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CSA Weekly Update (09.18.2026)

3 days ago
6 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

On the September 18th, 2026, edition of the CSA Update:


Remembering Senator Jon Kyl



The County Supervisors Association joins countless Arizonans in mourning the passing of former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl.

 

Throughout his distinguished career in public service, Senator Kyl was a steadfast advocate for Arizona and a trusted voice on issues important to our state. For Arizona's counties, he was always gracious, attentive, and willing to listen. He attended CSA meetings in Phoenix and always welcomed the delegation of county officials during our trips to Capitol Hill. 

 

The accompanying photograph, taken during a CSA visit to Washington, D.C. in 2013, reflects the relationship Senator Kyl maintained with Arizona's counties and his willingness to engage directly with those working to serve Arizona residents. Pictured with the Senator are Yuma County Supervisor Tony Reyes, Former Yuma County Supervisor Lenore Stuart, and former Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manny Ruiz. 

 

We extend our sincere condolences to Senator Kyl's family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

 

For public coverage of his life and legacy, please see his AZ Central and KTAR News obituaries.

CSA Board of Directors Meeting: Preparing for the 22nd Annual CSA Summit!


Our monthly Board of Directors meeting took place this Thursday, September 17th. Thank you to all Supervisors and staff that were able to attend, both virtually and in-person! CSA staff presented the 31 county proposals to be discussed at our summit in Flagstaff, followed by a legislative update, NACo and WIR updates from a few of our participating members, and a brief update of our County Managers Meeting, which was held last week. We also had the opportunity to present some of our newest online research resources regarding minor land divisions, which you can access here.


Keep in mind, the next CSA Board of Director's meeting will be held at the CSA Policy Summit, and we hope to see as many of you there as possible!


Medium County Caucus: Reviewing County Priorities


Directly following our September Board Meeting, Arizona's medium counties met to discuss current issues relevant to their areas. Over lunch, they were able to build upon policy development for the CSA Policy Summit, and share insight specific to medium sized counties. There was further discussion on their positions regarding national priorities, as well as members participation on multiple NACo boards, and what that will entail moving forward.


County Outreach Continues: CSA Goes to Mohave


President Shepherd and CSA staff recently visited their 14th county on this off-seasons outreach tour! The goal of this outreach effort is to provide in-person update to county supervisors and their staff, so everyone is as prepared as can be for next year's legislative session.


With Mohave being visited last week, CSA has now successfully met with Pima, Apache, Pinal, Coconino, Navajo, Yavapai, Gila, Yuma, Cochise, La Paz, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz Counties. We look forward to joining the remaining county -- Maricopa -- soon!


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


Counties on the Ballot: Local Ballot Referrals in November


In previous newsletters, CSA has provided updates on the propositions heading to the ballot this November. This week, we wanted to provide a brief overview of the county specific ballot initiatives making their way to the ballot.


Six county measures will be presented to voters at the end of 2026. Below is a list of these referrals, with a brief summary:


Graham County: Proposition 404

  • If passed, would permanently adjust the county’s base expenditure limit. Graham County is seeking an adjustment of $4,000,000.


Maricopa County: Proposition 413

  • If passed, would increase the Jail Facilities Excise Tax by 1/5th of one cent per dollar ($0.002) and extend the Jail Facilities Excise Tax for another 20 years.


Pima County: Proposition 425

  • If passed, would permanently adjust the county’s base expenditure limit. Pima County is seeking an adjustment of $70,000,000.


Santa Cruz County: Proposition 417

  • If passed, would permanently adjust the county’s base expenditure limit. Santa Cruz County is seeking an adjustment of $1,500,000.


Yavapai County: Proposition 497

  • If passed, would increase the Jail District Excise Tax by 1/4th of a cent per dollar ($0.0025) and extend the Jail Facilities Excise Tax for another 20 years.


Yuma County: Proposition 435

  • If passed, would permanently adjust the county’s base expenditure limit. Yuma County is seeking an adjustment of $6,200,000.


You can access our summary one-pager, to take a close look at all 2026 ballot referrals here.


Policy Refresher: Constitutional Expenditure Limits Explained


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 - Constitutional Expenditure Limits Explained - as well as support documents below!


In this episode, we break down what expenditure limits are, why they exist, and the practical implications on county operations. From historical context to modern challenges like workforce pressures and voter-approved adjustments, we explain how these constitutional rules guide—or constrain—the way counties serve their communities.


To learn more about expenditure limits, check out our website at https://www.countysupervisors.org/expenditurelimits


And check out our resource guide here.


22nd Annual CSA Policy Summit: Roadmap to the Summit


As the legislative session draws closer, the Association has begun preparations for the 22nd Annual Policy Summit. The Association’s Policy Summit is where the state’s collective county supervisors decide on their legislative, budget, and research priorities for the upcoming year. In preparation for the summit, the Association has prepared 6 resolutions that, if approved, will serve as guiding documents for staff in the upcoming year. Additionally, the counties have submitted a combined 31 policy and resolution proposals that will be deliberated by the Board to determine the Association’s legislative agenda for 2027.


To see where we are on the road to CSA’s annual policy summit, please see the graphic below!


CSA Learning Series: The New Rulebook for the Colorado River


Thursday, September 17th, pre-Board Meeting, CSA hosted Director Sarah Porter and Director of Research Kathryn Sorensen from the ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy at Morrison Institute, to discuss the current state of Arizona's relationship with the Colorado River. Supervisors and their staff were presented with information regarding the magnitude of the Colorado River's infrastructure, its history, the current condition of the water shortage and reasons for its decline, how Arizona uses the river, and its long-term outlook.


We're so grateful for our speakers and those who were able to join us for this presentation, both online and in-person! CSA will be hosting another Learning Series just before our November Board Meeting on Engaging the Public: Communication with Clarity and Transparency, in partnership with APS.

Lifelong Learning: Upcoming NACo Webinars


More Choices, Stronger Counties: Introducing NACo Public Promise Insurance Supplemental benefits

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET


Join NACo's Public Promise Insurance for an introductory webinar unveiling a new Supplemental Benefits offering, a flexible menu of elective benefits counties can now offer to strengthen their employment packages at no direct cost to the county.


The offering gives counties the ability to offer employees a broader range of voluntary coverage options, including:

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Short-Term Disability

  • Long-Term Care

  • Worksite (Critical Illness/Accident/Hospital/Cancer)

  • Pet


This webinar will introduce MetLife and Trustmark, the awarded partners for this new offering, who will walk through plan design, enrollment logistics, and how counties can get started. Whether you're looking to attract talent, boost retention, or simply round out what you can offer your workforce, this session will give you the tools to evaluate whether the Supplemental Benefits offering is right for your county.


Who should attend: County HR directors, benefits administrators, finance officers, and county executives interested in expanding employee benefit offerings.


What you'll learn:

  • An overview of the Supplemental Benefits offering structure and how it works

  • Details on each available line of coverage

  • How MetLife and Trustmark will support implementation and ongoing administration

  • Next steps for counties interested in participating


Speakers:

  • Chris Blanchette, National Director, Public Promise Insurance, National Association of Counties


To register, click here.


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

Thursday, September 24, 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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