• Supervisor Manuel Ruiz Selected For County Leadership Institute
• Coconino Board Praises Congress for Passage of Walnut Canyon Study Act
• Budget Update: More Bad News from the Fiscal Advisory Committee
• NACo Now Accepting Workshop Proposals for Annual Conference
• This Week at the Legislature
• Next Week at the Legislature
• Calendar

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 "The Board of Supervisors commends the work of the Arizona Congressional Delegation, including Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, and Congressmen Raul Grijalva and Ed Pastor, in getting this important legislation through the Senate and House," said Matt Ryan, Chairman of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.  "We appreciate the perseverance and work of our Congressional Delegation to move the Walnut Canyon Study Act through the legislative process."

City of Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler echoed the praise extended to Congress. "Our Congressional Delegation understands and supports what is important to Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff.  This is another fine example of that support in helping us protect our resources," offered Presler.

The Walnut Canyon Study Act directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of approximately 31,000 acres surrounding the Walnut Canyon National Monument near Flagstaff.  The goal of the study is to assist land managers in determining the best long-term management strategy for these lands in order to protect their natural, cultural and recreational values. 

During an extensive public process, Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff determined there was substantial public support for the protection of the cultural and natural resources of the Monument, while maintaining the recreational and multiple use resources surrounding the Monument.  In 2002, the Board of Supervisors and the Flagstaff City Council passed a joint resolution requesting the U.S. Congress to direct the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to jointly conduct a study to evaluate a range of management options for the study area.  The Walnut Canyon Study Act is the result of this public process.

Budget Update: More Bad News from the Fiscal Advisory Committee

 

The legislature got more bad news from the Fiscal Advisory Committee (FAC) on Tuesday, when lawmakers were told that steeply declining revenue collections had nearly erased the effects of budgeting balancing measures passed earlier in the year, leaving the FY09 budget with a deficit of approximately $510 million.

 

Richard Stavneak, head of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, advised lawmakers to plan for a decline of $650 million in order to account for even fewer tax receipts later in the year.

 

The FAC also projected a FY10 deficit of over $2.9 billion,  after considering FY09 budget cuts carried over into the next year.

 

The committee reported that revenues continue to decline: tax collections in the state are down over 13 percent. Economist Marshall Vest, of the University of Arizona, predicted that the state is nearing the bottom of the downturn, saying, "I don't think things will get any worse."

 

Although the FAC presented slightly increased numbers for FY2010 and FY2011 forecasts, collections for those years are still expected to fall well below 2006 levels.

 

To view archived video of the FAC meeting, click here and select the Financial Advisory Committee (3/31/09).

 

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NACo Now Accepting Workshop Proposals For Annual Conference

 

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is now accepting workshop proposals for its 2009 Annual Conference in Davidson County (Nashville) Tennessee.

 

Each year, the conference includes 40 75-minute workshops to educate conference participants in topics that continually challenge county officials.

 

To submit a workshop idea, click here. Proposals must be received by April 17.

 

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