[8. Board of Supervisors - Approve the Professional Services Agreement between Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO) and Kittelson & Associates for the Active Community Transportation – Unified Plan (ACT-UP) in an amount not to exceed $249,204.36, and request establishment of a new fund number for the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) appropriated grant funds. ]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I SEE OUR GOOD FRIEND VINNIE IS COMING UP TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS ONE.

SO. GOOD MORNING, VINNIE. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN. VICE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. VINNIE GALLEGOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND START AGAIN. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. VICE CHAIRMAN OBERG AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

VINNY GALLEGOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL YAVAPAI METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, OR SIMPO FOR SHORT.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE USED FOR? YES, SIR. MR. CHAIR. VICE CHAIR OBERG SIMPO IS DOING A REGIONAL BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN PLAN.

IT'S CALLED ACT UP FOR SHORT.

IT'S AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING SIMPO HASN'T DONE BEFORE.

WE ARE MULTIMODAL IN PLANNING.

CLEARLY, WE'VE DONE A LOT WITH HIGHWAYS AND ROADWAY PROJECTS IN THE REGION, BUT ONE AREA OF RECOMMENDATION OUT OF OUR LAST 25 YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN WAS TO LOOK AT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO IN WORKING WITH THE FIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING OVER THIS NEXT YEAR A BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN PLAN.

THERE IS PARTS OF IT THAT DO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT AS IT RELATES TO YAVAPAI REGIONAL TRANSIT IN THE TOWN OF CHINO VALLEY.

YOU HAVE A LINE WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY AND IS SERVING THE REGION.

BUT THE PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE ON EVALUATING WHAT EACH OF THE JURISDICTIONS HAVE FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEN FOR EACH OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS, WHAT IS THE WHAT'S THE VISION FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES? SO FOR UNINCORPORATED YAVAPAI COUNTY, WHAT IS THAT NEXT? WHAT ARE THOSE NEXT IMPROVEMENTS? AND IT WILL LOOK AGAIN AT BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, ANY TYPES OF FORM.

IT COULD BE HORSEBACK RIDING TRAILS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

IS THIS FEDERAL FUNDING? EXCUSE ME. YES, SIR, IT IS.

OKAY. AND I DO KNOW THAT CITY OF PRESCOTT SOME TIME BACK WAS LOOKING AT TRYING TO MAKE THE CITY MORE WALKABLE AND BICYCLE FRIENDLY. I ASSUME THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THIS STUDY IS GOING TO BE DOING, WORKING WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES, LOOKING AT THEIR CURRENT PLANS FOR WALKABILITY AND FOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, BICYCLE FRIENDLY.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT? BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN IT SAYS THIS IS TO BE A NEW FUND NUMBER FOR A CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES IN THE PAST THAT'S CONSIDERED TO BE BASICALLY LOOKING AT SOME KIND OF MASS TRANSIT.

[00:40:05]

AND I DO KNOW THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE I'VE LOOKED, WHERE THERE'S MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO SUBSIDIZE IT AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT THIS FUNDING IS NOT LOOKED AT, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BRING ON A PROGRAM THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY REQUIRE US TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH. PROBABLY SIZABLE FUNDING TO MAKE IT WORK.

I KNOW SOME TIME BACK THERE WAS A $2 MILLION GRANT THAT WAS LOOKED AT BY THE CITY OF PRESCOTT TO ESTABLISH SOME MASS TRANSIT.

AND BASICALLY THE 2 MILLION WOULD BASICALLY JUST COVER OPENING UP, YOU KNOW, BUYING THE EQUIPMENT, HIRING THE DRIVERS, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP THE STOPS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT AFTER THAT, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY, YOU KNOW, SUBSIDIZED BY THE THE COMMUNITY GOVERNMENTS OR EVEN BY THE COUNTY.

SO I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING DOWN THAT ROAD WITH THIS FUNDING.

MISTER CHAIR. VICE CHAIRMAN OBERG, JUST A COUPLE POINTS IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

AGAIN, THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS STUDY WILL BE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN.

THERE ARE SOME FEDERAL TRANSIT DOLLARS THAT DO MAKE UP PART OF THE STUDY.

SO WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE AGAIN WHAT SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED IN THE AREA AND HOW DO THEY RELATE TO THAT.

AS TO YOUR POINT ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING, SO ALL THE FUNDING THAT SINPO WORKS WITH AND RECEIVES IS FEDERAL FUNDING.

SINPO AS ALONG WITH YOU AND THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ARE RECEIVING FUNDS OF A FIVE YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST COMPLETING YEAR NUMBER TWO.

WE'RE GOING INTO YEAR NUMBER THREE.

THAT'S A $1 TRILLION BILL FOR THE UNITED STATES.

JUST UNDER HALF OF THAT GOES TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS. OF THOSE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS FEDERALLY, THERE'S ABOUT 30 PROGRAMS. CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM FUNDING IS ONE OF THOSE 30 PROGRAMS BEING PUSHED OUT.

OTHER PROGRAMS THAT YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH AND THE BOARD MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH WOULD BE LIKE THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

I KNOW IN YOUR DISTRICT, IRON SPRINGS ROAD IS RECEIVING TWO CIP GRANTS FOR JUST UNDER $10 MILLION.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE LOOK AT PROGRAMS LIKE CIP, CARBON REDUCTION AND IN PARTICULAR, AS WE RECEIVE THOSE FUNDING, THOSE FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES, HOW DO WE HOW DO WE APPLY THOSE WITH THE LOCAL PRIORITIES AND THE VISION AND THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY? SO FOR CARBON REDUCTION FUNDING IN SIMPLE RECEIVING $1 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF CARBON REDUCTION FUNDING, AS YOU NOTED, THIS IS PART OF THAT STUDY A YEAR, ONE OF OUR FUNDING, THOUGH WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A JOINT PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF PRESCOTT AND THE COUNTY.

IT'S A TRAILHEAD PROJECT ON PIONEER PARKWAY.

SO WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, STAFF LOOKS AT AT THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THESE FUNDS, WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? BUT MORE THAN THAT, HOW DOES IT FIT WITH YOUR PRIORITIES AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REGARDING TRANSIT, I GUESS MY POINT TO THAT WOULD BE THAT THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY LAUNCHED A TRANSIT SYSTEM ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO THAT'S SERVING THE REGION.

THEY ARE USING FUNDS THAT ARE DESIGNATED AND RESTRICTED TO THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY AND THE CITY OF PRESCOTT AS AN URBANIZED AREA.

THE MONEY THEY RECEIVE CURRENTLY IS $1.7 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

THAT IS FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS RETURNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSIT.

SO THAT'S THE MONEY THEY'RE USING AT THIS TIME.

I HOPE I ADDRESSED A COUPLE OF THOSE POINTS.

OKAY. WELL, I THINK THIS IS A LIMITED PROGRAM.

SO BASED ON THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS THIS ITEM.

SECOND. OKAY.

WE GOT A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR OBERG IN A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR BROWN.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? YES, MISTER CHAIRMAN.

YES. THIS BIKE IS WORKING, RIGHT? JUST MAKING SURE. OKAY.

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT HEARD, BUT I WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR PLANNING PROCESS.

IT CAN BE A TEDIOUS ONE.

I APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR THE TYPE OF TRANSPORT STATION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WHETHER IT BE FOOT OR BICYCLE OR FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY SOMEWHERE IN HERE.

SUPERVISOR OBERG, WHO WORKS A NECK AND NECK WITH ME ON THE OHV CHALLENGE, I HAD A PRESIDENT OF OUR IN DISTRICT THREE TRAIL FUND PROJECT COME IN AND SPEAK WITH ME.

THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING TO THE TUNE OF $700,000 A YEAR TO FILL THE GAP WHERE THE FOREST SERVICE CANNOT MEET THE TRAIL NEEDS.

[00:45:04]

SOMEWHERE IN HERE THERE MIGHT BE A PARTNERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE ARE SO MANY SILOS OUT THERE ADDRESSING THIS OR TRYING TO PLAN AROUND IT FOR ONE KIND OF TRANSPORTATION NEED OR ANOTHER OR TRAIL OR PATHWAY OR ANOTHER.

AND I SEE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY WITH THE VARIETY, THE DIVERSITY.

OF THOSE MODES, BUT ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT WE AT LONG LAST CAN BE TALKING ABOUT HOW DO THE TWO SIDES OF THIS MOUNTAIN CONNECT TO DO THAT? SO I URGE US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TOO.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SUPERVISOR MICHAELS, IF I MAY.

ABSOLUTELY. WE WELCOME ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

PARTNERSHIPS. PART OF THE PLAN WILL BE TO LOOK AT TO LOOK AT THOSE GAPS.

THE PLANNER IN MY OFFICE IS WITH ME TODAY, BRENNAN STOTLER.

SHE'S THE FORMER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF PRESCOTT.

THE LAST FOUR YEARS, SHE'LL BE THE PROJECT MANAGER LEADING THAT PROJECT ON BEHALF OF SIMPO.

BUT SUPERVISOR MICHAELS, I WOULD ALSO REMIND YOU THAT DAN SHERRY, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, IS THE CHAIR OF OUR TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

SUPERVISOR CRAIG BROWN IS CURRENTLY THE CHAIR OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND WE WOULD WELCOME DIRECTLY FROM YOU OR THROUGH DAN OR THROUGH SUPERVISOR BROWN.

ANY SUGGESTIONS, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND WE WANT TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE VARIOUS GENERAL PLANS.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE ON THE GROUND THAT KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO TRAILS, BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT BY THE BOARD? WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

25 IS TABLED BY AT ITS.

AND THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE 39.

[39. Public Works - Approve Change Order #1 (Final) in the decreased amount of $66,168.94 with CLM Earthmovers, LLC (hereafter CLM) for Pioneer Parkway Roundabout at Commerce Drive in Yavapai County, Arizona - Project #2123001. YC Contract No. 2022-358A1 (District 4 - Supervisor Brown)]

SUPERVISOR BROWN. HI, DAN.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. HE'S HERE. HE'S GOING TO GIVE US A ONE OF THESE UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE COMMERCE PROJECT, WHY IT WAS DELAYED, AND ALSO LET US KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO.

SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

DAN? GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M DAN CHERRY, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

ITEM 39 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY IS JUST APPROVING A FINAL CHANGE ORDER FOR THE CLOSURE OF THIS PROJECT.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR THE ROUNDABOUT ON PIONEER PARKWAY AT COMMERCE DRIVE HAD BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR A GOOD PART OF THE PAST YEAR AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY THAT THAT IS OPEN AND FUNCTIONING WELL AT THIS TIME.

THE THE CONTRACT AS PART OF CLOSURE OF IT, YOU KNOW, WE USUALLY HAVE A A FORCE ACCOUNT BUILT INTO OUR CONTRACTS FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES AND AND CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN THE FIELD.

IN THIS CASE, THAT AMOUNT THAT WAS UNSPENT FROM THAT FORCE ACCOUNT IS IS JUST OVER $66,000.

SO WITH THIS FINAL CHANGE ORDER, WITH APPROVAL OF THAT, THAT FUNDING KIND OF GOES BACK INTO THE POT FOR YOUR REGIONAL ROADS PROGRAM AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER EXPENDITURES.

SUPERVISOR BROWN ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DID SEEM TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER, AND THAT WAS REALLY IN PART DUE TO OUR WINTER THAT WE HAD THIS THIS PAST YEAR. IT IT PLAYED IT WREAKED HAVOC ON MOST OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT WERE OPEN AND UNDERWAY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER ON THAT? I'D BE HAPPY TO.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE BOARD? CHAIRMAN, I JUST YOU KNOW, DAN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT HOW THE WINTER DID PLAY HAVOC, NOT ONLY OVER WITH SUPERVISOR BROWN, BUT ALSO IN DISTRICT FIVE.

AND SO IT WAS A VERY TRYING TIMES.

SOME PROJECTS THAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ABOUT SIX, MAYBE EIGHT WEEKS TOOK SIX MONTHS.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

I, I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT, I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ITEM.

SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR BROWN.

SECONDED BY MYSELF.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

[44. Sheriff - Approve retroactive travel and training related expenses for two (2) employees who attended the Spillman/Motorola Solutions Summit from April 10-14, 2023, in Orlando, Florida, exceeding $750.00 per employee, which was not included in the budget process. ]

SUPERVISOR BROWN.

ITEM NUMBER 44 IS WAS THE SHERIFF TO APPROVE A RETROACTIVE TRAVEL AND TRAINING RELATED EXPENSE? AND THIS IS AN UNUSUAL REQUEST BY THE SHERIFF.

AND THE SHERIFF AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT THIS MORNING, OR CHIEF DEPUTY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND WANTED HIM TO EXPLAIN IT IF HE CAN.

[00:50:06]

THANK YOU, MR.. MR. CHAIRMAN. SUPERVISOR BROWN, JEFF NEWNHAM.

I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HERE REPRESENTING SHERIFF RHODES.

THIS WAS A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE I BELIEVE THAT WE COMMITTED KIND OF AN UNFORESEEN ERROR IN IN THIS CONFERENCE THAT WE ATTENDED HISTORICALLY WITH SPILLMAN AND SPILLMAN IS OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND OUR JAIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AND WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

GREAT COMPANY, GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS.

AND HISTORICALLY. EVERY YEAR WE GO TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT THEY PUT ON, WHICH OUTLINES ALL OF THEIR NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOW OFFERED TO US THAT WE CAN INSTITUTE INTO OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AND THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS ALSO OUR CAD SYSTEM THAT DISPATCHES OUR OUR PATROL TO CALLS.

SO HISTORICALLY, THIS TRAINING IS SOMETHING THAT WE BRING IN IN FRONT OF THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL, AND THEN WE GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT TRAINING EACH YEAR.

IT COMES OUT OF THE BUDGET.

THIS YEAR IT WAS A PACKAGE THAT SPILLMAN PAID DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR.

AND SO OUR MAINTENANCE OF AGREEMENT EFFORT AND OUR ANNUAL INVOICE IS PART OF THAT MONEY GETS SET ASIDE FOR THIS TRAINING EVERY YEAR.

SO WE PAY THAT ANNUAL INVOICE.

