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 The Sam Adams Alliance Sunshine Review Project's new report indicates that Arizona counties are the most transparent and accountable county governments in the country. The Project found that among the nation's 3,140 counties,
A full 13 Arizona counties currently list their budgets on their websites while the remaining two small rural counties are either building that information to be included on their websites in the near future or already include detailed information about the tax base and collections for their jurisdictions.
The report provides an important context to the debate about transparency happening at the legislature, which includes bills like HB 2615. HB 2615 requires counties to maintain a searchable database of financial transactions on their websites. And when the requirements of HB 2615 are considered, a full 87 percent of the counties list the required information already, albeit not necessarily with a searchable database. Creating such a database would impose a significant cost on counties and exacerbate a difficult economic situation, when most of the information is already accessible.
CSA has contacted the sponsor of HB 2615 and remains committed to educating legislators about the significant cost with relatively little benefit to implementing the proposed requirements of HB 2615 at the county level-- especially in light of the glowing review by the Sunshine Review Project. To view the Project's web page click here.
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Border Briefing: White House Updates County Officials on New Border Security Plan, McCain and Kyl Plan Border Violence Hearings
 Representatives from the White House, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the State Department and the FBI joined county officials from border states to discuss the Obama administration's new border security plan in a conference call held earlier this month.
The plan, drafted in response to increasing drug-related violence on the border, includes an increase in U.S. law enforcement on the Mexican border. However, Deputy Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Michael Blake said the President recognizes that "bilateral success is vital. We plan to support Mexican law enforcement in their day to day activities as well."
The plan also includes:
In other border news, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee will hold a field hearing on border violence in Phoenix. Both Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl plan to participate. The hearing is scheduled for April 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the Phoenix City Council chambers at 200 W. Jefferson St.
 Federal lawmakers completed the first step in the lengthy federal budget process by passing concurrent budget resolutions this week. The House and Senate are expected to reconcile differences between the versions in a conference committee after the Easter recess. The budget resolutions themselves will not become law and do not allocate specific spending amounts. They set general parameters for the Appropriations committees to follow later in the process and reserve funding for particular programs.
The President's initial budget proposal requested $1.096 trillion dollars. Both the House and Senate versions come in slightly under that number at $1.089 and $1.08 trillion, respectively.
In health care, both budgets appear to leave room for the increased costs of health care reform under the President's plan, although they do not yet specify which programs will be cut to garner the extra funds. The budgets both assume that health care reform may incur up-front costs but will eventually become budget-neutral. The Senate version also includes an increase in the reimbursement rates paid to Medicare Part B providers.
Other areas of the budget include:
To view the National Association of Counties (NACO)'s full review of domestic spending in the budget resolutions, click here.
The legislature heard the following county-related bills this week. Although FY10 budget negotiations continued in small groups, no new budget plans or information were released to the public.
HB 2007: CORP; return to work (Konopnicki) passed House Committee of the Whole.
HB 2061: CORP; probation officers; customary employment (Konopnicki) passed House Rules 6-0.
HB 2252: international ports development (Jones) passed House Rules 6-0.
HB 2329: solar energy; permit fees (Boone) passed House Committee of the Whole.
HB 2335: improvement districts; renewable energy (Mason) passed House Rules 6-0.
HB 2336: community facilities districts; renewable energy (Mason) passed House Rules 6-0.
HB 2458: dogs; cats; release from pound (Court) passed House Committee of the Whole.
The legislature will hear the following proposals with county impact next week. Click here to watch the committee hearings live, or click here to view archived video of committees.
Most committees are not meeting, although a few Senate standing committees continue to hear informational and program presentations. Small group meetings on the FY10 budget are expected to continue.
Check the legislative calendar at www.azleg.gov/alistoday.asp for updated schedules, as the House may release a COW or floor calendar later in the week.
HB 2142: county water authority; Colorado river (Mclain) will be heard in House Rules on Monday, April 13 at 1:30 p.m. in House Room 4.
Visit the CSA Calendar of Events at www.countysupervisors.org/calendar
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County Supervisors Association of Arizona
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