Preservation of Local Control
The Arizona Association of Counties supports the authority of County government to exert local control in order to enhance or maintain local public needs and further supports proposals that increase the capacity of local governments to finance critical public service programs.
Opposition of Unfunded Mandates
The Arizona Association of Counties supports the historic role of county governments as partners of state government in the delivery of critical public services. However, the Arizona Association of Counties will oppose efforts by the state to place responsibility for funding state programs on county governments and, wherever feasible, will demonstrate the economic impact of such proposals to lawmakers, county officials and the public.
State Shared Revenues
Arizona Association of Counties opposes any efforts to reduce state-shared revenues resulting in a negative fiscal impact to Counties.
Like the state, Counties are working in an environment of unprecedented declines in tax revenues. A decrease in sales tax revenues continues to decrease Counties' share of funding and the ability to provide important programs for their citizens. Additionally, proposed budget cuts to state agency budgets propose shifting responsibility for funding programs to local governments and also suggest sweeps of special purpose funds that are dedicated by law for use by county offices.
2012 Legislative Proposals
Repeal Inmate Shift
Repeals the provisions of SB1621 from the last regular session that directs those sentenced to state prison for one year or less, as of July 1, 2012, to serve their time in a county jail unless the county agress to pay a per diem rate to the Arizona Department of Corrections to house them.
Election Revisions
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Require that any Presidential Preference election be held via an all-mail election
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Ensure that counties are reimbursed for 100% of the costs of a Presidential Preference election
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Allow poll list "tear sheets" to be optional
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Add "cost of signature verification" as one of the items a judge may award a county during a candidate challenge
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Ensure that annexation and special district boundaries are properly reported to election officials to ensure that the correct population receives ballots
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Clarify that when filling the vacancy of someone who switched parties after they were elected, the vacancy shall be filled by someone who is of the same party as the officeholder was at the time they were elected to the office
Qualified Immunity
Adds prisoner suicide to the list of items that a public entity or public employee is not liable for as long as the scope of the employee's employment did not intend to cause the suicide and there was no gross negligence.
Review Classes & Counting Parcels
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Remove the requirement for a county hearing officer to attend the valuation review classes provided by the State Board of Equalization and allow counties to provide training specific to the county
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Clarify that when counting property owners for the creation of a fire district, community park maintenance district, sanitary district or hospital district, the owner of multiple parcels is deemed to be one owner (mimics existing city statutes).
IGAs for Constable Services at Lower Rates
Allow constable services to be provided to government agencies, via a Board-approved IGA at rates lower than are set in statute.
Error Correction
Ensure that errors to the tax roll that favor the taxpayer can be corrected and appropriately billed in the current tax year, but errors that do not favor the taxpayer can only be corrected in the current tax year but billed in the subsequent tax year.
Class Three Primary Residence
Clean-up language now that "owner occupied" has been changed to "primary residence" to ensure that affidavits, definitions and corrections are appropriate for this revised classification.
Clerks Revisions
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Clarifies the process for releasing the bond posted when an arbitration award is appealed so that if more than 60 days have passed and there is no direction from the court, the county is kept whole for what they paid out to the arbitrator and any remaining balance is returned to the appellant.
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Ensure that legislative intent regarding the privacy of "clearance records" is upheld given advances in technology by also prohibiting "access" to records and not just prohibiting "copies"
Recorder Revisions
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Remove statutes requiring the Recorders to keep a blotter
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Remove the requirement that appointments made in constitutional offices be recorded with the County Recorder
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Ensure that the UCC statutes and recorders statutes are the same regarding nonconsensual liens so it is clear that they do not have to be recorded unless accompanied by a court order or judgment
Current Status of County Government Platform:
| As of May 4, 2012 |
| HB2338 | Repeal Inmate Shift | 5/1 sent to the Governor |
| HB2048 | Recorder Revisions | 3/16 signed by Governor, Laws 2012, Chapter 37 |
| HB2122 | Constable Services/Lower Rates | 4/5 signed by the Governor, Laws 2012, Chapter 199 |
| SB1145 | Qualified Immunity | DEAD - Never heard in Senate Judiciary |
| SB1201 | SBOE Classes In-County | DEAD - Bill no longer necessary - found an administrative solution |
| HB2486 | Class 3 Fixes | 4/30 sent to the Governor |
| SB1225 | Clerks Revisions | 3/20 signed by Governor, Laws 2012, Chapter 44 |
| HB2432 | Counting Parcels | 4/16 signed by the Governor, Laws 2012, Chapter 264 |
| HB2033 | Election Revisions | 5/1 sent to the Governor |