PART OF THAT MONEY GETS EARMARKED FOR THIS AND THE OUR VENDOR WENT AHEAD AND USED THAT MONEY AND PAID DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR, WHICH CAUSED US A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY IN GETTING IT TO THE BOARD OR KIND OF THE MAYBE THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE NEED TO COME RETROACTIVELY AND GET APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD TO APPROVE THAT CONFERENCE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE TYPICAL WAY WE WE PAY FOR TRAINING BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF THE CONTRACT AND IT'S IN THE ANNUAL INVOICE THAT WE PAY FOR THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AND THEY JUST TAKE A PORTION OF THAT AND USE IT FOR TRAINING.

SO, SO BY OUR PROTOCOLS AND BY OUR POLICIES, THAT NEEDS TO COME TO THE BOARD TO APPROVE THAT PIECE OF THE TRAINING THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE CONTRACT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

IT'S VERY CONFUSING. I HAD TO HAVE OUR BUDGET OFFICE EXPLAIN IT TO ME LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES ON WHY WE'RE HAVING TO DO THIS.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHY IT'S AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP AND I HADN'T SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.

AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD NEED THE FINANCE DIRECTOR JUST TO COME DOWN AND TELL US HOW THIS ACTUALLY WORKS.

BUT GENERALLY, IT'S THE FACT THAT NORMALLY THIS IS PAID UP FRONT AND PRE BUDGETED AND THEREFORE IT WOULDN'T BE COMING BEFORE US NECESSARILY, AND ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE RESERVES.

BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T.

THE SYSTEM DID NOT QUITE WORK ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT.

AND MR. CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISOR BROWN, IF I MAY, YOU'RE CORRECT THAT THIS WAS THIS THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE SENDING TO SPILLMAN AND ULTIMATELY TO THE VENDOR HAS BEEN BUDGETED AND WAS APPROVED IN THE IN THE CONTRACT THAT CAME BEFORE YOU AND THE INVOICES THAT COME TO US, THE THE ANNUAL QUOTES THAT COME FROM SPILLMAN ON THE ADDITIONS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY, IN MY OPINION, ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON.

BUT BECAUSE IT'S TRAINING AND IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATED IN THAT CONTRACT, WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR IN TRAINING, IT NEEDS TO COME TO THE BOARD.

AND WITH THAT I WOULD JUST SAY LET'S COVER THE BASE AND I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT.

OKAY, I'LL SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR BROWN.

A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MALLORY.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. AYE.

THANK YOU. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THAT WAS UNANIMOUS.

MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY, NEXT. NEXT ITEM.

OKAY. WE'LL DO A BREAK. TEN MINUTES.

OKAY, IF WE CAN GET STARTED.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ACTION.

[1. Board of Supervisors - Presentation from The Nature Conservancy regarding submission of a grant application through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for conservation easements in the Big Chino area, followed by discussion and possible action to approve a letter of support by the Board.]

ITEM PRESENTATION FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY REGARDING SUBMISSIONS OF A GRANT APPLICATION THROUGH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE AND NRCS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN BICHENO AREA, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE LETTER OF SUPPORT BY THE BOARD.

JODY NORRIS, DIRECTOR OF LAND PROTECTION.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN.

VICE CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS JODY NORRIS.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LAND PROTECTION FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN ARIZONA.

AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT SOME INFORMATION AND REQUEST SUPPORT FOR A GRANT SUBMITTAL THROUGH THE USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EFFORT AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS FOLLOWING MY PRESENTATION.

[00:55:06]

SO JUST AS A QUICK INTRODUCTION, AS I MENTIONED, MY NAME IS JODY.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LAND PROTECTION FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.

WE'RE A GLOBAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE AND NATURE CAN THRIVE.

AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING IN THE VERDE WATERSHED FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF OUR PROJECT PARTNERS FOR THIS GRANT SUBMITTAL.

BECKY RUFFNER IS JOINING US.

SHE'S THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL ARIZONA LAND TRUST, WHICH IS A LOCAL LAND TRUST THAT'S BEEN WORKING IN THE COUNTY, ALSO FADES.

AND HEATHER REDDING, WHO WORKS FOR THE LAND ADVISORS ORGANIZATION AND IS ALSO A CONSULTANT FOR SALT RIVER PROJECT, WHO'S CONSTRUCTING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT STRATEGY FOR THIS PROJECT.

SO I'D LIKE TO START WITH SOME BACKGROUND ON THE REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OR.

TO SHORTEN IT A BIT.

THIS IS A GRANT PROGRAM THAT IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE, NRCS AND USES FARM BILL FUNDING TO MEET LANDOWNER AND RESOURCE NEEDS. IT IS A PARTNER DRIVEN APPROACH TO CONSERVATION THAT FUNDS SOLUTIONS TO NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGES ON AGRICULTURAL LAND.

UM, SO THE CURRENT CYCLE OF FUNDING IS CURRENTLY OPEN TO APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE DUE ON AUGUST 18TH.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WOULD LIKE TO APPLY AS THE LEAD PARTNER AND WE ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING AN APPLICATION AND BUILDING SUPPORT SUCH AS THIS TODAY.

OUR PARTNERS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE WHO I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY ARE CENTRAL ARIZONA LAND TRUST.

THIS IS A LAND TRUST WHO IS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE, AND THEY HOLD SEVERAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

THEY WILL HOLD BE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT HOLDER THROUGH THIS PROJECT.

SALT RIVER PROJECT IS A POTENTIAL PROJECT FUNDER AND IS ALSO CONSTRUCTING A STRATEGY TO USE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT FLOWS IN THE VERDE RIVER AND THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT HAS PARTICIPATED AS A PROJECT SUPPORTER.

SO A FEW FACTS AND JUST SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE A TOOL THAT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HAS USED FOR SEVERAL DECADES TO PROTECT CONSERVATION VALUES ON PRIVATE LANDS.

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE VOLUNTARY LEGAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN A LANDOWNER AND AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY, SUCH AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT.

THE LANDOWNER CAN CONTINUE THE AGRICULTURAL OR RANCHING USES OF THEIR LAND WHILE BEING COMPENSATED FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.

EASEMENTS OFTEN IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE AGRICULTURAL OPERATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO THE GOALS OF THIS RCGP INCLUDE WE WOULD LIKE TO USE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO LIMIT GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWALS AT THE LANDS OVERLYING THE BIG CHINO AQUIFER, WHICH IS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF WATER AT THE HEADWATERS OF THE VERDE RIVER.

THIS AREA IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT GRASSLAND, HABITAT AND MIGRATION CORRIDOR FOR PRONGHORN AND OTHER GRASSLAND DEPENDENT SPECIES.

EASEMENTS PROTECT THE RURAL NATURE OF THE COUNTY, OPEN SPACES AND WORKING LANDS.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS CAN ALSO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THIS RCPP THAT FOCUS ON GRASSLAND OR SOIL HEALTH THROUGH THE USING OTHER NRCS PROGRAMS SUCH AS EQIP.

SO THE REASONS TO DO THIS RCGP NOW ARE CLEAR.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND PARTNERS ARE DEVELOPING A VOLUNTARY, MARKET BASED APPROACH TO RURAL GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT, USING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT WILL ALSO PRESERVE THE AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE OF NORTHERN YAVAPAI COUNTY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO REGULATION.

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO LANDOWNERS FOR LIMITING DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATED GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWALS.

FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, WITH 500 MILLION AVAILABLE NATIONALLY THIS FISCAL YEAR THROUGH THIS HCP AND A TOTAL OF 4.9 BILLION THROUGH THE RCP OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THIS IS ALL THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND IS A FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCE THAT'S GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR.

SO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN THE VERDE WATERSHED.

TO PROVIDE A FEW EXAMPLES, THE WELLS FAMILY PROTECTED OVER 2000 ACRES OF THEIR RANCH AT THE UPPER VERDE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

AND THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT HAS PROTECTED THE RANCHING USES AND OPEN SPACE OF THEIR LAND SINCE THAT TIME.

[01:00:03]

HAUSER AND HAUSER FARMS IS A FAMILY THAT FARMS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.

THEY NOW HAVE THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON THEIR FARM OPERATIONS, PROTECTING THEIR LANDS, THEIR FAMILY'S LANDS AND WAY OF LIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND CENTRAL ARIZONA LAND TRUST ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF PROTECTING TWO IMPORTANT RANCHES IN THE UPPER VERDE WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AND THOSE INCLUDE THE BAR TRIANGLE RANCH AND YAVAPAI RANCH.

I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE INCLUSION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THE YAVAPAI COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE USE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A TOOL IN ACHIEVING SEVERAL GOALS IN THE 2023 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I'VE LISTED SOME OF THE GOALS, THE CATEGORIES ON THIS SLIDE, BUT I WANTED TO READ A FEW OF THE SPECIFIC POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT INCLUDE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

SO POLICY TO DE PROMOTE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE AGRICULTURE, OPEN SPACES AND WATER RESOURCES.

POLICY ONE DE ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS TO PROTECT FARMLAND, RANCH LAND, WILDLIFE HABITAT, WATERSHED AREAS, RIPARIAN CORRIDORS, WATER QUALITY, FLOOD CONTROL AND HABITAT FOR SENSITIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES.

AND POLICY.

ONE E ENCOURAGE LANDOWNERS TO USE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PRESERVE WATERSHED AREAS, RIPARIAN CORRIDORS, WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, HABITAT FOR SENSITIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES AND FARMLAND.

SO IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO WRAP UP BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST YAVAPAI COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUPPORT FOR THIS GRANT THROUGH THROUGH APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT LETTER THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.

AND MARLENE PLACED A COPY OF THAT DRAFT LETTER AS WELL AS A BROCHURE THAT HAS SOME OF THIS BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR YOU TO REVIEW AFTER THE MEETING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND SUPERVISOR BROWN, THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GOING OVER THIS BEFORE AND WE TALKED TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT BEFORE IN REGARDS TO THE LOWER VERDE RIVER.

AND THIS IS JUST, TO ME, A CONTINUATION OF MOVING FORWARD TO THE NORTHERN SECTIONS.

IT'S VERY POSITIVE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE BAR TRIANGLE AND ALSO THE AND YAVAPAI RANCH ALREADY AGREEING TO THIS. THEY ARE TWO OF THE MAJOR RANCHES IN THAT AREA GOING UP WILLIAMSON VALLEY TOWARDS SELIGMAN.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, THEY THINK OF THE VERDE RIVER AND THEY THINK OF SULLIVAN DAM AND EVERYTHING, THE WATER THAT'S ACTUALLY FLOWING TO THE SOUTH.

BUT REALLY THE WATER STARTS IN SELIGMAN, SO THAT'S CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE UP THE UP THE ROAD SHALL WE SAY.

AND SO TO HAVE THIS ON A CONSERVATION DISTRICT I THINK IS, IS BE EXCEPTIONAL FOR US TO GUARANTEE SOME KIND OF FLOW GOING TO THE VERDE IN THE FUTURE. AND ONE THING I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF IS WHICH IMPRESSES ME IS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE VERDE IS THAT AGAIN, IT'S RE-EMPHASIZED IN THIS LETTER WE'RE WRITING THAT.

THESE EASEMENTS SUPPORT EXISTING GRAZING RIGHTS AND ARE VOLUNTARY MARKET BASED ALTERNATIVES.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT'S MOST PEOPLE THINK, OH, NO, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS DOES.

IT'S A MISCONCEPTION.

SO I WOULD URGE US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SIGNING THIS LETTER FOR YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.

SUPERVISOR OR VICE CHAIR.

OBERG. IS, MR. CHAIRMAN. HAVE YOU WORKED WITH THE CATTLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION ON ON THIS AND WHAT'S THEIR OPINION OF MOVING FORWARD ON THIS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY ARE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP SUPPORT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CATTLE GROWERS.

I HAVEN'T WORKED WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY ON THIS PROJECT AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. WELL, I'VE READ RANGE MAGAZINE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ THAT MAGAZINE, BUT IN THERE IN SOME OTHER STATES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN THESE CONSERVANCIES, THEY BECAME TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DID PREVENT GRAZING ON THAT LAND.

AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WHOEVER'S GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSERVANCY.

YOU KNOW, DON'T MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS A CONCERN IN RANGE MAGAZINE THAT MANY OF THESE CATTLE GROWERS IN THESE OTHER STATES, THEY WERE LOOKING AT,

[01:05:04]

YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO POSSIBLY HAVE FUTURE GRAZING RIGHTS ON THAT ON THAT PROPERTY.

AND THEY WERE LIMITED FROM IT.

SO AND ALSO THERE WAS A LOT OF OTHER PUBLIC PROHIBITIONS OF GOING ON THE LAND.

SO AS LONG AS THAT'S THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND I SUPPORT THIS LETTER.

GREAT. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, TOO, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE PROGRAMS, THE FOCUS IS ON AGRICULTURAL USES.

SO IT DOES PROTECT SPECIFICALLY THAT THE PROPERTY CONTINUES TO BE USED FOR AGRICULTURAL OR RANCHING USES.

TO MASTER MICHAELS. YES.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THERE'S ONE OTHER THING IN REGARDS TO THIS THAT NEEDS TO BE NOTED IS THAT HALF OF THIS AREA, ALTHOUGH IT IS COVERED WITH RANCHES, HALF THE LAND IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE STATE.

RIGHT. AND OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO. WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY PROTECTING OUR GRAZING RIGHTS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE ARIZONA AND YAVAPAI CATTLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION THAT I WILL WORK WITH YOU, JODY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE, UH, UH, UH, UH POINTS OF INTENT WITH RESPECT TO HOW THAT LAND IS USED HAS FRONT AND CENTER SUPERVISOR OBERG THE CATTLE GROWERS INTEREST THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THEIR CATTLE GRAZING RIGHTS IN SOME CASES BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH THE FOREST SERVICE ON THAT IS TO WORK WITH, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, CONSERVANCIES.

AND SO PLEASE DO COME TO ME, JODY, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR YEAH.

AND WHAT YOU DO MATTERS.

PROTECTING THE HEADWATERS OF THE VERDE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM.

AND THE PROJECTS YOU'VE DONE IN THE VERDE WITH THE HAUSER'S, AND THAT'S JUST SECURING LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD CONCEPT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

THANKS SO MUCH. OKAY.

WITH THAT, THERE'S NO MOTION YET.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT IF YOU'D LIKE.

