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
|
|
.jpg) Coconino County Supervisor Elizabeth Archuleta (District 2) was elected as the President of the County Supervisors Association at CSA's 2009 Summit, held in Yuma, AZ. Supervisor Archuleta said, "I am honored to serve as CSA President and grateful for the confidence and trust of my colleagues around the state. I am eager to build strong collaboration among county officials and state legislators so we can work together on addressing the most pressing needs of our constituents."
Supervisor Archuleta is an outstanding and respected leader. She has a proven commitment to promoting efficient, responsive constituent services. Given that the state is facing a $2 billion budget deficit, her leadership will be critical to ensure that the voice of the county taxpayer is heard as state lawmakers consider proposed budget cuts that could shift millions of dollars in state expenses to the counties.
 As she took office at the Summit's board meeting; newly-elected President Archuleta presented a plaque to outgoing President Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson and thanked her for her leadership during an especially challenging budget year.
Supervisor Archuleta will be joined on the 2010 Executive Committee by Navajo County Supervisor David Tenney (President-Elect), Maricopa County Supervisor Max Wilson (First Vice President), Yuma County Supervisor Lenore Stuart (Second Vice President) and Greenlee County Supervisor Richard Lunt (Third Vice President). Supervisor Bronson will continue to serve on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past President.
 Arizona Governor Jan Brewer joined county supervisors at the 5th Annual Legislative Summit last Wednesday at the Pivot Point Conference Center in Yuma County. During her speech at the supervisors' luncheon, Governor Brewer recalled her time as a Maricopa County Supervisor, where she helped bring the county out of a deficit and make one of the best managed counties in the nation. She reassured county leaders that she would maintain her efforts to minimize impacts to counties in the budget, and said that the budget should not be solved by transferring the state's problems to local governments. Governor Brewer also reiterated her support for a temporary sales tax to help fill the
 budget deficit. The Governor then signed HB 2236, HB 2480, and HB 2581, three bills which improve county operations. CSA presented Governor Brewer with an award for her leadership and dedication to counties.
 As the CSA Board met to set its 2010 legislative agenda, supervisors from across the state agreed that the top priority for 2010 was dealing with the state budget deficit, and the numerous county impacts and cost shifts the state is expected to propose. Counties have already been required to contribute over $116 million to the state fiscal crisis since FY08. County governments have also been impacted by numerous fund sweeps and state agency cuts, and are currently preparing to defend against proposals that would shift state prisoners to county jails and force counties to pay the state's share of judical salaries. The CSA Board also decided on an independent legislative agenda for 2010. The agenda included three holdover topics from 2009: the reorganization of the county planning and zoning statutes, amending the publication requirements for county budgets and allowing special taxing districts to utilize Alternative Project Delivery Methods in their procurement processes.
 CSA staff also continues to work on a number of additional items, either in a support capacity with other organizations or to further develop the proposals for consideration at a later date.
Reports from the state Capitol indicate that legislative leadership and Governor Brewer may have agreed to call a special session in late November to address a portion of the state's growing budget shortfall and the impacts of the Governor's vetoes earlier in the year.
The special session could be called as early as November 17, and is expected to last for two to three days. The session would likely restore funding to agencies, like the Corporation Commission and the Department of Revenue, which were impacted by the Governor's veto of SB 1025 in the third special session.
The budget passed by the legislature earlier this year contained $44 million in county impacts, including increases in county shares for restoration to competency programs and the Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center (at the Arizona State Hospital) and a $14 million shift of county HURF funds to DPS.
Governor Brewer's veto of SB 1025 removed $22 million in transfers from Maricopa and Pima counties ($19,014,600 from Maricopa County and $2,985,400 from Pima County) to the state general fund, as well as over $1.5 million in county funds distributed from the Arizona lottery. The special session is expected to reinstate these county impacts and further reduce state agency appropriations.
The Arizona Supreme Court, led by new Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch, has finished a draft of the court's 2010 strategic agenda, and the courts are now seeking comments from court stakeholders and the public.
A copy of the agenda is available on the new Strategic Plan Website, at http://sp2010.courts.az.gov/. The website is open to the public but does require a brief registration process to access the agenda. The new website includes a blog, a forum, a calendar of court meetings, and updates from Chief Justice Berch. Anyone seeking to comment on the judicial strategic plan can do so through the website until the plan's final approval at the December 16, 2009 Arizona Judicial Council meeting.
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 |