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On Thursday, February 8th, County Supervisors Association (CSA) Executive Director Craig Sullivan appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Local Resources to discuss priorities for CSA and, in particular, Maricopa County.
Mr. Sullivan highlighted two priorities that CSA and Maricopa County Supervisors are working toward resolving related to state mandated costs: eliminating the cost sharing mandate for the Department of Juvenile Corrections and fully funding probation officer costs with State dollars.
In his presentation, Mr. Sullivan spoke to the efforts taken up in previous Legislatures. In particular, he focused on the effort in 2023 by former LD30 Representative Andres Cano to remove the mandate that Maricopa and Pima Counties provide monetary support to the State for the funding of the Department of Juvenile Corrections. The executive director noted that Maricopa and Pima Counties were treated differently than rural counties, as rural counties are not subjected to these State budgetary requirements. Mr. Sullivan highlighted that in the final FY2024 budget, only Pima County was relieved of this subsidy obligation; Maricopa County was not. Finally, he advocated for a partnership between the State and CSA to phase out Maricopa County’s required subsidy over the course of the next three years.
On the second priority relating to funding probation officers, Mr. Sullivan advocated for the State to locate funding to ensure that there are no additional cost shifts to Counties for this function. He noted that the State has not been fully funding the probation function and that Counties have been supplementing funding to cover salary increases. According to Mr. Sullivan’s presentation, the State has been providing salary increases in the range of only 2 – 2.5%. However, due to inflation, retention needs and to boost recruitment, actual salary increases have been in the range of 5-8%. The Counties have had to fund the difference. Mr. Sullivan requested that the Legislature commit to working with the County Supervisors Association and the Administrative Office of the Courts to identify a long-term, permanent solution to this issue.
The Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Local Resources, Rep. Julie Willoughby (R-LD13), committed to working with stakeholders stating that she intends to do the “right and fair thing for Counties” and committed to continuing discussions off-line to work towards an amicable solution.
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