OKAY. MOTION FROM SUPERVISOR SECOND AND A SECOND BY SUPERVISOR MICHAELS.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE DO HAVE ONE GREEN SHEET.

YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.

J. D GREENBERG DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT WHICH WISHES TO PROVIDE A COMMENT.

IT IS CRITICAL TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE RURAL NATURE OF THE AREA AND PRESERVE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

OKAY. WITH THAT, ANY FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AHEAD TO STUDY SESSION ONE WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, SENATOR BENNETT AND LEGISLATOR SELENA BLAIS.

[ STUDY SESSION]

IF YOU DON'T MIND STEPPING.

GOOD MORNING. ARE YOU READY RIGHT NOW? WE'RE READY. OKAY.

WELL, YOU'VE GOT THE TWO FRESHMEN OF OUR THREESOME.

REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING ONE.

AND I THINK STAFF IS GOING TO GET.

A LITTLE TABLE BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, I'M PRONE TO.

VISUAL AIDS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO EXPLAIN THE STATE BUDGET.

LET'S TURN IT THE OTHER WAY, GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

WELL, THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO REPRESENT SO MANY JOINT CONSTITUENTS AS YOU DO, BECAUSE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ONE IS ALMOST EXACTLY YAVAPAI COUNTY'S BOUNDARIES.

THEY PULLED IN THE PORTIONS OF OAK CREEK VILLAGE IN SEDONA THAT ARE IN COCONINO, AND WE LOST A LITTLE BIT OUT OF WICKENBURG.

BUT LD1 AND YAVAPAI COUNTY ARE ABOUT EXACTLY THE SAME.

SO IT'S IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO, AS YOU ENJOY BEING ASKED BY THE VOTERS OF OF OUR COUNTY AND DISTRICT TO REPRESENT THEM.

I'M KEN BENNETT AND FIND MYSELF BACK IN THE LEGISLATURE AFTER BEING THERE A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND AS I STARTED TO SAY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE DO, IN FACT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO EVERY YEAR IS THE STATE BUDGET.

AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET AND THEN WE'LL GIVE SOME TIME FOR SELENA TO TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS. AND THEN I THINK IT'S AGENDIZED AS A DISCUSSION, WHICH I APPRECIATE BECAUSE I'D LIKE IT TO BE VERY INTERACTIVE BETWEEN ALL OF US.

[01:10:01]

AND SO WE'LL JUST JUMP INTO HERE THE STATE BUDGET.

UM. THE CURRENT YEAR STATE BUDGET THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER IS ABOUT $22 BILLION.

THE BUDGET THAT WE ADOPTED FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH STARTS JULY 1ST, IS ABOUT $23 BILLION.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT NOT TOO MUCH CHANGE THERE.

YOU WILL HEAR AT TIMES THAT, WELL, I THOUGHT I THOUGHT I HEARD OR READ SOMEWHERE THAT THE STATE BUDGET WAS ABOUT 18 BILLION, 17.8 BILLION, TO BE PRECISE. THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THE STATE FUNDS.

THE STATE SPENDS MOST OF ITS MONEY OUT OF WHAT'S CALLED THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THERE ARE OTHER STATE FUNDS.

SO THE THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THAT $23 BILLION WAS ABOUT 18, JUST SHY OF 18 BILLION, AND THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN 5 BILLION OF OTHER STATE FUNDS.

BUT HERE'S WHERE IT GOES.

BY FAR THE LARGEST CHUNK OF THE 22 NOW, 23 BILLION GOES TO K 12 EDUCATION.

EACH ONE OF THESE WHITE LABELS ON THESE BLOCKS.

MY GRANDCHILDREN LIVE IN UTAH NOW, AND THEY LEFT THEIR BLOCKS AT HOME, SO I TOOK THEM OVER.

THE. LARGEST SINGLE CHUNK IN THE STATE BUDGET IS K-12 EDUCATION.

AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, IT'S EIGHT REPRESENTED HERE NEXT YEAR.

AS I SAID, THE TOTAL RAISED ABOUT ONE HALF OR ABOUT A BILLION FROM 22 TO 23 TOTAL.

ABOUT A HALF A BILLION OF THAT INCREASE HAPPENED IN K-12 EDUCATION.

SO NEXT YEAR'S 23 BILLION WILL BE ABOUT 8.5 BILLION TO K-12 EDUCATION.

THERE'S A LITTLE OVER 2 BILLION A YEAR THAT GOES TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

THEY GET ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $2 BILLION.

THE PRISON AND COURT SYSTEM.

WELL, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT LARGEST ONE.

HEALTH AND WELFARE IS THE SECOND LARGEST OF ANY SINGLE ITEM WITHIN THE STATE'S BUDGET.

AND THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, 5 BILLION.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT INCREASED BY ABOUT ONE HALF A BILLION.

SO NEXT YEAR IT'LL BE FIVE AND ONE HALF BILLION.

THIS 5 BILLION, THE LARGEST SINGLE CHUNK OF HEALTH AND WELFARE SPENDING THAT THE STATE DOES IS ACCESS ARIZONA HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT SYSTEM, THE STATE INDIGENT INDIGENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

BUT THIS $5 BILLION ALSO INCLUDES DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY.

OH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF AGENCIES THAT END UP IN THE CATEGORY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE.

TOTAL ABOUT $5.5 BILLION OF THE $23 BILLION THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE STATE'S BUDGET.

THERE'S ABOUT $2.5 BILLION OF THE 23 THAT GOES TO THE STATE PRISON AND COURT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SYSTEMS. BY FAR THE LARGEST CHUNK OF THIS 2.5 BILLION IS THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THAT RUNS THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM.

ABOUT SEVEN STATE PRISONS, 46 47,000 STATE PRISONERS OR PRISONERS IN THAT SYSTEM.

AND THEN THERE'S ABOUT $4 BILLION OF OTHER SPENDING.

LARGER CHUNKS OF THIS WOULD BE ABOUT $1 BILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION THAT HANDLES ALL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND AND RETIREMENT AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THERE'S ABOUT A BILLION OF THIS FOR THAT GOES TO TRANSPORTATION.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS.

A THIRD OF A BILLION TO WATER, 200 MILLION THIS YEAR WENT TO HOUSING AND HOMELESS VARIETY OF OTHERS, BUT ABOUT 4 BILLION TOTAL. SO THAT THAT'S THE STATE BUDGET RIGHT THERE.

AND NOW THE THE YELLOW, BLUE AND RED.

IF WE HAVE TIME, BUT I GUESS IT WILL.

THE YELLOW WAS THE STATE BUDGET 20 YEARS AGO.

IN THE CAMPAIGN THAT I WAS IN LAST YEAR, THERE WERE COMMENTS IN SOME OF THE TOWN HALLS AND THINGS ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE HAS BEEN. ADDING MORE MONEY OR IN ONE CASE IT WAS ALLEGED THAT WE'VE BEEN DEFUNDING EDUCATION FOR THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.

[01:15:02]

THAT WAS THE TOTAL STATE BUDGET IN 2003.

ABOUT $8 BILLION AGAIN, K 12, THE LARGEST 3 BILLION HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE LARGEST 2,000,000,000 BILLION TO HIGHER EDUCATION, A BILLION TO THE PRISON AND COURT SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS $1 BILLION.

THAT WAS THE STATE SPENDING IN 2003.

TEN YEARS LATER, 2013, IT HAD INCREASED TO.

BY NOT QUITE AS MUCH, BUT HEALTH AND WELFARE WAS NOW AT A THREE, THREE AND A THIRD HALF A BILLION AND OTHER AND A HALF A BILLION IN THE COURTS.

THAT WAS THE THAT WAS THE STATE SPENDING IN 2013, JUST TEN YEARS AGO.

NOW BETWEEN OH THREE AND 13 IS WHEN WE HAD THE RECESSION IN OH EIGHT AND NINE.

SO SPENDING INCREASED FOR A WHILE AND THEN HAD TO BE CUT BACK.

AND BY THE TIME IT RECOVERED, IT DIDN'T WASN'T THAT MUCH MORE THAN 2003.

AND THEN, AS I JUST EXPLAINED, TODAY, WE ARE AT 23, 22, 23 BILLION.

THE. BUDGET WAS DONE IN A VERY DIFFERENT MANNER THIS YEAR THAN.

EVER BEFORE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

UH, THE STATE HAD ABOUT $2.5 BILLION OF ONE TIME MONEY LEFT OVER FROM SOME FEDERAL FUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY HAD TO BE MONIES THAT COULD BE KIND OF GENERALLY SPENT BY THE STATE WHEREVER THEY WANTED, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF HOW THEY GOT IT WAS DONE.

THEY THEY, MEANING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATURE, DECIDED THIS YEAR THAT.

THEY WOULD KIND OF DIVVY THAT CHUNK OF ONE TIME MONEY UP INTO BUCKETS FOR EACH LEGISLATOR.

SO EACH REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR IN THE HOUSE GOT $20.

MILLION SENATOR GOT 30.

THEY SAVED A CHUNK FOR THE DEMOCRAT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE, AND THEY SAVED A CHUNK FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR AS FAR AS DOING THE BUDGET OR ANYTHING ELSE, IS THAT WE HAVE DIVIDED OR I CALL IT, SHARED GOVERNMENT.

UM, GOVERNOR HOBBS WON THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BY 17,000 VOTES.

SOME STILL DISPUTE THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHANGE TO THAT DECISION BY THE VOTERS.

I THINK OUR ELECTION SYSTEMS ARE VERY ACCURATE.

UM, I THINK WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY IN HELPING TO PROVE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE AS ACCURATE AS I THINK THEY ARE.

BUT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN QUITE SOME TIME THAT WE'VE HAD SHARED GOVERNMENT WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS CONTROLLED BY ONE PARTY AND THE AND A DIFFERENT PARTY IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND SO LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD.

WE SENT A BUDGET UP TO THE GOVERNOR IN EARLY FEBRUARY, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THE THINGS THAT SHE HAD ASKED FOR IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

AND SO IT WAS SUMMARILY VETOED.

AND I THINK SHE'S ALMOST VETOED TWICE AS MANY BILLS AS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF A GOVERNOR VETOING BILLS, WHICH WAS JANET NAPOLITANO IN 2000.

3 OR 4. SO NOW, IN ADDITION, JUST TO BE CLEAR.

IN ADDITION TO THE STATE SPENDING.

WHICH IS ABOUT 20 TO 23 BILLION.

THERE'S OVER 40 BILLION FOR ZERO $40 BILLION OF FEDERAL AND OTHER MONIES.

THAT ARE EXPENDED IN THESE DIFFERENT STATES, IN THESE AREAS OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN AND THEN THERE'S SOME LOCAL.

FUNDING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN K-12 EDUCATION.

IN ADDITION TO THE $8 BILLION THAT THE SCHOOLS.

RECEIVE IN STATE FUNDING.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE COLLECT AND SPEND ABOUT $4 BILLION OF LOCAL PROPERTY TAX MONEY.

THIS IS JUST THE 227 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THIS IS NOT THE 559 OR 1 OR SOMETHING.

CHARTER SCHOOLS. CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T GET PROPERTY TAX MONEY, BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO.

SO THE YELLOW, BLUE AND RED ARE STATE MONIES.

THE GREEN IS LOCAL PROPERTY TAX MONEY.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, THERE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT COME IN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN K 12 EDUCATION, ABOUT $4 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS COME INTO THE K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEM STATEWIDE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE 8 BILLION THAT WE SPEND FROM STATE MONIES OR NOW EIGHT AND A HALF.

THERE'S ANOTHER EIGHT OR TOTAL OF 16, $16.5 BILLION THAT GOES TO THE K 12 SCHOOL SYSTEM.

[01:20:01]

AND I RAN OUT OF BLOCKS.

I'M SORRY, BUT THERE'S ABOUT $6 BILLION OF FEDERAL AND OTHER FUNDS THAT COMES INTO HIGHER EDUCATION, BY FAR THE LARGEST CHUNK OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME INTO THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS IN HEALTH CARE.

IN ADDITION TO THE $5 BILLION WE SPEND OF STATE MONIES ON HEALTH AND WELFARE.

THERE'S 25.5, ALMOST 26 NOW BILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME IN IN HEALTH AND WELFARE.

SO IF.

IF I HAD ENOUGH BLOCKS TO REPRESENT IT, IT WOULD BE THIS MUCH OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND ANOTHER HALF OF THAT.

SO IN TOTAL, HEALTH AND WELFARE IS ABOUT $31 BILLION, FIVE FROM THE STATE, ABOUT 26 FROM THE FEDERAL.

THERE'S A HALF A BILLION THAT COMES INTO THIS PRISON AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND ABOUT 3 OR 4 OTHER BILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL AND OTHER MONIES THAT END UP IN OTHER CATEGORIES. SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU.

A FEELING FOR WHERE WE SPEND MONEY IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

IN ADDITION TO THE STATE MONIES.

AND REALLY WE SPEND A THIRD OF THE TOTAL MONEY WE SPEND, WHICH IS ABOUT 64 BILLION A YEAR.

A THIRD OF STATE FUNDS.

AND TWO THIRDS IS OTHER FUNDS, MOSTLY FEDERAL.

SO. I'LL STOP THERE AND LET SELENA.

SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DIALOG AND QUESTIONS, I HOPE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. BOARD OF SUPERVISOR CHAIRMAN GREGORY FOR HAVING US.

I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO HEARING THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, YOU HAD KAREN FANN AND THEN HOUSE MEMBER STEVE PEARCE.

AND I WAS LISTENING AND PAYING QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION, HOPING TO SOMEDAY SERVE IN THIS OFFICE.

AND WHAT AN HONOR IT'S BEEN.

AS A TRUE FRESHMAN LEGISLATOR.

REPRESENTATIVE QUANG NGUYEN SENDS HIS REGARDS.

HE'S DOWN AT THE CAPITOL COVERING FOR ME FOR SOME CRITICAL MEETINGS.

WE OFTEN DO COVER FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO HOUSE MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO YOUR ONE SENATOR, EVEN THOUGH THE 20 2356 LEGISLATIVE FIRST REGULAR SESSION IS NOT OVER YET, WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME IN AND GIVE OUR UPDATES BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON? THE BUDGET'S BEEN SIGNED, BILLS HAVE BEEN PASSED, SO WE THOUGHT IT'D BE A GOOD TIME TO COME IN.

