Board of Supervisors Approves Final FY 2022 Budget, Cuts Property Tax Rate

After helping the nation’s fastest-growing county weather a pandemic and a year of financial uncertainty, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is putting money back in homeowners’ pockets while also making investments to ensure a better future.  The Board of Supervisors approved a final $3.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2022 beginning July 1, 2021. The budget includes significant health and human services spending and a property tax rate cut. It also includes capital investments that will help support continued growth along with a new East Valley Animal Care and Control Facility; 10 improvement projects at regional parks; more than 92 long-term transportation projects; new security, SWAT, and K-9 facilities for the Sheriff’s Office. It has been a hard year, but I’m optimistic about Maricopa County’s future and pleased that, because of years of fiscal discipline from this Board, we are able to cut tax rates. In 2020, Maricopa County ranked first in economic growth out of more than 30 metro regions in the U.S.   The budget approved by the Board and the property tax rate cut we are planning--will support the county's economic momentum by easing the financial burden on residents while also prioritizing public health and safety.

Maricopa County Outlines Priorities for American Rescue Plan Dollars

Maricopa County is using a new influx of federal funds to bring services and stability to individuals, families, and businesses impacted by the pandemic. These funds will be used to  support the ongoing public health response to COVID-19, support for businesses, housing, workforce, rent and mortgage assistance, behavioral health and addiction recovery, support for those impacted by domestic violence, seniors and persons with disabilities and services related to homelessness. When the Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2022 budget, we also approved spending priorities for federal funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress.  ARPA funds are meant to help communities address public health and economic recovery needs related to the COVID-19 crisis. For more information, click here.

Wildfire Season

Initiative to Promote Cleaner Air

Hotter temperatures mean ozone pollution is on the rise. Download Air Quality's Clean Air Make More App to receive real-time air quality information and information for reducing air pollution and promoting healthier lives.

323 people died in Maricopa County due to the heat in 2020, a 62% increase from the previous year.  We can change that trend. Maricopa County is on the front lines in the effort to protect people from the scorching Phoenix heat we are starting to see.   Public Health has information about heat-related illness, as well as a map of cooling centers and other resources at HeatAZ.org MCAO is in the middle of an annual campaign to let people know never to leave pets or children behind in hot cars.  Flood Control has daily weather updates so you can track just how hot it will be (or when the rain will come during the monsoon). And Human Services is helping get people off the streets and into safer spaces during the hottest time of the year (see featured video below).

Helping the Homeless

The Human Services Department has achieved a milestone of providing housing, transportation and vaccination services to more than 5,000 people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Watch the video here.

A newly expanded collaboration between the Maricopa County Human Services Department and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers 200 additional cooled sleeping spaces for people experiencing homelessness in the Phoenix area.

On June 9, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement that also paved the way for the Human Services Department to arrange for the transporting of individuals from the Human Services Campus, 204 S. 12th Avenue, to St. Vincent de Paul, 420 West Watkins. In coordination with the Human Services Campus, Phoenix Rescue Mission will be providing transportation on weekdays and Community Bridges, Inc. will provide transportation services on weekends. The expanded weather-relief transportation and shelter services will operate through September 30.

A recently published report by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health on heat associated deaths states that there were 323 heat-associated deaths reported in the county in 2020, a 62.3% increase from 2019. Of the 323 cases in 2020, 53% were homeless at the time of their death.

In addition to regular dining operations, St. Vincent de Paul will be operating with their Heat Relief facilities during the period of June 1- September 30 at the following locations:

•  Sunnyslope, 9227 N 10^th Ave., Phoenix, AZ (Dining Room)

•  Mesa, 67 W. Broadway Rd Mesa, AZ (Mesa Dining Room)

•  Phoenix, 1075 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, AZ (Phoenix Dining Room)

Maricopa County Received 56 NACo Awards

Maricopa County received 56 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. 2020 may have been the year of the pandemic, but it didn't slow down our productivity, or reduce services to our residents. In fact, COVID-19 provided programming challenges that we worked through, or around, by finding unique and innovative ways to provide services. More than ten of our awards were COVID-related. Two were a result of the 2020 election: The Elections Department was recognized for its online “one-stop-shop." And OET was recognized for its Cybersecurity War Room. For a complete list of NACo awards, visit the NACo website and search the database for Arizona. Congratulations to all our NACo winners!

COVID-19 Update

Maricopa County has now added demographic detail to their ZIP code-level vaccination data. This will help the county and its partners identify in finer detail which communities have experienced potential barriers to getting vaccinated so that vaccine events can be tailored to people’s needs.

The updated data, available at Maricopa.gov/COVID19VaccineData, now has vaccination data across ZIP codes stratified by demographics including sex, age group, race and ethnicity. These data are reported in aggregate across each ZIP code.

Vaccine events, including pop-up community events, are listed at Maricopa.gov/COVID19VaccineLocations. Residents can also sign up for email notifications about pop-up events that are coming to their area. These events occur at different locations, days and times to make it convenient for people with varying schedules and needs.

Heal the Hero Foundation

I was honored to meet with Joe Holmes of the Heal the Hero Foundation and Mike Southworth of Vitanya to learn about their mental health mobile command unit. We talked about how to reimagine and revitalize community mental health specifically for our military veterans, police, firefighters and teachers. To learn more: https://www.healthehero.org/

Bush Highway Trailhead

A new trailhead in District 2 will provide additional access to the Hawes Trail System. The Maricopa County Regional Trail System includes over 300 miles of existing trails systems linking to all of Maricopa County's regional parks by traversing over 15 separate municipalities.

Did you know?

Did you know that McDowell Mountain Regional Park is home to one of the largest Western Diamondback rattlesnakes in the nation? That’s right, the 15,000-pound rattlesnake was the first custom piece of nature-themed playground equipment installed in Maricopa County’s regional park system. Since then, additional pieces such as a Gila monster, Bald Eagle, hummingbird slides, mountain lion climbers, and climbing boulders with spider web netting have been installed throughout the park system. Learn more here>

Summer Reading Program

Our Summer reading program has started and it's not too late to join!  We encourage your children to join our Maricopa County Reads online summer reading program designed for all ages! This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales” The program runs from June 1 to August 1, 2021 and aims to help maintain and improve literacy skills for participants of all ages. Complete two tasks on Supervisor Chucri's Summer Reading Challenge and you will receive 20 points! For more information about prizes -  Click Here!

Why Should I License My Dog?

• Free ride home! If your dog is picked up at large by an Animal Control Officer, having a current license and contact information on file means your dog will be returned directly to you that same day (when possible), without your dog having to come into the shelter. 
• It’s the law. In Maricopa County, all dogs over three months of age are required by law to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. The tag you receive the first time your dog is licensed should always be attached to their collar – it is proof that your dog has been licensed and will help you avoid a citation and fees for failure to license. License a dog today >
• It’s life-saving. The fees collected from licensing directly support the daily care of the 30,000 animals that enter the shelter each year; licensing your dog helps all the other dogs and cats at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control that are waiting to find their forever homes too. More reasons >

The heat is also having an impact on animals. Animal Care and Control is currently at capacity and expects to take in even more pets around the July 4th holiday. It needs your help to free up kennel space. Will you consider adopting or fostering a pet? Consider adopting these loveable pets and mark your calendar for June 26–30 and July 7–11 when adoption fees will be reduced through a special adoption event.

Sincerely,
Steve Chucri, Supervisor
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 2
www.maricopa.gov/steve
602-506-7431