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
|
 Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer told county officials that the fiscal management techniques counties have implemented to manage the economic downturn provided a good example for the state to follow as it tackles its multi-million dollar budget deficit. Governor Brewer and Tom Manos, the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Finance, spoke at the March CSA Board of Directors meeting.Governor Brewer recalled her time as a Maricopa County Supervisor and said, "When I was at Maricopa County, we managed our budget the same way that current county boards do--we made an honest accounting of revenues and costs and spent within our means. Unfortunately, the state has not done the same thing." Mr. Manos said that the state had continued to spend after revenues began to slip, and that, especially with formula-driven state spending commitments, "there are no easy choices in this budget."
Brewer outlined her five-point plan to balance the state budget and asked for the support of Arizona's county supervisors. The plan includes changes to the structure of Arizona's "rainy day fund" and tax system, spending cuts, and a temporary tax increase. Mr. Manos said that no decision had yet been reached about what type of tax increase would be proposed, but that the Department of Revenue was modeling a number of different approaches.
The Governor is currently on a statewide tour presenting her five-point plan. She said, "The people of Arizona need to be educated about this budget situation. It will not go away--this is a crisis unlike anything the state of Arizona has ever seen, and we need to work together to solve it." She promised an open dialogue with Arizona's county leaders, saying "I understand that Arizona's counties are where the rubber meets the road."
The Governor then discussed the federal stimulus package funds available to Arizona. Governor Brewer's office has recently launched a stimulus oriented website at www.az.gov/recovery.
Governor Brewer also announced the appointment of Paige Gonzales as her County/Local Government Liaison.
 In front of a packed audience of county residents and employees, Greenlee County celebrated 100 years of service with a centennial ceremony for the whole community at the historic county courthouse in Clifton, Arizona. County supervisors Hector Ruedas, Richard Lunt, and David Gomez convened a special board meeting to read proclamations from the Governor and the Secretary of State.
Senator Sylvia Allen (R-5), who represents Greenlee County in the state legislature, spoke about the contributions Greenlee County has made to the state, the nation, and the world through natural resource development. Greenlee County produces 18 percent of the world's copper. Senator Allen said "Natural resource development is one of the few ways we can create new wealth in our economy. We need to work to develop our mineral resources and our forests. And although our natural resources are vital, the most important resource in Greenlee County is the people here: their values, their hard work, and their ingenuity."
 The centennial program included speakers from the Governor's Office and Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, as well as a speech from former Greenlee County State Senator John McLaughlin. Local junior high school students presented their award-winning essays on the history of Greenlee County.
Created in 1909 as Arizona's 14th county (La Paz County is the 15th), Greenlee County is 120 miles long and 20 miles wide, with a population of over 8,000 people. The county was named after Mason Greenlee, an 19th century miner.
 The group Prop 13 Arizona, that intends to dramatically change Arizona's property tax structure, has filed an initiative for inclusion on the 2010 general election ballot with the Secretary of State. The initiative, modeled after California's Proposition 13, would roll back assessed property values to 2003 levels. It would also limit annual taxes on a home to no more than one-half of one percent of its value,and would permit future assessment increases of 2 percent per year, and eliminate the option for voters to override property tax limits.
Homes purchased after 2004 would not be affected by the proposed initiative.
Prop 13 Arizona also filed an initiative for the 2008 ballot, but did not qualify because of a lack of signatures. This year, the measure will need 230,047 signatures to qualify.
To read the proposed initiative, click here.
Top
NACo's 2009 Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference will be held on May 20-22 in Umatilla County (Pendleton), Oregon. The conference will feature educational sessions, meetings of NACo's Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Public Lands steering committees, and the NACo/WIR Board of Directors meeting.
The conference will also feature a Wild West show--Pendleton, Oregon has been named one of the Top Ten True Western Towns in the U.S.
The early bird registration deadline is April 3. Conference rates at the hotel are available until April 27th or as long as rooms in the block remain.
For more information on the WIR conference, click here.
To help local county officials serve their constituents in the face of declining revenues and increasing demand for services, the National Association of Counties (NACo) presents a series of "Leading in Tough Times" web-based seminars (webinars).
Save the dates!
For more information contact Carrie Clingan 202/942-4246, cclingan@naco.org
Republican legislators met in small groups to discuss the budget this week, and the Joint Appropriations Committee heard a presentation on the Arizona judiciary from Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor. The Senate moved one bill (SB 1186: school districts; personnel contracts-Burns) all the way through that chamber this week: the emergency measure delays the time a school district must notify an employee of their contract status.
Other than SB 1186, the Senate has announced no plans to hear bills. At this point in the session, of the 629 House bills introduced, six have passed the House and await action in the Senate. 275 bills have passed out of House primary committees.
The following county-related bills were heard at the Legislature this week:
HB 2011: provisional community college districts; bonding (Konopnicki) passed 7-0 out of House Rules.
HB 2013: community colleges; nonresidents; reimbursement (Konopnicki) passed 7-0 out of House Rules.
HB 2106: prohibit photo radar; state highways (Biggs) (Strike Everything: Same Subject) was held in House Appropriations.
HB 2236: county operation; management (Tobin) passed House COW.
HB 2285: merger; fire district assistance tax (Yarbrough) passed House COW.
HB 2365: county board of equalization; petitions (Murphy) passed House COW.
So far, the Legislature is not scheduled to hear any county-related bills next week. Many committees are not scheduled to meet at all. A few committees will continue to hear program presentations.
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 |