SO I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AS WELL AS THE SENATE NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

AT THAT POINT, WE'RE GOING TO GET A PROJECTION OF WHAT THE REST OF THE SESSION LOOKS LIKE.

IT COULD INDEED GO ANOTHER COUPLE MONTHS.

SO BE PREPARED FOR A SESSION UNLIKE ANY YOU'VE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF ARIZONA SINCE THE 1960S.

SO WE LAST MET WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECEMBER 6TH, WHERE YOU GAVE US YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

AND WHILE WE COULDN'T ACHIEVE AS A TEAM AND I OFTEN CALL US A TEAM, WE'RE PRETTY TIGHT AND COORDINATED FROM LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ONE.

WE'RE KNOWN FOR THAT.

WE COULDN'T ACHIEVE EVERYTHING, BUT WE DID HAVE QUITE A FEW SUCCESSES.

MYSELF PERSONALLY AS A FRESHMAN, I INTRODUCED 28 BILLS, FOUR WERE SIGNED, AND I HAVE TWO VETOES.

I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE A VETO.

YOU HAVEN'T DONE THE HARD WORK DOWN THERE.

SO I STILL HAVE TWO LIVE BILLS, SO I'M WORKING TO GET THOSE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE NEXT MONDAY.

AS YOU HEARD SENATOR BENNET, WE ARE A SPLIT GOVERNMENT, BUT YOU LIKE TO CALL IT A SHARED GOVERNMENT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THE HARD WORK DONE.

I JUST WANTED TO REVIEW REALLY QUICK THOSE FOUR BILLS THAT I HAD INTRODUCED AND DID GET SIGNED INTO LAW, HOUSE BILL 2043 FOR PHYSICIANS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO EXPAND SUPERVISION AND COLLABORATION WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN PARTNERS.

HOUSE BILL 2042 SIGNED INTO LAW FOR ACUTE CARE SERVICES, A PILOT PROGRAM TO EXTEND HOME CARE SERVICES FOR THOSE THAT CAN BE CARED IN THEIR HOME VERSUS THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT.

HOUSE BILL 2055 PROHIBITING PROBATION WORK TIME CREDITS, ALLOWING A COURT TO REDUCE A PERSON'S PROBATION TIME FOR DAYS OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYMENT, AND HOUSE BILL 2041 SIGNED INTO LAW MENTAL HEALTH VOLUNTARY EVALUATIONS PAYMENT THAT MODIFIES THE COURT ORDERED PSYCH EVALUATION PROCESS.

AND AS YOU CAN RECALL IN OUR DECEMBER 6TH MEETING, THAT WAS A BILL GIVEN TO US BY OUR LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO THAT ONE WAS A JOY TO CHAMPION.

LET'S SEE, I HAD A NUMBER OF OTHER BILLS, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, YOU CAN SEE THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

REPRESENTATIVE QUANG NGUYEN.

HAD SIGNED IN HOUSE BILL 2168.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN. ASSISTANCE BILL.

HOUSE BILL 2194.

DRUG OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW TEAMS. HE GOT AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE ON THAT.

HOUSE BILL 2169, WHICH WAS A STRIKE EVERYTHING VEHICLE FOR THE CHILD SEX DOLL EXPLOITATION BILL, WHICH WAS VOTED ON UNANIMOUSLY

[01:25:05]

AND MADE IT THROUGH TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK IN RECORD TIME.

NOW, THE STRIKE, EVERYTHING.

HE HAD TO SACRIFICE THAT BILL.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINOR CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCING.

HE WILL BRING THAT BACK NEXT SESSION, BUT HE HAD TO SACRIFICE THAT FOR NOW.

HIS FINAL BILL WAS 2196 APPROPRIATIONS FOR $50 MILLION.

THAT WAS HELD IN THE SENATE.

IT MAY HAVE CLEARED NEGOTIATIONS FOR SUBSEQUENT DPS ALLOCATIONS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AND FOR MOST OF THAT WE WERE PRETTY MUCH JUST LEFT IN THE DARK.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A IDEA OF HOW MANY WAYS A BILL CAN DIE, I CHECKED YESTERDAY OF THE TOTAL OF 16 1671 BILLS INTRODUCED.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

NOT ONLY ARE THOSE BILLS, BUT MEMORIALS, MEMORIALS AND RESOLUTIONS.

OF THOSE 1600, 276 WERE SENT TO THE GOVERNORS.

SO 276 WHERE WE COULD AGREE IN COMMITTEE AND ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR TO SEND THESE TO THE GOVERNOR.

BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.

I'LL TELL YOU, SHE SIGNED 165 OF THOSE.

WE CURRENTLY ARE STANDING AT 106 VETOES, 106 VETOES.

SO IN ADDITION TO BILLS, WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE IN THIS JOB WAS HOW MUCH WORK THIS OFFICE NEEDS TO DO FOR ITS CONSTITUENTS.

EARLY ON, WE ALL THREE WERE INVOLVED WITH THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND THE YAVAPAI REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER NEGOTIATIONS.

I'M GLAD THAT TURNED OUT.

I JUST FELT IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF CROWN KING.

THEY HAVE SOME CHALLENGES IN THE OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE COMMUNITY AND TOURISM WHERE THERE INUNDATED WITH LITERALLY 2 TO 3000 VISITORS EVERY WEEKEND.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR CONGRESSMAN, ELI CRANE, ON THAT.

AND HIS OFFICE WAS OUT THERE TWO WEEKS LATER.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING SOME THINGS RESOLVED THERE.

I'VE MADE WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADOT, ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

HERE'S OUR CONTACT.

WE'RE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS, PRETTY MUCH COMMUNICATING EVERY DAY.

I BECAME KNOWN EARLY ON IN THE SESSION AS THE POTHOLE QUEEN.

I WAS ON A NEWS CHANNEL FOR I-40.

SOME OF THE RESIDENTS UP THERE WERE REPORTING SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.

SO WE ACCELERATED SOME OF THE WORK, WHETHER PENDING ON SOME OF THE POTHOLES AND ROAD REPAIRS.

BEING ON THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, I WORKED WITH THE CHAIR WHEN THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING TRIED TO SHUT DOWN PREMATURELY, ASPEN UNIVERSITY.

THAT WAS RESOLVED THAT INVOLVED SOME CONSTITUENTS HERE THAT NOTIFIED OUR OFFICES RIGHT AWAY.

SO I WAS GLAD WE COULD BE PART OF RESOLVING THAT.

I WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED AND THIS AFFECTS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT THAT SENIOR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS ARE EXPIRING.

THIS WILL AFFECT PRESCOTT, CHINO VALLEY AND COTTONWOOD.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING OUR OFFICE IS STEPPING UP TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

IT'S LOOKING LIKE A FEDERAL ISSUE.

HOWEVER, I WAS ALSO RECENTLY LAST WEEK MET WITH THE COURTS.

I WAS CALLED IN TO LOOK AT ADULT PROBATION COURT AND THOSE WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA LIVING AT HOME THAT LACKS SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE GETTING A STAKEHOLDER MEETING STARTING NEXT WEEK ON THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT INTO SOME POSSIBLE IMMEDIATE FIXES, BUT ALSO SOME LEGISLATION.

SO YOU CAN SEE AND HEAR WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON NEXT SESSION.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING LAST WEEK ON REPRESENTATIVE WYNN AND I WENT TO DPS TO STREAMLINE AND SPEAK WITH STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE CONCEALED CARRY WEAPONS CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

WE'RE HELPING TO STREAMLINE THAT.

CURRENTLY IT'S 108 DAYS ON AN AVERAGE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A TARGET OF GETTING THAT DOWN TO 4 TO 5 DAYS.

I'M PLEASED TO SEE THEY'RE GOING TO AN ONLINE SYSTEM WHICH WILL ALSO INVOLVE ONLINE FINGERPRINTING.

SO IT'S GOING TO SPEED THAT SYSTEM UP.

OTHER WORK ON ADDITION TO BILLS ARE GIVING THE TOOLS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS NEED, AS WELL AS HELPING TO NEGOTIATE WITH CONSTITUENT ISSUES. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE SEDONA CITY COUNCIL AND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE USE, ALL THREE OF US.

A LETTER WAS SENT LAST MONDAY AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF NEGOTIATIONS, AND I WAS WITH SUPERVISOR MICHAELS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON NORTHERN ARIZONA HEALTH CARE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH VERDE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER.

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE WE GOT AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR NEW CEO.

SO LET'S TALK BUDGET.

DO YOU ALL HAVE THAT 64 PAGE DOCUMENT I SENT EARLIER? YEAH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BRING THAT UP.

I KNOW THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING AT HOME CAN FOLLOW ALONG.

I'LL REFER TO SEVERAL PAGE NUMBERS.

AS YOU HEARD SENATOR BENNET, ROUGHLY IT WAS A 17.8.

BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

THAT PUTS IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

WE'RE VERY PLEASED.

THAT'S A 1.6% DECREASE.

THAT'S A DECREASE FROM THE LAST YEAR.

WE'RE ALSO VERY HAPPY TO REPORT NO NEW ONGOING SPENDING.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HEARD SENATOR BENNET REPORT THIS UNHEARD OF, UNPRECEDENTED ONE.

[01:30:02]

ORIGINALLY IT WAS 1.8 BILLION LATER IT BECAME 2.2 BILLION ONE TIME SPENDING.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP HERE AS WELL AS THE MAYORS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT KEPT OUR ECONOMY GOING.

THAT'S THE REASON WE CAME OUT OF THIS COVID SHUTDOWN SO WELL ECONOMICALLY BECAUSE WE KEPT OUR ECONOMIES GOING.

AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE THE ONE TIME SPENDING.

SO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS TOLD US IN APPROPRIATIONS, KWANG AND I REPRESENTATIVE WYNN, I'M SORRY, WE BOTH SIT ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

THEIR PROJECTIONS ARE DUE TO INFLATION, THAT WE WILL NOT EVEN SEE HALF OF THAT ONE TIME SPENDING.

AND IN YEAR THREE, WE SHOULD BE AT THE ZERO MARK.

WE ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE LESS OF AN EXCESS.

WE NEED TO RIGHT SIZE THE BUDGET AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THROUGH THE DECREASE IN INCOME TAX CUT DONE BY THE LAST SESSION.

ALL RIGHT. SO SOME SUCCESSES.

WE, AS SENATOR BENNETT MENTIONED, PRESERVED OUR MAJORITY PARTY PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGET, SUCH AS PRESERVING THE BORDER STRIKE FORCE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO DEFUND THAT.

WE PROTECTED OUR PARENT CHOICE THROUGH THE USE OF EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO LEAVE POLICY PRETTY MUCH OUT OF THE BUDGET.

IT WAS BIPARTISAN. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I HEAR THE MOST QUESTIONS ABOUT FROM OUR ELECTED LEADERS ARE HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT THAT ONE TIME SPENDING? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, IT WASN'T EASY.

AND THIS IS HOW IT STARTED BEING, HAVING EXPERIENCED THAT.

SO BEFORE WE HAD FIGURED OUT OUR BUCKETS AND I LIKE THAT WORD, WE WERE EACH GIVEN A BUCKET TO CARRY TO 20 MILLION FOR EACH HOUSE MEMBER, 30 FOR THE EACH SENATE MEMBER.

WHAT WE NEEDED TO PRIORITIZE BEFORE PRIORITIZING.

WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE RAINY DAY FUND WAS IN FACT ADEQUATE.

SO IT'S CURRENTLY FUNDED AT 1.4 BILLION AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE RAINY DAY FUND IS LIMITED.

IT'S CAPPED AT 10% OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

SO THAT WAS GOOD TO KNOW.

THEORETICALLY, WE COULD FUND THE RAINY DAY FUND UP TO 1.5 BILLION, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT'S 90% FUNDED.

SOMETHING WE AGREED TO ON THE HOUSE SIDE IS WE WANTED TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO HARDWORKING FAMILIES.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE TAX REBATE.

IT'S CALLED THE ARIZONA FAMILY TAX REBATE.

THIS IS 10% OF ONE TIME SPENDING OF THE BUDGET'S GOING TO GO BACK TO FAMILIES THIS FALL ONCE WE GET OUT OF SESSION.

AS YOU KNOW, ONCE WE'RE OUT OF SESSION, IT TAKES 90 DAYS FOR A LAW TO INSTITUTE.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE BUDGET.

SO WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET OUT AND THEN COUNT 90 DAYS LATER.

WE REALLY WANT IT TO BE THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S ABOUT $260 MILLION.

NOW, THE ORIGINAL TALK WAS TO GIVE IT TO EVERY ARIZONA TAXPAYER.

WHEN WE DID THE MATH, THAT REBATE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $25 A HEAD.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS LIMITED TO FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN THAT HAVE A TAX LIABILITY.

THE OTHER THING THAT WAS CRITICAL, SEE THIS COMPUTER BELOW ME MOVING.

THE OTHER THING WAS THAT WE SOMETHING I LEARNED BY CHAIRING THE SUB APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY WAS WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE EARLY FOUR DAYS AFTER HER SESSION STARTED THAT THESE ARE HER WORDS.

SHE WANTED TO SUSPEND AND DECELERATE THE WIDENING OF I-17.

WE HAVE THAT IN WRITING.

SO WE HAD TO TAKE THAT BACK TO HER STAFF AND POINT OUT IT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL TO REAPPROPRIATE MONIES ALREADY APPROPRIATED BY THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATURE.

SO IT TOOK US ABOUT FOUR WEEKS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PRESERVE THE I-17 WIDENING PROJECT.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES IN THIS DISTRICT, LOOKING AT BOTH EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH, WE SAW THAT AS EXTREMELY CRITICAL, BOTH WYNNE AND I FOR THIS DISTRICT.

ALL RIGHT. SO TO COORDINATE, BECAUSE I MENTIONED WE'RE A TEAM.

WE MET EARLY ON WHEN WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THE ONE TIME SPENDING BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AMONGST US THREE, WE WEREN'T ASKING TWICE FOR THE SAME THING OR OMITTING SOMETHING.

SO WHAT WE FIGURED TOGETHER IS WE HAD TO FIRST NEGOTIATE WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS ACROSS DISTRICTS.

