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CSA Biweekly Update (08.14.2026)

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  • 7 min read

On the August 14th, 2026, edition of the CSA Update:

CSA Attends Local First Arizona's 19th Rural Policy Forum


Late last week, County Supervisors Association staff attended Local First Arizona's 19th annual Rural Policy Forum in Kingman, Arizona. This Forum being located in a key Route 66 town during the road's centennial added extra significance to the meeting, and the Forum continually revisited the road's enduring benefit to the smaller, more rural communities it passes through.

 

The Forum contained speakers and presentations that were aligned with one of four different tracks: (a) Local Priorities for Natural Resources, (b) Economic Boosters, (c) Disaster Readiness and Recovery, and (d) Funding Strategies. Association staff spent their time listening to the Local Priorities for Natural Resources track, which included sessions like (a) Rural Land Use in the Era of Big Data & Energy (featuring Navajo County's Economic Development Director Chris Pasterz and former Speaker Andy Tobin), (b) Economic Impact of Arizona's Waterways, (c) an address at lunchtime by Governor Katie Hobbs, and (d) a detailed presentation on recent developments in the conversation around rural groundwater regulation by Mohave County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter.

 

CSA staff were happy to see many friendly faces at the Forum, including Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler, Cochise County Supervisor Kathleen Gomez, Supervisor Lingenfelter, former Supervisor Danny Smith, and many more!




County Finance Officers Meet and CSA Presents to GFOAz


On Tuesday, August 4th the County Finance Officers Organization met. CFOs discussed the ongoing implementation of the PSPRS’ new pension administration system - STARS - and received an update on the states FY 2027 budget and the current comparison of state and county revenue growth. Additionally, CSA staff provided an overview of the revamped County Encyclopedia and General Fund Revenue Dashboards which provided quick access to decades of data on county revenues.


On Friday, August 7th the Government Financial Officers Association of Arizona's summer conference concluded with a legislative update from the League of Cities and Towns executive director, Rene Guillen and CSA’s Research and Analytics Director, Vanessa Fielder. Attendees received an update on the results of the 2026 legislative session, with a particular focus on the impact of legislation that impacts municipal and county finance including the states FY 2027 budget.


Resources:


ASU's Housing and Water Policy Summit



On Friday, the Morrison Institute hosted its annual Housing and Water Policy Summit, attended by state and local elected officials and policy makers. Morrison’s Research Director, Alison Cook-Davis, moderated a panel discussion on the latest State of Housing Report which highlights the most recent trends in the housing market in Arizona.

 

Additionally, Sarah Porter, the director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy provided a presentation on the findings from a recent report, From Copper, Cattle and Cotton to Chips and Cloud Computing. The report examines the large water users, like data centers and other industrial activity, in the context of the growing concerns about water use in central Arizona.


To learn more about the Morrison Institute, please click here.

County Outreach: CSA Visits Graham and Greenlee Counties


Though the Legislative Session feels like it just ended, CSA staff have been working hard to crisscross the state and provide in-person updates to each of the county Boards who participate in the Association. This means a road trip to each of the 15 county seats!


Last week, Association staff visited its eighth and ninth counties this summer: Graham County and Greenlee County (Already Visited: Coconino, Navajo, Yavapai, Gila, Yuma, Cochise, and La Paz). We look forward to joining the remaining 6 counties over the next few months - Santa Cruz County is just next week.


Thank you to all of the counties that have hosted our team so far!



New Podcast - Checking In with the League: Local Government at the State Capitol


This week on Creatures of Statute, we sit down with René Guillen, Executive Director of the League of Cities and Towns, to discuss some of the key issues emerging from the last legislative session and the League’s policy development process as it looks ahead to 2027.

 

Tune in as we discuss stewarding political capital, the challenges facing local governments, and the League’s pending resolutions advocating for local control over short-term rental regulations.


You can access the episode here. 



A Look Back - Creatures of Statute: Who Pays for Justice? Funding the Right to Counsel in Arizona


With our Policy Summit on the Horizon, it's never a bad time to brush up on some of the issues we know are crucial to counties! Check out our older Creatures of Statute podcast - Who Pays for Justice? Funding the Right to Counsel in Arizona - as well as support documents below!



Check out our indigent defense overview and case study here.


Learn more about Indigent Defense Funding across the country here.



CSA's Legislative Summary and CFO Guide Now Available: Two Final Publications Summarize the Policy Changes in the 2026 Legislative Session


At the conclusion of each legislative session, the County Supervisors Association puts out publications summarizing key legislation that was signed into law. Please find the 2026 CSA Legislative Summary and CFO guide below!

