by Matthew Holloway | May 29, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Tuesday, Cochise County Superior Court Visiting Judge Michael Latham dismissed a lawsuit challenging the county’s plans for a new jail district election. He also denied a motion from Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who sought to intervene in the election.
According to the county, Judge Latham ruled that the upcoming election is “the most effective and efficient way to correct the issue” presented in the case and that it falls within “the Cochise County Board of Supervisors’ primary authority.”
Timothy La Sota, outside counsel representing the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, praised the decision in a statement released Tuesday.
He wrote, “Today, Cochise County once again prevailed in court in its efforts to protect the citizens of this County. The Board has agreed to hold a new election because the last election was seriously flawed and left nearly 11,000 eligible voters without ballots. Oddly, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General have attempted to usurp the Board’s lawful functions; first at the Supreme Court and now at the Superior Court and have failed at every turn. This ruling is a vindication of Cochise County’s plan to address a difficult election situation and a repudiation of efforts by statewide officials to butt in, take over local elections, and disenfranchise Cochise County voters in the process.”
The controversy surrounds a proposed 2023 excise tax that would apply until enough revenue is collected by the county to construct a new jail and retire any associated debt. An election held in 2023 by mail-in ballot only approved the tax but was later found to be flawed. An Arizona appellate court determined that because ballots were not sent to inactive voters and no polling places were opened, the election was invalid.
As noted by KVOA, prior to the lawsuit, the Board of Supervisors had already voted for a new election to address deficiencies in the previous election that failed to provide ballots for approximately 11,000 voters. However, the tax had already gone into effect and a sum of approximately $18 million has already been collected to date.
The board voted in March to approve a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs, covering $130,000 for their legal fees.
The Cochise County jail, now over forty-years old, has operated with failing infrastructure, an outdated security system, and a non-functional fire alarm system according to reports. With Supervisor Kathy Gomez of District 2 telling KGUN, “I am terrified of somebody dying under my watch with no fire alarm, and issues with all the doors opening, and you know, the electrical system.”
Commander for the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Kenneth Bradshaw told reporters at the time, “Everybody agrees, even the Board of Supervisors agrees, that we need a new jail. It’s just a matter of how we get there and what the process was where we are now.”
The voters of Cochise County will decide the matter with early voting beginning October 8th through Election Day 2025. Statements for or against the tax are due by August 6th, and pamphlets will be mailed to voters by no later than September 30th.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Dec 16, 2024 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Public Safety Funding Committee (PSFC) presented its findings last week and has recommended that it pursue a 20-year extension of the existing voter-approved tax rate of 1/5th of a cent, set to expire in 2027. It also recommended the expansion of various partnerships to address the funding needs of adult and juvenile correctional facilities, correctional healthcare, and other county programs.
According to a press release from the Board of Supervisors, Chairman Jack Sellers said, “Providing for public safety is a core function of our government, and how we fund those efforts should be transparent and open to public feedback. We established the PSFC to ensure a wide range of views are considered as we determine how to prioritize and pay for evolving public safety needs. I’m grateful for the committee’s diligent work and look forward to a thorough review of their recommendations.”
The committee, established in January, conducted a series of public hearings, toured existing jail facilities, and interviewed several figures within the system before brining its recommendations for long-term funding and other changes to several established policies.
The Board of Supervisors largely appeared to concur with the recommendation to extend the funding, with Supervisors Clint Hickman, Bill Gates, and Steve Gallardo voicing support. Hickman said, “The Jail Excise Tax brings in about $300 million in revenue per year and has been an effective way of funding our public safety needs as the county grows, at a low burden to the individual taxpayer.”
He added, “I agree with the committee’s recommendation that an extension of the tax, at the current rate, is the best way to make sure we continue to live in a safe community where people can thrive economically.”
The 165-page report detailed policy recommendations touching “Reentry, Community Services and Coordination, Programming and Courts, Capital, and Data and Long-Term Initiatives.”
The Committee explained:
“In the first category, they suggested pursuing partnerships for crime prevention and reentry, engaging with the state on Medicaid waivers for pre-trial and pre-release individuals, and engaging in efforts to strengthen the behavioral health system.
The second category focused on maintaining funding for probation and diversion programs, upholding treatment standards, coordinating Initial Appearance Hearings with the City of Phoenix, and discussing juvenile placement policies.”
In addition it recommended replacing outdated facilities, improving the county’s Intake, Transfer and Release facility, enhancing security at the Durango campus, and addressing shortages in the county’s correction workforce.
Vice Chairman Thomas Galvin noted, “The PSFC engaged with residents and key stakeholders honestly and openly over the past year, and now with their recommendations, we can move forward in a united manner to keep our streets safe and support our law enforcement officers.
Chaired by John Lewis, the former mayor of Gilbert and CEO of East Valley Partnership, the committee is composed of nine community members from fields ranging from law enforcement, correctional health, criminal justice, government, and business.
As noted by KTAR News, the Board of Supervisors may agree with the extension of the Jail Excise Tax, and could lobby for it, but it has very little choice in the matter. Ultimately Maricopa County cannot place it on the ballot. That power falls to the Arizona Legislature and the sitting governor to pass and sign into law.
Given the past disconnect between the Republican-dominated Arizona Legislature and Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, it is uncertain how successful any effort to extend an existing tax would be, or how well received it would be by the voters.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