YOU'LL SEE EXAMPLES WHEN I GO THROUGH LINE ITEMS OF WHAT WAS FUNDED IN OUR DISTRICT BY OTHER MEMBERS, AND THEN WE AS WELL TO RECIPROCATE.

THEN AS YOUR LD ONE TEAM, WE HAD TO CONSIDER BOTH SIDES OF THE COUNTY THE GEOGRAPHY TO MAKE SURE WE WERE EQUATING BOTH THE EAST, WEST, NORTH AND SOUTH.

WE LOOKED AT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

ARE WE PRIORITIZING STATE, COUNTY, CITIES, TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES? AND THEN BETWEEN THE THREE OF US, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A BUNCH OF.

CATEGORIES COVERED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE ABLE TO COVER AND FUND TRANSPORTATION.

THE CATEGORY OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE CATEGORY OF EDUCATION.

CATEGORY OF HEALTH CARE.

CATEGORY OF TOURISM.

AND THE CATEGORY OF WATER.

[01:35:02]

ALL RIGHT. SO THE QUESTION I'M HEARING IS FROM ELECTED LEADERS HERE AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS WE WANT A LIST OF THE PROJECTS FOR THE FUNDING ALLOCATED IN THIS BUDGET YEAR. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE REQUESTED, BUT NOT 100% WAS FUNDED.

AGAIN, NEGOTIATIONS.

ONCE WE PUT IN OUR PRIORITIES, WE ASKED FOR THE MOON.

WE GOT A LOT OF IT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT THE NEGOTIATIONS OCCURRED BETWEEN GOVERNOR HOBBS, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THAT WAS IT. IT WAS CLOSED DOOR.

IT WENT ON FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS.

WE HEARD THEY WERE MEETING 3 TO 4 DAYS A WEEK.

WE WERE TOTALLY KEPT IN THE DARK.

EVEN OUR APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE PART OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

AND I KEPT SAYING TO CHAIRMAN LIVINGSTON, IS THIS HOW THEY DO A BUDGET? AND I KEPT SAYING TO THE WHIP, IS THIS HOW THEY DO A BUDGET? AND THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS THE SAME.

THEY WOULD LOOK AT ME AND GO, NO, WE'VE NEVER DONE IT THIS WAY BEFORE.

SO FOR WHAT IT IS, MY BUCKET STARTED WITH DEL RIO SPRINGS.

THE ASK WAS 10 MILLION.

I WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDED FROM MY BUCKET.

7 MILLION.

LET'S THANK SENATOR KERR, WHO SPONSORED THIS AND CHAMPIONED THIS AS A BILL.

SHE CONTRIBUTED 1 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THIS LETTER FROM THE YAVAPAI COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ALL FIVE OF YOU, WE PUT THIS AT THE TOP OF MY BUCKET BECAUSE WE RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS, SEVERAL FROM SUPERVISOR BROWN'S OFFICE, ONE MENTIONING YOUR ROLE ON THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF THE GREATER CHINO VALLEY COLLABORATION.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT INPUT INTO THIS PROJECT.

AND WE SAW THE LONG LIST OF THE OTHER SUPPORTERS IN THIS PROJECT.

THE SECOND ITEM IN MY BUCKET IS SEARCH AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT.

OH, I'M SORRY, I WAS GOING TO REFER YOU TO PAGE NUMBERS SO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE CAN FOLLOW ALONG AND CHECK MARKS.

SO FOR THE DEL RIO SPRINGS, THAT'S PAGE EIGHT, ITEM 284.

IF YOU SCROLL DOWN AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, BUT IT'S LISTED ON PAGE EIGHT, ITEM 284, AND THEN IT'S ALSO CROSS LISTED BY AGENCY ON PAGE 24, ITEM 490, EACH ONE OF THESE ITEMS IS CROSS LISTED.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TWO PAGE NUMBERS, TWO LINE ITEM NUMBERS.

AND I KNOW THERE'S FOLKS OUT THERE CHECKING THINGS OFF SEEING THAT THE MATH ADDS UP.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE SEARCH AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT FUND, I WORKED WITH THE PREVIOUS SHERIFF MASHER WHEN I WAS A CANDIDATE ON THIS ONE, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT SHERIFF'S SHERIFF.

LAMB AND SHERIFF RHODES WERE KIND ENOUGH TO COME DOWN AND TESTIFY IN COMMITTEE.

THE ASK FROM MY BUCKET WAS 2 MILLION THAT DID GET FUNDED.

SOMEONE UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, I HOPE TO FIND OUT FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT PUT IN A HALF MILLION.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT.

APPRECIATED THAT I'LL FIND OUT SOMEDAY AND THANK THEM.

NOW. THIS IS STATEWIDE, SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TURN TO PAGE 58 ON THIS DOCUMENT AND GO DOWN TO FOOTNOTE NUMBER 111, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THE ALLOCATION FOR EACH COUNTY IS BASED ON THE MISSION NUMBERS.

BUT THE ORIGINAL IS LINE ITEM PAGE SIX, ITEM 2 TO 3, AND PAGE 20, ITEM 350.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER THREE IN MY BUCKET, THE GLASS FOR DELLS REGIONAL PARK AT 3.5 MILLION.

AND THIS CAME AS A REQUEST FROM AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FROM THE CITY OF PRESCOTT, CITY OF PRESCOTT VALLEY, AS WELL AS YAVAPAI COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND MULTIPLE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS IS LISTED ON LINE ITEM PAGE SEVEN OF ITEM 240, PAGE 21, CROSS LISTED ITEM 364 AND YOU'LL SEE A FOOTNOTE, PAGE 58.

NUMBER 109.

MY OTHER REQUEST UNDER THE CATEGORY OF TOURISM IN MY BUCKET, THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS RODEO GROUNDS.

OUT OF MY BUCKET CAME 8.5 MILLION TOWARD THE 15.3 MILLION TOTAL.

THE REMAINING 6.8 FROM REPRESENTATIVE WINS BUCKET.

YOU CAN SEE THAT LISTED ON PAGE SIX, ITEM 2 TO 6, AND ON PAGE 21 353 OTHER ITEMS IN MY BUCKET THAT WENT FORWARD FOR FUNDING REQUESTS WAS STATE ROUTE 89 WIDENING PLUS A ROUNDABOUT.

WE REQUESTED 18.4 MILLION THROUGH HOUSE AND WE DID THIS TWO WAYS.

WE WEREN'T SURE HOW THESE WERE GOING TO BE NEGOTIATED, SO SOME WENT AS INDIVIDUAL BILLS.

MINE WAS HOUSE BILL 2097.

IT WAS ALSO PART OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL PACKAGE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS OUR TACK THAT EVENTUALLY WAS TAKEN OUT OR NOT NEGOTIATED IN.

AGAIN, WE WERE IN THE DARK WHEN WE GOT THIS BUDGET ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

WE WE WERE TOLD IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT, THEN YOUR LINE ITEMS WILL BE CROSSED OFF.

SO WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, NEXT DAY WE'RE VOTING ON IT.

AND THEN THE THURSDAY IT WAS MADE PUBLIC.

SO NEXT THING I ASKED FOR UNDER MY BUCKET WAS HOUSE BILL.

YES, THAT ONE VERY ITEM.

[01:40:02]

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE MONEY FOR THE 89 NORTH PROJECT GOING OUT OF CHINO VALLEY, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO IT THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR. YES.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE WERE NOT PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS.

AND EVERY TIME I WENT TO CHAIRMAN LIVINGSTON, MY APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR ON THE HOUSE SIDE, HE SAID HE WASN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO KNOW HOW THE 300 MILLION PLUS ITEMS PRIORITIZED IN THE PACKAGE WERE BEING PROCESSED.

I ALSO CONSULTED WITH REPRESENTATIVE DUNN, WHO AND REPRESENTATIVE COOK, CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPORTATION, TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE WEREN'T TOLD.

IT'S AGAIN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

MY OTHER REQUEST WAS HOUSE BILL 2333.

THAT'S AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE COORDINATED REENTRY PLANNING PROGRAM BROUGHT TO US BY SHERIFF RHOADES.

YOU KNOW IT. SOME KNOW IT AS THE REACH OUT PROGRAM.

WE ASKED FOR 10 MILLION ON THAT TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION FOR COORDINATION REENTRY SERVICES.

THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US BY SHERIFF LAMB, AS WELL AS SHERIFF RHOADES.

IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM TO REDUCE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR THOSE BOOKED INTO COUNTY JAILS.

AND IT REDUCES RECIDIVISM.

SO WE HAVE DATA ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, I GOT TO BACK UP. IT'S INTERESTING.

THE BILLS YOU CHAMPION ARE BASED ON YOUR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR REP ONE AND I WAS JUDICIARY AND MY OTHER BILLS.

SINCE I SIT ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IT TENDS TO AS A LEGISLATOR YOU TEND TO CHAMPION THAT THAT YOU SIT ON THAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO GET THOSE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. WHEN YOU LOOK ON GOV, YOU CAN SEE MY LIST OF 28 BILLS DO COVER.

I HAVE ONE ON ELECTIONS, ONE ON WATER, PRETTY MUCH ONE IN EVERY CATEGORY.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE THAT GOT ACROSS THE MARK TENDED TO BE THE ONES OUT OF OUR COMMITTEES.

I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS ONE DID NOT GET FUNDED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

HOWEVER, I'M NOT GIVING UP.

REPRESENTATIVE WYNN AND I ARE MEETING WITH THE LEADERSHIP ON THE OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDS, WHICH ARE $40 MILLION PLUS A YEAR FOR 18 YEARS, WHICH JUST BLOWS MY MIND.

THAT'S THE MONEY AWARDED TO THE STATE TO SPEND ON PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. IT'S GOT TO DEFINE LIST OF THINGS WE CAN FUND.

I TRULY BELIEVE BY THE CRITERIA WE CAN STILL GET THIS PROGRAM FUNDED.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT.

THE OTHER PIECE I REQUESTED IN MY BUCKET AND I HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON THIS BILL WAS THE OB GYN ON CALL SERVICES.

THIS IS ON PAGE THREE, PAGE 87.

THIS WAS A 7.5 MILLION ASK.

IT WAS AT THE END OF THE DAY FUNDED FROM OTHER MEMBERS BUCKETS.

SO WE HAVE SENATOR EVA BURCH TO THANK ON THIS ONE.

SHE'S A NURSE ON THE SENATE SIDE.

AND HERE'S WHERE I WORKED ORIGINALLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE, IT WAS A MIRROR BILL WITH THE SPONSOR.

WE AMENDED IT TO TARGET RURAL ARIZONA BECAUSE THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVE WAS FUNDING A COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC IN FLAGSTAFF.

AND I SAID, WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S NEXT TO MY DISTRICT.

THEY HAVE A LABOR AND DELIVERY SERVICES A STONE'S THROW FROM THEIR COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC.

WHY DO WE NEED TO FUND SOMETHING IN AN URBAN AREA? SO WE AMENDED THAT.

I'M WORKING WITH SUPERVISOR MICHAELS TO AND CHAIRMAN GREGORY ON SEEING IF WE CAN GET VERDE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER'S A COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC INVOLVED IN THAT. WE ALSO WORKED WITH LAKE HAVASU REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, WHO HAD TO SHUT DOWN OB SERVICES AND FLY OUT PREGNANT AND LABORING WOMEN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE OBSTETRICIANS FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT LINE ITEM ON PAGE THREE, NUMBER 87.

YOU CAN READ PAGE 52, NUMBER 29 IN THE FOOTNOTE.

ALSO, WHAT I REQUESTED AS A BILL HOUSE BILL 2053, THAT'S APPROPRIATIONS FOR NURSE HOME VISITATION PROGRAM.

YOU'LL SEE THAT ON PAGE FIVE, NUMBER 182 THAT ENDED UP BEING FUNDED BY OTHER MEMBERS AT 2.5 MILLION.

THE OTHER PIECE I PROPOSED WAS THE SUPERIOR COURT FUNDING FOR A NEW JUDGE, NOT ONLY IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, BUT YUMA COUNTY.

WHAT I LEARNED WAS THE DUE TO THE CENSUS.

YEAH. YUMA GOT A ADDITIONAL SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE YAVAPAI COUNTY DID THIS YEAR, BUT IT WASN'T FUNDED.

IT HAD TO BE ASKED.

SO BEFORE WE COULD AGAIN GET OUR PRIORITIES, WE HAD TO VERIFY CERTAIN THINGS WERE GOING FORWARD IN THE BUDGET.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WAS FUNDED ON PAGE TWO, ITEM 43 AND 44.

WHAT DID NOT GET FUNDED? AND IT BREAKS MY HEART BECAUSE WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES OUR INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES, SEVERAL IN PRESCOTT PRESCOTT VALLEY.

I PERSONALLY TOURED THESE COMMUNITIES.

THEY WERE NOT FUNDED FOR THEY WERE DEFUNDED.

ACTUALLY, THEY RECEIVED 700,000 LESS FOR PROVIDER COSTS.

SO I PROMISED EVERY ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT EMAILED ME.

I WILL FIND OUT WHY OUR GOVERNOR, WHO IS A SOCIAL WORKER BY BACKGROUND, HOW THAT GOT NEGOTIATED OUT.

[01:45:06]

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'LL SHARE THAT WITH ME TO MEET THE GOVERNOR.

KWONG'S BUCKET.

SO WHEN NUMBER ONE WAS THE GLASFORD HILL ROAD WIDENING IN PRESCOTT VALLEY, 9.9 MILLION.

YOU CAN SEE THAT LINE ITEM ON PAGE EIGHT.

ITEM 291, CROSS REFERENCE PAGE 24, ITEM 508.

ALSO 800,000 TO COPPER CANYON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN GREGORY FOR POINTING OUT THIS EMERGENT NEED.

YOU'LL SEE THAT LISTED ON PAGE SEVEN.

ITEM 233.

PAGE 21, ITEM THREE, FIVE NINE, AND THEN DPS, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOURS, I BELIEVE YOU AND WYNNE SHARED THIS ONE FOR LAND MOBILE RADIOS.

THE TOTAL ASK WAS 41.1 MILLION REP WYNNE WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDED FROM HIS BUCKET 2.5 MILLION.

YOU'LL SEE THAT ON PAGE SIX.

