the possibilities.  "With our rate of growth and the current state budget issues, we have to start looking at innovative ways to fund new transportation options for our constituents," Doolittle stated.  "Updating the state's public-private partnership statutes simply gives counties another tool in their tool box.  It's not to say everyone will adopt this model, but at least it's an option for them."

 

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Arizona Supreme Court Addresses Photo Radar with New Rule Package

 

Last week, the Arizona Supreme Court approved a number of changes to the current rules of civil procedure that will govern citations written under the state's new photo enforcement program.

 

The rules partially codify the details outlined in the FY09 state budget, which established the photo radar program.  They specify that no points will be assessed to a driver's Department of Motor Vehicle record and that the fine will be $181.50 for each violation ($165, with a 10 percent surcharge for the Clean Elections Fund).

 

The rule package also addresses a number of things not covered in state law, establishing responsibility for the processing of each stage of a photo radar ticket.  After getting their photo snapped, defendants will have an opportunity to admit responsibility and pay their fine to the Department of Public Safety before the citation is filed in court.  If a defendant does not respond to the initial Notice of Violation, the ticket will be submitted to the justice court.  If the defendant continues to ignore the court's notice, the individual will be personally served with notice of the ticket.  The rules allow a justice court to charge the offender with the costs of serving the notice.

 

While the new rules were adopted on an emergency basis to be in place when the legislation becomes effective September 26, they will be open for public comment until May 20, 2009.  The photo radar program is currently entangled in contract disputes and is unlikely to begin on September 26.

 

Click here to view the Supreme Court's new rules.

 

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Calendar

 

Visit the CSA Calendar of Events at www.countysupervisors.org/calendar.

 

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