 

First, please access the Association’s 2026 CSA Legislative Summary by clicking HERE.

  • The Summary provides brief summaries on county-relevant legislation signed into law during the 2026 Legislative Session, accompanied by links to the official text of the bill and effective dates. It also includes the previously-published briefing on the FY 2027 state budget and the ten referrals that voters will see on their 2026 General Election ballots.

  • Reminder: The General Effective Date for new laws is September 12, 2026.

 

Second, please access the Association’s County Budget & Audit Guide (better known as the CFO Guide, and updated for 2026) by clicking  HERE.

  • Published annually, this guide serves as a practical reference for counties navigating budget development, audit requirements, legislative changes, and statutory compliance obligations. The updated edition incorporates relevant legislative updates from the 2026 legislative session and highlights changes affecting county budgeting, reporting requirements, and related processes.

 

Both publications will also be made available at https://www.countysupervisors.org/publications

 

Thank you for your patience as Association staff have worked to wrap up some of our final post-session deliverables. We’re hopeful that these will assist you and your staff as you work to implement county-relevant policies enacted in the 2026 Legislative Session. Please reach out if you have any questions about the contents of the Legislative Summary or the CFO Guide.


Save the Date: CSA Annual Policy Summit


In October 2026, Supervisors from across the state will meet in Coconino County for the Annual CSA Policy Summit. The 61 county supervisors use this event to vote on the Association's 2027 legislative, budget, and research agendas.


If you are interested in learning more about CSA's policy summit, please reach out to CSA staff!



Lifelong Learning: Upcoming NACo Webinars


Ready for November: Make Every Week Count

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET


Want to make the most of the weeks leading up to the midterm elections and wondering what additional steps could strengthen your county's readiness? Whether you're refining existing plans or identifying where to focus next, this webinar will help you prioritize practical, high-impact actions you can take before November.


Join the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) for a conversation perfect for county IT professionals, emergency managers, and election administrators. You'll hear from election security experts who will share practical approaches to scenario planning, cross-functional coordination and operational preparedness that can be implemented in the months and weeks leading up to Election Day.


The session will focus on what counties can realistically accomplish with the time, staff, and infrastructure you already have while highlighting additional tools, perspectives and publicly available resources from trusted partners. You'll leave with actionable next steps to strengthen your county's election security and readiness before November 3rd.


To register, please click here.


Doing More With Less: How Counties Can Successfully Address Behavioral Health Crisis Response Needs

Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.


Increased workforce strain and rising complex care needs test county health departments’ ability to deliver high-quality care. Join John Eller, County Manager, Cabarrus County Government, Ben Wehmeier, President and CEO of Watertown Community Health Foundation and Kevin Denmark, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health at Bamboo Health, for a practical discussion on strategies county health departments can use to maximize resources and improve care outcomes. 


This webinar will explore:

  • Key considerations for supporting high-need, complex populations — justice-involved individuals, Medicaid recipients, and rural residents with limited access

  • Why the crisis care continuum is a critical area of focus for improving clinical and financial outcomes

  • How automated, real-time data and crisis management tools help county health leaders improve care outcomes, workforce satisfaction, and the bottom line


Whether you're a county health officer, behavioral health director, or a local administrator navigating the realities of constrained resources, this session will give you a tangible roadmap for turning real-time technology into your most powerful and scalable workforce multiplier. 


To register, please click here.


Funding Your Future: Mapping County Technology to Grant Opportunities

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET


Ready to turn your communications modernization plans into funded reality? This webinar provides a practical roadmap for aligning technology initiatives with available grant funding in justice reform, rural health, mental health, and public safety.


We will share firsthand experience navigating the funding landscape and successfully securing support for technology investments and break down specific funding sources and demonstrates how to position Zoom solutions within grant applications.


You'll learn:

  • Which federal and state grant programs support communications technology in courts, health, and public safety

  • How to frame technology investments as programmatic solutions that meet funder priorities

  • Specific language and strategies for strengthening your grant applications

  • Real examples of successful funding approaches from peer counties


We'll map out Zoom's use case within funding programs:

  • Justice reform grants → Court communication and case management solutions

  • Rural health funding → Telehealth and patient engagement platforms

  • Mental health initiatives → Crisis response and care coordination tools

  • Public safety programs → Emergency communications and community contact centers


This session gives you actionable strategies to connect your technology needs with available resources. 


To register, click here.


NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, August 27

Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET


Last year's Inside Washington series is now NACo Policy Insider, a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties, as well as deeper dives into specific policy areas, equipping county leaders with insights, context, and strategies to engage effectively on key issues from transportation and infrastructure, to public lands, to health and human services, and more. 


To register, please click here.

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