ITEM 211, PAGE 20, ITEM 320.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS RODEO, HIS OUT OF HIS BUCKET, 6.8 MILLION.

AND THE NUMBERS I ALREADY GAVE AS FAR AS PAGE NUMBERS, REP WYNNE WANTED TO ALSO SHARE WHAT HE'S DONE SINCE HE'S OUR SENIOR LEGISLATOR HERE.

HE WANTED TO POINT OUT LAST LEGISLATIVE YEAR HE WAS ABLE TO, IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF NEGOTIATION PROCESS, BRING BACK TO THIS COUNTY 10 MILLION FOR HIGHWAY 97 TO THE BAGDAD MINE, 1.6 MILLION FOR HIGHWAY ONE 6969 INTERCHANGE 3.5 MILLION TO HIGHWAY 8989, A INTERCHANGE STUDY AND DESIGN, WHICH I SEE THE SIGNS GOING UP.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GET STARTED ON THAT SOON.

2.4 MILLION TO US VETS FOR HOMELESS VETERAN PERMANENT HOUSING AND 1 MILLION TO THE EMBRY-RIDDLE FLIGHT LINE EXTENSION.

AND IN 21 HIS FRESHMAN YEAR, HE BROUGHT IN TO THIS COUNTY 4.6 MILLION FOR THE REPAVING OF HIGHWAY 69.

YOU KNOW, I JUST DROVE UP FROM THE CAPITAL THIS MORNING.

NOW THAT HIGHWAY 69 IS SMOOTH, PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE STOPLIGHTS.

IT'S INTERESTING, BUT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING ALONG NICELY.

AND HE ALSO BROUGHT IN 11 MILLION FOR AGRICULTURE.

THAT'S HE HAS A BREAKDOWN ON THAT.

DO YOU WANT TO LIST YOUR BUCKET SINCE WE'RE ON THAT SUBJECT? I WAS ABLE TO GET 10 MILLION FOR K-12 ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION GRANTS WITH THE 550 SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS AND 200 PLUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THINGS JUST CHANGING FROM THE OLD YELLOW SCHOOL BUS FOR WAS THE WAY THAT WE TRANSPORTED K-12 STUDENTS AROUND.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND EVEN DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMING UP WITH SOME VERY CREATIVE WAYS OF DOING TRANSPORTATION DIFFERENT AND SAVING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND DOING SO WAS ABLE TO GET 6.3 MILLION FOR THE CLARKDALE BITTER CREEK BRIDGE PROJECT, 5 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY TO HELP STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE ALIGN THEIR CLASSES AND COURSES WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE OR CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS OR WHATEVER.

ABOUT $2.5 MILLION ON ELECTION IMPROVEMENTS, ABOUT $800,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, 300,000 FOR SOME CAPITAL NEEDS IN THE SKULL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ANOTHER 250,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION FORMULA.

SO MINE HAD, I THINK IT WAS JUST SHY OF $30 MILLION.

BUT EDUCATION, THE BRIDGE MORE 5 MILLION EDUCATION.

OH SKIPPED OVER 5 MILLION FOR THE UNIVERSITIES BASED ON THEIR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.

TWO AND A HALF FOR ELECTIONS, ABOUT A MILLION FOR DPS AND THEN SKULL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO YOU COULD SEE AGAIN, NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE TO LOOK ACROSS DISTRICTS TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR OTHER MEMBERS, WE HAD TO CONSIDER BOTH SIDES OF THE COUNTY.

THIS IS AN 8000 SQUARE MILE COUNTY.

WE HAD TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE COUNTY, TOWNS, THE STATE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT MOST CERTAINLY OUR DISTRICT.

AND THEN THE CATEGORIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE COVERING A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES.

SO I HAVE TO SAY, AS A FRESHMAN, I GO AROUND, I'M USING THAT FIRST TIME PERSON CARD AS A LEGISLATOR, AND I ASK LEADERSHIP, ARE WE GOING TO DO IT THIS WAY AGAIN NEXT YEAR? AND THEY LOOK AT ME AND GO, PROBABLY NOT.

ONE OF THE ERRORS IN THIS MODEL IS THAT INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS GOT FUNDED, BUT SOME BIG PICTURE ITEMS GOT LEFT ON THE TABLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, CHAIRMAN LIVINGSTON HAD A BILL FOR $300 MILLION TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT THAT WAS LEFT ON THE TABLE ON NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE

[01:50:01]

AGAIN, WE WERE LEFT IN THE DARK.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WHAT HAPPENED? SOMEDAY MAYBE THEY'LL PUBLISH A BOOK.

BUT I WANT TO SAY TO THIS BOARD AND THOSE MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS AND CITY AND CONSTITUENTS THAT REACHED OUT TO SHARE AND SUPPORT US, THIS IS AGAIN BEEN AN HONOR SERVING.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND CHAMPIONING PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE.

SOME OF THOSE THAT DIDN'T SUCCEED, WE CAN TRY AGAIN.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF, BUT JUST KNOW WE'RE HERE WORKING TOGETHER AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.

AND WITH THAT, LET'S OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.

OR COMMENTS. OKAY.

WE'LL START OFF WITH SUPERVISOR BROWN.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND YOU DID BRING A LOT OF THINGS TO US THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

AND I WANT TO THANK ALSO OUR, YOU KNOW, HARRY AND DONNA FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON BILLS THAT WERE GOING THROUGH ALL THE TIME.

I KNOW I WAS ALWAYS BUGGING ABOUT THIS AND THAT OR SAYING, YAY, WE GOT THROUGH THIS HURDLE OR NOT.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY HOW THE FACT THAT WE SEEM TO GET A LOT OF PROJECTS AUTHORIZED THROUGH THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND VERY QUICKLY AND WITH A LARGE MARGIN OF SUPPORT UNTIL ONE BILL HAPPENED ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THURSDAY MORNING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE THAT HAD BEEN GLIDING THROUGH THAT WAS A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT FOR 89 NORTH OUT OF CHINO VALLEY.

AND THE ROUNDABOUT THERE ALL OF A SUDDEN DISAPPEARED AND WASN'T THERE ANYMORE.

AND THE QUESTION WAS, IS HOW DID THAT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT? AND THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THE SAME PROJECT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED.

WHAT IS GOING ON OR WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PROJECT THAT APPARENTLY NOBODY WANTS TO BUY INTO? THIS IS A TOWN PROJECT WITH COUNTY PARTICIPATION AND WITH DOT, YOU KNOW, ALREADY ALREADY HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY.

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT. SO THAT DISAPPEARS.

SECOND QUESTION AS FROM SIMPLE.

THAT'S QUESTION WE WOULD LIKE ANSWERED.

THE OTHER ONE IS, IS HOW AND WHERE DID THE RODEO GROUNDS POP UP? NOBODY HAD SEEN THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE FULL, WHAT, SIX MONTHS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, THAT WAS NEVER A BILL THAT ANYBODY WAS FAMILIAR WITH.

AND CERTAINLY I DON'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS WERE UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE ALL ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY DECIDED $15 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY WAS GOING TO GO TO A FIVE AND THREE PRIVATE ENTITY.

WHO WAS THAT? AND NOT THE CITY OF PRESCOTT, NOR THE COUNTY OF YAVAPAI WERE INFORMED OR ASKED ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT. THOSE TWO ARE FOR THE HOUSE SIDE.

SO THE STATE ROUTE 89 WIDENING AGAIN.

WE HAD TWO APPROACHES BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE WERE THEY GOING TO TAKE THE OUR TECH PACKAGE, WHICH SIMPLY IS PART OF.

KEEP IN MIND, THIS COUNTY HAS TWO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE NACO, AND THAT'S WHERE THE BITTER CREEK BRIDGE CAME FROM.

AND WE BOTH WORKED ON THAT ON MIRROR BILLS.

SO NOT KNOWING BACK IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY HOW THESE WERE GOING TO POP OUT ON THE OTHER END.

WE ATTACKED THEM MULTIPLE WAYS BY BILLS, MIRROR BILLS, THE TECH PACKAGE AND HIGHWAY 89 CASE, HOUSE BILL 2097. WE JUST PUT EVERYTHING IN AND THIS IS WHAT WE GOT BACK AGAIN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE DECISION.

WE'LL TAKE THIS, BUT NOT THAT I WASN'T PRIVY TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND WHEN I APPROACHED OUR HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR, HE SAYS HE'S NOT PRIVY TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS EITHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, HOW SOME THINGS GOT CHOSEN, HOW SOME THINGS DIDN'T.

AS FAR AS THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS RODEO THAT CAME UNDER THE CATEGORY OF TOURISM.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS ONE BACK IN EARLY IN THE SESSION, WE LOOKED AT WHAT WILL GIVE THE MOST IMPACT, ECONOMIC IMPACT, NOT ONLY TO PRESCOTT AND THE HISTORICAL VALUE AND THE TOURISM MONIES THAT WE BRING IN, BUT WILL ALSO FEED THAT HIGHWAY 69 CORRIDOR.

WHAT WILL HELP DO WE HUMBLE? WHAT WILL HELP MORTIMER'S FARM AS PEOPLE DRIVE THROUGH AND GET THEIR GAS AND STOP AND BUY THEIR SNACKS AND RAISE THAT INCOME THROUGH PRESCOTT VALLEY, THROUGH HOTELS AND TOURISM.

AND THIS WAS THE BEST THING WE SAW AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

WE ALSO SAW THAT STAKEHOLDERS WERE INVOLVED.

WHEN WE SAW THE MASTER PLAN, WE WERE QUITE IMPRESSED.

SO WE'RE LIKE, YEAH, LET'S PUT THAT ONE IN.

AND IT POPPED OUT. SO WE'RE PLEASED ON THAT, THAT BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS PIECE OF HISTORY.

WELL, IT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION I HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED.

WHO DID YOU GUYS TALK TO IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY THAT HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PARTICULAR BILL? ANYBODY? WELL, IT WAS MR. CHAIR AND SUPERVISOR.

[01:55:01]

NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS EVER A BILL.

MY ONLY INVOLVEMENT WAS THAT I WAS INVITED TO A MEETING BY REPRESENTATIVE WHEN IT HAPPENED OVER AT.

DAVID MARTINS. WHAT IS IT? GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE RODEO ASSOCIATION OR ORGANIZATION OR WHATEVER WERE THERE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.

SEVERAL OTHER LEGISLATORS.

LEGISLATORS WERE PRESENT AND IT WAS EXPLAINED AS A.

A REQUEST KIND OF UNDER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR TOURISM SIDE.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE THE MASTER PLAN, THAT PACKET THAT MAYBE ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN.

I HOPE I'VE SEEN THE MASTER PLAN AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S A VERY NICE PLAN.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT WAS THE ONLY MEETING I WAS IN.

BUT THE QUESTION IS, SUPERVISOR BROWN, THE CITY OF PRESCOTT OWNS THE LAND.

RIGHT. AND WHEN WERE THEY GOING TO BE CONSULTED? I PERSONALLY ASSUMED THAT IF THE RODEO ASSOCIATION WAS TALKING TO US ABOUT A MASTER PLAN, THAT THAT MASTER PLAN HAD BEEN SHARED WITH THE CITY.

AND I THINK IT HAD.

BUT THE SPECIFIC ACT OF REQUESTING $15 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET APPARENTLY WAS NOT SHARED BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY. AND SO I, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THAT HAPPENED THAT WAY.

BUT I THINK THE THE IMPRESSION I GOT SITTING IN THAT MEETING AND THAT'S THE ONLY MEETING THAT I WAS PART OF, WAS THAT HERE WAS THIS NICE MASTER PLAN.

IT HAD BEEN SHARED WITH THE CITY AND WE WERE BEING ASKED TO SEE IF WE COULD GET SOME MONEY INTO THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE RODEO.

AND AND THAT'S AND IT ULTIMATELY DID.

AND ON YOUR FIRST QUESTION ON THE CHINO NORTH 89, I THINK I REMEMBER SEEING THAT AS PART OF THE THERE WAS A BILL THAT OUR TAC HAD RUN FOR 330 SOME MILLION DOLLARS, INCLUDING LOTS OF PROJECTS THAT THE CLARKDALE BRIDGE, I THINK WAS ON THERE.

GLASSFORD HILL MAY HAVE BEEN AS WELL, AND I WAS NOT IN THE MEETING MEETINGS BETWEEN THE SPEAKER OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE GOVERNOR AS TO WHICH ONE OF THOSE SURVIVED OR DID NOT.

AND SO.

YOU KNOW, I HAD THE BENEFIT 15 YEARS AGO OF BEING IN THOSE MEETINGS WITH GOVERNOR NAPOLITANO WHEN I WAS SENATE PRESIDENT.

BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT CURRENTLY.

YEAH. SUPERVISOR BROWN, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AGAIN, THE THE ENTITY WE WORKED WITH, ROBIN AND I BEFORE WE HAD THE STAKEHOLDER MEETING WITH THE OTHER SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS TO LOOK ACROSS DISTRICT SUPPORT WAS OUR MEETING WAS WITH THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS RODEO ASSOCIATION.

AND WHEN WE SAW THE PLAN AND WE SAW THE STAKEHOLDER INPUT AND INDEED IT INVOLVED SEVERAL CITY ENTITIES.

I HAVE A COPY IN THE CAR IF YOU WANT ME TO GET IT, BUT I THINK BY NOW EVERYONE HAS HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO SEE IT.

WE REALIZED AT THAT POINT NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND HOW WE COULD SPREAD THAT THROUGH THE QUAD CITY AREA, BUT THAT STAKEHOLDERS WERE INVOLVED.

WE DID GO BACK TO OUR SENIOR POLICY ADVISORS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS ON THE UP AND UP AND LEGAL AND THEY ASSURED US IT WAS AND WENT FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND THEN I GOT A QUESTION.

JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING TRANSPARENT AND COMING FROM US TODAY.

WE APPRECIATE IT. AND THE COMMUNICATIONS WE'VE HAD, IT'S BEEN GOOD.

I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HEARD IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE GETTING THE BUCKETS FROM EACH LEGISLATOR IN THE SENATE, WE HAD NO IDEA THAT WE WERE JUST ASKED AND THAT MONEY WAS THERE UNTIL AFTER IT WAS APPROVED.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD IS IF WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A BIG BUCKET OF MONEY AND WE HAD TO PUT IN REQUEST THAT YOU GUYS REVIEWED IT.

