CSA Weekly Update (12.05.25)
- County Supervisors Association of Arizona
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
In the December 5th, 2025, edition of the CSA Weekly Update:
Creatures of Statute Episodes
Upcoming Deadlines, Conferences, and Webinars: NACO Ongoing Webinar - Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress
County Managers and Administrators Meet in Phoenix
On December 5, 2025, county managers and administrators gathered to review current challenges, share year-end updates, and plan for the year ahead. CSA staff introduced a new tool designed to help managers and financial officers evaluate the impact of salary adjustments on county budgets and provided an update on retirement funding liabilities based on the latest actuarial data. The Association’s team will remain available for one-on-one briefings with county leadership.
During the meeting, Gabe Lavine, Director of DEMA, highlighted strategies for strengthening county–state collaboration in emergency response. He emphasized the importance of streamlining processes, improving preparedness, and leveraging interstate partnerships to enhance training and build resilience across state lines. Attendees also engaged in a discussion on federal policy changes and their potential implications for local emergency operations.
The session concluded with CSA legislative staff outlining preparations for the upcoming legislative session, followed by a roundtable where counties exchanged insights on pressing issues.
Creatures of Statute Episodes
Endorsing Treasurer Benatar for NACo 2nd VP
Two weeks ago in Creatures of Statute, we sat down with Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar as she shared her vision as a candidate for NACo 2nd Vice President. Both AACo and CSA endorsed her candidacy at their respective board meetings in November. Arizona’s counties are proud to support her as she seeks this important leadership position in our national affiliate!
When counties decide, communities thrive. To learn more about her candidacy, visit https://www.sarah4naco.com/.
CSA Insight Ahead of Next Session (Legislative Update)
Listen to last week's update, The Legislative Lowdown: CSA Insight Ahead of Next Session, where our team talks progress on county priorities, previews some emerging issues, and outlines some key dates for county folks to know.
To see CSA’s policy agenda and resolutions, please see www.countysupervisors.org/advocacy
AZ Water Law and Policy w/ Prof. Rhett Larson (CSA Learning Series)
Listen to audio from our November 20th CSA Learning Series Session. The topic was water policy, and we were very pleased to be joined by Professor Rhett Larson, the Richard Morrison Professor of Water Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law.
Professor Larson shared his expertise and perspective with county supervisors and professional staff from across the state. He spoke about major water issues impacting Arizona, particularly with the Colorado River, and offered some perspective on the path forward.
To follow along, check out the slide check here
Upcoming Deadlines, Conferences, and Webinars
NACO Ongoing Webinar - Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress
Biweekly on Thursdays | May 15 - December 11, 2025, 3:30-4:30 P.M. ET
Building off NACo’s First 100 Days webinar series, we are starting a biweekly series to provide timely updates and analysis on key developments from the White House and Congress. Each session focuses on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in every other week to stay informed on how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
To register, please click here.
Lifelong Learning: Upcoming NACo Webinars + Events
FAA-NACo Airport Land Use Compatibility
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. ET
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts.
Speakers:
Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA
To register, click here.
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader's Perspective
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaways:
Elimination of Ongoing Charges – Remove additional fees by modernizing services
Simplified Service Management – Bundle services to streamline billing and vendor relationships
Predictable Budgeting – Enable accurate long-term financial planning without surprise expenses
Operational Efficiency Gains – Enhanced tools improve resident service and free up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives
Significant Savings – Leverage promotions and avoid large capital expenditures
To register, click here.