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Dear Friends,
Before 2023 comes to an end, I would like to thank you all for your continued support which enabled District 3 to have a successful year. I wanted to highlight some of the exciting things we have accomplished this year at Maricopa County:
We Continued to Run a Fiscally Conservative County.
- I am proud that the Board of Supervisors has continued to lead our County in a fiscally conservative manner – all while ensuring the essential services we are required to provide by statute.
- We know that for many families, every dollar counts. With that in mind, the Board passed a balanced budget that cut property tax rates again, keeping more of the taxpayers’ money in their pockets.
We Supported Our Community’s Residential Affordability.
- Throughout 2023, we committed $130 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help alleviate the pain many District 3 constituents are experiencing in the residential rental market by investing in affordable and attainable housing opportunities.
- This year, we used federal ARPA dollars to fund 35 affordable housing projects which will lead to more than 4,000 affordable housing units.
We Invested in Combatting Homelessness.
- The Board of Supervisors also worked on combatting homelessness by providing 2,720 people with overnight shelter; I’m proud that as a result of our efforts, 1,547 people were connected with permanent housing.
- $26.3M was invested in homeowner opportunities and $100.7M were invested into rental opportunities. Our efforts also ensured that 1,183 people were served through Bridge housing. These programs are already showing signs of success: 73% of people exiting Bridge Shelter remain housed after one year.
- In total, 41,024 Maricopa County constituents were served throughout all these opportunities to help with affordable housing and homelessness.
We Promoted Our Economy Through Workforce Development.
- As our economy continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know many families still struggle to find full employment. In 2023, the County supported 2,500 residents with finding gainful employment.
- I am proud that we also supported more than 2,100 Valley businesses by placing job orders or providing labor market information or job seeker referrals.
We Raised Our Voices in Our Community’s Battle Against the Scourge of Fentanyl.
- Our community, like many other communities across the country, have been impacted by the opioid drug crisis. Drugs like fentanyl have had a devastating effect on many of our residents.
- Maricopa County is working on holding opioid manufacturers accountable for this destruction through lawsuits – and in 2023 alone we allocated $17.8M dollars in Opioid Settlement Funds to the treatment of opioid addiction and combatting its impacts on the community.
- Earlier this year, the County also launched its “Focus on Fentanyl” initiative which is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl.
While we reflect on a busy year in District 3, we are also laser-focused on having an impactful 2024. My top priority for 2024 is to ensure the elections in the year ahead are safe, secure, and transparent. Some other priorities I have for the County in the coming year include:
- The deployment of ARPA funds to provide internet access to rural areas through broadband expansion;
- Adding a library to the North Valley/Anthem area; and
- Monitoring and allocating Opioid Settlement Funds to maximize impact to our most vulnerable communities.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at 602-506-7562 or district3@maricopa.gov if we can be of service to you. Thank you for your support and engagement in 2023. I wish all of you a healthy and happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
All my best,
Bill
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