AND I KNOW YOU GUYS REVIEWED OUR REQUESTS WE PUT IN, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO.

ADDRESS THINGS WITHIN OUR COUNTY.

SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT YOU HEARD FROM THE BOARD.

UM, BUT IF WE CAN COMMUNICATE AND BE WHEN WE HAVE CHANGES IN THE BUDGET, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS AN ODD BUDGET YEAR, THAT THESE THINGS DIDN'T REGULARLY HAPPEN THAT WAY. BUT IF WE CAN JUST BE SHARE THAT INFORMATION AND THEN THAT WAY, I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT THE CLOSEST GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.

AND IF WE KNEW THAT FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE PUT BETTER REQUESTS IN OR ACTUALLY PUT REQUESTS IN THAT WE COULD ADDRESS THOSE CERTAIN THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR DISTRICTS AND BEEN MORE PRODUCTIVE THAT WAY.

BUT AND CHAIRMAN GREGORY, TO YOUR POINT, THAT'S WHERE WE TOOK THE LETTERS FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WE LISTENED TO OUR ELECTED LEADERS.

WE CONSIDERED WHAT WERE YOUR PRIORITIES AND THOSE WERE THE FIRST TO BE SUBMITTED.

AND THEN WE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BASED ON THAT MEETING WE HAD AT THE HASSAYAMPA INN BACK IN DECEMBER.

SO WE INDEED USED OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF WHAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE, INCLUDING SINPO WERE ASKING OF US.

[02:00:04]

VICE CHAIR? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I GOT SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

AGAIN, MAYBE TO TAKE OFF ON THE CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE BRING YOU OUR REQUIREMENTS, WE REALIZE THERE'S LIMITED FUNDING AND WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH 2 OR 3 OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE HOPE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE OF BEING APPROVED.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET PROCESS AND I DID IT A LOT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN I MANAGED $1.5 BILLION.

IT'S MAKING SAUSAGE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A PROCESS THAT CONFUSES EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT DO IT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS.

BUT I THINK WHEN WE ALL HEARD THAT THERE WAS 70 MILLION AVAILABLE TO OUR OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, WE WERE HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET SOME REQUESTS FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS FUNDING.

IS THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY CONSIDERED AND GIVEN US THAT YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL NEED TO BE FUNDED? BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, WE HAD A LOT OF THEM.

WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM TO YOU, YOU KNOW, RIGHT UP FRONT BECAUSE WE FIGURED 90% WOULDN'T EVEN BE CONSIDERED.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE I THINK WE MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO FUND SOME REAL NEEDS IN THE COUNTY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HER FOR A SECOND.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TOO, IS WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT OUR ROADS? AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FUNDING AND ALL THAT, BUT EVERYBODY SAYS, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T WE RAISING HER? WHAT WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE VEHICLES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR VEHICLES THAT ARE MULTI FUEL AND ALL THAT? UM, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO TRY AND INCREASE THAT SO THAT WE HAVE MORE FUNDING FOR ROADS? WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR OR MAYBE IN LEGISLATION THAT WAS EVEN CONSIDERED TO TRY AND RAISE THAT? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A BILL OVER IN THE HOUSE THAT I'M ON A FIRST NAME BASIS WITH MR. ANTHONY. CASTLEMAN, AT A DOT AND A DOT WAS GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION, AND I WAS LOOKING FOR THE LINE ITEM IN HERE FOR ROAD REPAIR, I.E.

POTHOLES. SO SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO THAT.

WAS THERE A BILL IN THE HOUSE RELATED TO INCREASING THE GASOLINE TAX, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO AND ADDRESSING ELECTRIC VEHICLES? YES. AND TO ME, THE SHORT ANSWER SUPERVISOR IS NO.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A SERIOUS EFFORT MADE TO CONSIDER RAISING THE GAS TAX.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS WHO ARE NOT TYPICALLY THINKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES.

IN FACT, AS YOU HEARD MENTIONED, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE NEGOTIATION OF THE STATE'S BUDGET WAS ABOUT $260 MILLION OF TAX REBATES TO ARIZONANS.

I DON'T THINK A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO RAISE THE GASOLINE TAX WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT I THINK WE ARE BEHIND THE CURVE ON NEEDING TO ADDRESS THOSE VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND THE FUNDING OF THEM IN OUR STATE AND WITH MORE AND MORE VEHICLES GOING ELECTRIC, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER BY SOME FORMULA OR ESTIMATE OR GUESSTIMATE THAT SOME PORTION OF THE STATE SALES TAX THAT IS GENERATED BY TAXES ON UTILITIES AND ELECTRICITY, THAT IF THERE CAN BE AN IDENTIFIABLE PORTION OF THAT THAT'S GOING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND OTHERWISE NOT PAYING FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE ROADS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START SERIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF A BILL OR A SPECIFIC THING THAT WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED TO RAISE THE GASOLINE TAX OR PULL OVER A PORTION OF THE ELECTRICITY SALES TAX.

SUPERVISOR BROWN, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

IN THE CONVENTION, WHICH YOU WERE AT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF.

AS YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WAS, IS THAT WE'VE SEEN IT FAIL 3 OR 4 TIMES MOVING FORWARD AS FAR AS RAISING THE GASOLINE TAX TO COVER THE $9 BILLION WORTH OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HIGHWAY.

SO WE WERE WONDERING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO THROUGH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, PAY NO REGISTRATION FEE.

SO WHY ARE THEY DRIVING ON THE ROAD THAT THEY'RE BEING PAID FOR BY THOSE FEES? THAT'S THE QUESTION.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ALWAYS BRING IT UP AND WE LIKE TO ADDRESS IT.

BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WE ONE TIME WE DID RAISE THE REGISTRATION FEES AND THAT WENT, YOU KNOW, COST SOMEBODY THEIR OFFICE.

[02:05:05]

AND THE SAME TIME, WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE THE AMOUNT OF THE GASOLINE TAX, WHICH HASN'T BEEN RAISED IN OVER, WHAT, 25 YEARS, I THINK, OR VERY CLOSE TO THAT.

MORE THAN THAT, MAYBE. YEAH.

SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY MY CONVERSATIONS WITH ADOT IS THERE ARE SEVERAL MODELS WE CAN LOOK AT IN CAPITALIZING ON EVS.

ONE CONVERSATION IS WHERE PEOPLE CHARGE GENERATING REVENUE THROUGH THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY AT THAT CHARGING STATION BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THAT VEHICLE IS USING THAT ROAD GOING IN AND OUT OF THAT TOWN OR CITY.

SO THERE'S ONE WAY TO CAPTURE IT.

YOU MENTIONED REGISTRATION REGISTERING AT A DIFFERENT PRICE POINT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES VERSUS GASOLINE OR DIESEL.

SO THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED.

BUT AS TO A SPECIFIC GAS TAX, THERE'S NOT AN APPETITE FOR THAT CURRENTLY WITH THE MAJORITY PARTY.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS.

TO YOUR POINT, THOUGH, SOME OF THESE ARE BILLS, SOME WERE NOT.

SO YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A BILL TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

AND I THINK THAT HELPS WITH CLARIFICATION.

ON BACK TO THE $50 MILLION APPROPRIATED ADDITIONAL MONIES TO ADOPT FOR HIGHWAY ROAD REPAIR.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT AND HOPEFULLY I'VE ALSO CONNECTED WITH ANTHONY CASTLEMAN AT ADOT TO LOOK AT THE LIST OF HOW NEXT FIVE YEARS OUT, HOW ARE THEY PRIORITIZING THEIR PROJECTS FOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE PACKAGE, WHERE ARE THEY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? SO I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT YET, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THEY'RE INTERNALLY PRIORITIZING THOSE.

WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RAISE THE HERF TAX AND OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME FUNDING TO HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS AND LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT THIS YEAR, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT FELL SHORT OF WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION OVER IN CHINO THAT HAS BEEN DEFAULTED ON TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

THAT'S SO UNFORTUNATE.

AND I THINK IF YOU QUERIED THE BOARD HERE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A ONE OF US THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH.

ROADS AND TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT THE LEGISLATURE JUST HAS TO BITE THE BULLET AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND START TO FIX IT.

WHETHER THAT'S RAISING THE HERF TAX OR COMING UP WITH SOME OTHER FUNDING.

BUT I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT AREA WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

AND OF COURSE, I THINK THE GOVERNOR ONLY HAD 25 MILLION IN HER BUDGET FOR TRANSPORTATION, AT LEAST IN THE INITIAL BUDGET.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT ENDED UP IN THE BUT THE FACT THAT SHE WAS EVEN WILLING TO KILL, TRY AND KILL THE I 17 EXPANSION, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOKS LIKE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE REALLY INTERESTED IN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR ROADS OR NOT? SO I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A PROBLEM WITH THE WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED MORE SERIOUSLY IN THE FUTURE FOR THAT.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND I GUESS I'M KIND OF GOING OFF A SUPERVISOR BROWN'S COMMENTS HERE, THE RODEO IS, YOU KNOW, IS IN MY AREA, IN MY DISTRICT, LIKE THE SUPERVISOR SAID, IT BELONGS TO THE CITY OF PRESCOTT.

BUT I REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LIVE A MILE AND A HALF AWAY AND I CAN HEAR WHEN THEY HAVE RODEO EVENTS GOING ON THE LOUDSPEAKER AND THE MUSIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND I CAN IMAGINE WHAT'S GOING TO BE LIKE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS MUCH CLOSER.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF THEM COME TO ME AND THEY'RE VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS BECAUSE BASICALLY THEY CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC NOISE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I'M NOT SURE THIS THING WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF PRESCOTT, I WAS AT THE BRIEFING WHEN THE CITY OF PRESCOTT WAS GIVING AN UPDATE OR AN INITIAL LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN FOR BFD AND THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RODEO GROUNDS.

AND BUT IT WAS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

THERE WASN'T ANY KIND OF THING WHERE THEY SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE EVERYBODY WAS FEELING THAT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE BATHROOMS THERE.

WE NEED PROBABLY SOME ADDITIONAL STANDS.

THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

DEFINITELY NEED TO BE DONE THERE.

I KNOW THE COWBOY PHARMACY OR THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS BASICALLY JUST A LITTLE TABLE IN THE BACK OF THE STANDS THERE IN CASE A COWBOY GETS HURT.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO MAKE THAT SAFER AND A BETTER VENUE.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT $48 MILLION THAT I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW IS IS THE IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ON THIS RODEO GRANT.

AND YOU YOU HEARD 40 MILLION.

BUT I'M ALREADY HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND ALSO THE COST OF THINGS TODAY, IT'S ALREADY UP TO 48 MILLION.

BUT ANYWAY, UM, I GUESS ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS, IS THIS GOING TO BE A VIOLATION OF THE GIFT CLAUSE?

[02:10:04]

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COME TO ME AND SAY, WELL, WHY ARE WE USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO BENEFIT A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE? SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT VERY CLOSELY.

AND I'M SURE THAT ONCE A TRANSFER OF FUNDS HAS BEEN MADE TO PFD, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL LOOK AT.

DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT? YES. REPRESENTATIVE WYNN AND MYSELF WENT BACK TO OUR SENIOR POLICY ADVISORS TO VERIFY WHEN WE HAD HEARD THAT THAT CONCERN ABOUT VIOLATION OF GIFT CLAUSE, THEY ASSURED US IT WAS NOT OKAY.

ADDITIONALLY, THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THE MONEY WAS APPROPRIATED AT THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WHO IS VERY ACCUSTOMED TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE AS TO WHEN MONEYS ARE DISBURSED FOR WHATEVER THEY ARE AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW OR THE BUDGET TO BE DISBURSED FOR, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SPENT FOR THOSE ITEMS. SO THERE WILL BE AN ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS THERE IF IF THAT WASN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT $15 MILLION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO L.D.

ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN SAY EXCEPT I'M SORRY.

I THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, IS THAT WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THESE BUCKETS, IT WAS NOT JUST FOR THINGS THAT YOU CAN BRING BACK TO YOUR DISTRICT. AS THE CHAIR, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, I FELT OBLIGATED TO MAKE SURE THAT CRITICAL THINGS RELATED TO EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA WAS FUNDED, AND 20 MILLION OF MY 30 WENT TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THE 10 MILLION IN THE TRANSPORTATION GRANTS, 5 MILLION TO THE UNIVERSITIES AND 5 MILLION TO THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

VERY EARLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, A PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED AS TO HOW WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL UNDERSTAND THE CLASSES THEY'RE TAKING.

AS IT RELATES TO THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN DOING WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I AT THAT TIME, THE BILL WAS $25 MILLION TO HELP ESTABLISH A PROGRAM STATEWIDE FOR 1.1 AND ONE HALF MILLION STUDENTS.

NOW THAT'S K THROUGH 12.

SO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, PROBABLY HALF OF THAT.

BUT I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THAT PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT I MEAN, 25 MILLION WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.

AND AS IT ENDED UP COMING OUT OF THE WHAT WAS FUNDED, IT ENDED UP BEING MY 10 MILLION WAS THE ONLY OF WAS THE ONLY 10 MILLION THAT THAT PROGRAM ENDED UP OR 5 MILLION THAT THAT PROGRAM ENDED UP GETTING SO OUT OF 25 REQUESTED THEY GOT FIVE AND IT CAME FROM MY BUCKET.

BUT IT WAS A STATEWIDE ISSUE.

AND I FELT WHEN THE 25 MILLION WAS ASKED FOR THAT.

IF WE THAT NOTHING PERHAPS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HELPING OUR K 12 STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, UNDERSTAND HOW THE COURSES THAT THEY ARE TAKING AND MANY OF THEM THEY CAN CHOOSE TO TAKE THROUGH ELECTIVES, CONNECT TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN A FEW YEARS WHEN THEY GRADUATE OR GO ON TO SCHOOL OR GO ON TO TECHNICAL SCHOOL OR OR GOING TO THE WORKFORCE, MILITARY, WHATEVER THEY GO.

WE SPENT $16.5 BILLION A YEAR IN K-12 EDUCATION.

AND IF WE AND SO FIVE OF 5 MILLION OF MY 30 WENT TO HELPING STUDENTS MAKE SURE THAT THE CLASSES THAT THEY ARE TAKING ARE ATTUNED WITH WHAT THEY ARE WANTING TO DO IN THEIR LIVES IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS.

AND IN OPPOSITE IF A STUDENT COMES TO SCHOOL.

KNOWING THAT THE COURSES THEY'RE TAKING ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT THEY WANT TO BECOME IN JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO MANY OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO EDUCATION FADE INTO THE AND AND THE PROBLEMS FADE AWAY WHEN STUDENTS SEE THAT YEAH I'M TAKING ALGEBRA BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP ME DO THIS OR I'M TAKING WHATEVER MATH, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY. IF THEY SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN 3 OR 4 SHORT YEARS AND THE CLASSES THEY'RE TAKING, THEY ARE MUCH MORE ENGAGED AND GOING TO BE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SO IT WASN'T JUST WHAT CAN WE BRING BACK TO D1 WITH OUR 30, 2020 AS THE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, I HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVING THE WAY WE SPEND $16 BILLION OF MONEY EVERY YEAR.

ALSO. WELL, I'M JUST SURPRISED RIGHT NOW THAT THAT PROGRAM ISN'T ALREADY FUNDED IN THAT 16 BILLION.

[02:15:01]

SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, LET'S GET BACK TO THE RIO GRANDE FOR A MOMENT.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY DID CHECK WITH THE STATE TREASURER AND THERE'S NO STIPULATIONS ON ON THE FUNDS GOING TO THE RODEO. IT'S NOT ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THEIR MASTER PLAN.

IT'S JUST THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO CONDITIONS.

EVEN THOUGH IN THE PAPER, THE COURIER IN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT TO HAVE MATCHING FUNDS, AND THAT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE IN ANY OF THE LEGISLATION.

SO I THINK THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED.

AND I THINK IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT VERY CLOSELY AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISOR OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT I HAVE, SAYS PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS, RODEO CAPITAL COSTS.

SO. I THINK THERE WAS THE INTENT OF IT GOING TO CAPITAL COSTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS. AND IT WAS EXPLAINED IN THE MEETING THAT I WENT TO THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME MATCHING MONEY.

BUT IF THAT LANGUAGE WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET BILL, THEN I THINK IT'S STILL GOING TO.

BE MY EXPECTATION THAT THAT THEY RAISE SOME MATCHING MONIES.

AT FIRST IT WAS GOING TO BE 1 TO 1 AND THEN I HEARD 2 TO 1 TO GET TO THAT 45 ISH MILLION FIGURE OR 40, AND NOW IT'S 48 OR WHATEVER YOU SAY.

SO AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE IF IF ALL OF THE FOLKS INVOLVED, THE CITY, THE ASSOCIATION.

THE NEIGHBORS, THE COMMUNITY.

IF WE CAN'T COME TOGETHER ON DOING IT IN A WAY THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE EXPENDITURES OF THOSE MONIES AT ITS OWN FACILITY BY ONE OF ITS LESSEES, THEN.

MAYBE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT.

OKAY, SO IS THAT DOES THAT MEAN THAT MONEY COULD BE REPURPOSED THEN? NO. OKAY.

THANK YOU. IT'LL GO BACK TO THE STATE AND JUST BE.

PUT BACK INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND? NO, IT'LL BE PUT BACK INTO THE CASH CASH BALANCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WENT TO THE DETAILED NUMBERS, BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ABOUT THIS BUDGET IS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE CASH BALANCE OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

SO IN THE LAST BUDGET BY DUCEY AND THIS BUDGET BY HOBBS CASH BALANCE OF ARIZONA HAS GONE FROM FOUR AND ONE HALF BILLION.

TO 7 MILLION.

IF THIS IS NOT USED OR SENT BACK OR NEVER MATERIALIZES, THEN THE 7 MILLION WILL GO TO 22 MILLION.

BUT THERE'S NO IT GOES TO THE CITY OR COUNTY OR SOMETHING, HOWEVER THEY WANT IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. SUPERVISOR MICHAELS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE.

I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU DIRECTLY, SENATOR, BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING JUST THAT.

BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO WORK WITH SELENA BLISS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS REPRESENTATIVE CARES VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS COUNTY AND AND L.D.

ONE. AND AS A RELATIVELY, I'M TWO YEARS INTO MY ROLE AS A SUPERVISOR, SO IT'S TABULA RASA FOR ME IN A LOT OF WAYS.

AND SO I SHARE EMPATHIZE WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE HAD TO FACE.

REPRESENTATIVE BLISS BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT FOR MY PURPOSES AND AND TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND TO OUR OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM EXECUTIVE TEAM, I WOULD BENEFIT A GREAT DEAL ONCE THESE BUCKETS ARE MENTIONED ANYWHERE FROM IF YOU EVEN GET A HINT OF IT.

IF WE AS NEONATES COULD ENGAGE EARLY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PLAYING FIELD LOOKS LIKE IN OUR WORLDS AND WHY, THEN WE COULD HELP AND BE STRONGER, PERHAPS ADVOCATES.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO BE.

AND I HAVE SUCH A STRAIGHT UP LEARNING CURVE THAT I WONDER IF WE COULDN'T AS AN ENTITY, AS SOON AS WE FIND OUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF IT GETS CHANGED, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHERE THE ROADS ARE.

WE KNOW WHERE THE FLOODING IS.

AND WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO GRAB SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR HERE.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, YOU KNOW, AS AN OVERARCHING EXPECTATION THAT YOU STEWARD WHAT YOUR CHAIR FOR. AND I SUPPORT THAT FULLY.

BUT THERE'S STILL MONEY TO DISCUSS AND TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ON.

[02:20:03]

AND MAYBE I'LL BE BETTER EDUCATED BY YEAR THREE AND KNOW EARLY ON WHERE TO FIND THE STRATEGIES TO BRING TO YOU FOR INCREASED EFFECTIVENESS IN OUR ROLE TOGETHER WITH THE BUDGET. I SURE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU BOTH DO, THOUGH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THOSE EXACT SENTIMENTS TO OUR LEADERSHIP AND OUR GOVERNOR WHEN WE GO TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR.

YEAH, IT FLOWS UP AND DOWN.

THANK YOU. WELL, AS I SAID EARLIER, NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS AT ALL.

WE DON'T WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE $2.5 BILLION TO DECIDE HOW TO PARSE IT OUT AND BUCKETS OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

THE ENDING CASH BALANCE OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE $7 MILLION.

PLUS THE 1.4 BILLION SITTING IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.

BUT THERE'S NO APPETITE FOR I HOPE, TO BE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THAT TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S RAINING RIGHT NOW.

BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE IN A HURRY.

WHEN I FINISHED IN ZERO SIX AS SENATE PRESIDENT, I LEFT $1.1 BILLION IN THE STATE'S CASH BALANCES AND RAINY DAY FUND BALANCES.

WHEN THE RECESSION OF OH EIGHT HIT, IT WAS GONE IN 13 MONTHS.

YEAH. AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY APPETITE TO START TOUCHING THE 1.4 AND THE RAINY DAY FUND.

AND SO IF, AS I EXPECT, THE 7 MILLION BALANCE WILL BE 7 MILLION.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THE 15 MILLION BACK, IT'LL BE 22.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT DOES MUCH FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

BUT NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE NO ALMOST ONE TIME MONEY AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE IN THE ONGOING FUNDS.

UM, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CITY, WITH THE RODEO ASSOCIATION, FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY THE BEST YOU CAN AND, AND MAKE AS POSITIVE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THAT EVENT AND THAT HISTORIC ASPECT OF THIS FINE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN AND GET AS MUCH OF THE MATCHING AS YOU CAN AND GET AS MUCH OF YOU KNOW, DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, THAT THE COMMUNITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THOSE THAT LIKE AND DON'T LIKE THE RODEO CAN COLLECTIVELY AGREE TO.

SENATOR, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE AND I APPRECIATE THE REITERATION THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THESE EXTRA DOLLARS FOR US TO GO FOR WITH YOU GUYS NEXT YEAR.

HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME STRATEGIES.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY OPTION LEFT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH ANY KIND OF MONIES AT ALL TO HELP, YOU KNOW, OUR STATE IN THE NEEDS AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I'M SEEING IN RURAL YAVAPAI COUNTY.

WELL, TO THAT POINT, AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT, SUPERVISOR.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST REQUESTS I'M GETTING ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS FROM AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS THIS POT OR THAT POT OR THIS SOURCE OR WHATEVER OF FEDERAL MONIES IS DRYING UP. AND THEY'VE BEEN USED TO.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING INTO THIS STATE AND I'M SURE OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY RELATED TO COVID OR WHATEVER.

AND THOSE ARE DRYING UP.

AND I'VE GOT AGENCIES COMING IN TO ME DAILY SAYING SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY.

AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE'S WE DON'T GET TO PRINT MONEY LIKE THE FEDS DO OR TELL THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO DO SO.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE TO THE EXTENT THAT FEDERAL MONIES ARE BEING DIMINISHED OR DRYING UP OR RUNNING OUT FROM APPROPRIATIONS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE COVID AND ALL OF THAT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO, ALONG WITH THE OTHER PRESSURES OF DOING SOMETHING TO FUND TRANSPORTATION.

I MEAN, LAST STUDY I SAW A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS SECRETARY OF STATE IS THAT THE 30 THE DEFICIT FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA OVER THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO IS IN THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

ALL THE MORE REASON THAT WE WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER.

AND THIS NEWLY, RELATIVELY NEWLY ELECTED SUPERVISOR WHO INTENDS TO RUN AGAIN WANTS TO REALLY GET TO THE HEART OF THIS AS A AS A COUNTY AND AS A BOARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, PROTECT, NAVIGATE THE FINANCIAL NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

SUPERVISOR MALLORY YES, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

WELL, I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO COME HERE TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE WORKING DOWN THERE.

[02:25:02]

I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT, SO I DO KNOW AND I COULD ASK IF MAYBE THE PRINTOUT YOU SENT OVER SELENA, I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT ALSO RECEIVE FUNDING.

AND I AM CURIOUS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME THAT TODAY.

I JUST IF IT'S NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR PRINTOUT THAT YOU SENT, COULD YOU, WHEN YOU GET BACK TO YOUR OFFICE, SEND ME ACROSS THE STATE.

OH, IS IT IN THERE? OKAY. YEAH, I WOULD REALLY.

I MEAN, IF THERE'S A LOT.

I UNDERSTAND. I'LL JUST START.

I JUST START IN THE SAME CATEGORY THAT THE.

THE RODEO.

OKAY. JUST IN THE TREASURE SECTION.

YEAH. SIX. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

FOUNTAIN HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER.

PROBABLY A 501.

C THREE. SOME TYPE OF A, I DON'T KNOW, CHILDREN, ADULT OR BOTH.

DISCOVERY CENTER AND FOUNTAIN HILLS, $10 MILLION.

LOWELL OBSERVATORY, 5.6 MILLION.

THAT'S PROBABLY A 501.

C THREE. I'VE BEEN THERE.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE? YES, AS A CHILD.

BUT IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG.

AND I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE ONES I WENT THROUGH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, SUPPORT FOR WICKENBURG AND HAYDEN CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WICKENBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING UPGRADE.

MOJAVE COUNTY SHERIFF SUBSTATIONS.

MOJAVE COUNTY MOBILE COMMAND SERVICE.

SHERIFF VEHICLES.

LA PAZ COUNTY DISPATCH CENTER.

COPPER CANYON. THE MEDICAL FIRE.

COPPER CANYON WAS FOR OUR DISTRICT.

VERNON FIRE DISTRICT, KEARNY PUBLIC BUILDING REMEDIATION, PEORIA PUBLIC SAFETY HELICOPTER, MOBILE COMMAND CENTER AND PEORIA SNOWFLAKE SEWER IMPROVEMENTS. FLAGSTAFF POST-FIRE MITIGATION GLASFORD DELLS REGIONAL PARK.

GLENDALE VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CITY OF GLENDALE OR A 501.

C THREE RUNNING SOME VETERANS PROJECT IN GLENDALE.

SO SUN CITY TRANSPORTATION STUDY, THE PEPPER BALL PILOT PROGRAM.

WHAT'S THAT? SO THAT'S OKAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S ON THERE.

I HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT ASKED ABOUT THE OTHER NONPROFITS AND SO ALSO THE OTHER SUBJECT I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON.

SO SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE I BECAME ON THE COUNTY AND I WAS ON THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY, THE COUNCILWOMAN, I WAS ON SEMPO AND I SERVE WITH SUPERVISOR BROWN IN THAT BOARD.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE 89 OUT THERE IN CHINO VALLEY SAFER. SINCE THIS BUDGET.

WE'VE HAD TWO FATALITIES OUT ON 89.

I NEED YOU TO I DON'T KNOW GOING FORWARD, BUT CHINO VALLEY IS A BIG PRIORITY.

AND I REALLY, REALLY AM LOOKING FOR YOU GUYS TO CHAMPION THAT AREA.

WE TO HAVE TWO FATALITIES IN LITERALLY I THINK SUPERVISOR BROWN WAS IT ABOUT A WEEK, A WEEK AND A HALF MAYBE? IT'S A VERY UM IT'S VERY POPULATED, A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

YOU'VE GOT DRAKE OUT THERE, A LOT OF TRUCKS MOVING OUT TO THE 40 AND IT'S A BIG NEED.

AND SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND FOR CLARIFICATION, WE ALL KNEW ABOUT THE RODEO GETTING REMODELED.

WE KNEW THAT, UM, IT'S JUST A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT AND, AND I'M NOT HERE TO REALLY DEBATE ALL THAT, BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT I'VE LEARNED PERSONALLY TO BE MAYBE MORE PROACTIVE.

WE DID MEET WITH YOU ONCE.

MAYBE WE SHOULD MEET WITH YOU MORE THAN ONCE.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET TOGETHER BECAUSE OF ALL THE MEETINGS AND WHATEVER, BUT I ALWAYS SAY IT'S BETTER TO BE AT THE TABLE AND NOT BE PART OF THE MENU.

AND SO PERSONALLY, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT I SEND IN SOME THINGS THAT I HAVE INTERESTS, WHETHER THE MONEY'S THERE OR NOT, WHETHER WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT IN THERE, WE WILL SEND IN THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY HERE.

AND IF BY SOME WAY THAT WE END UP GETTING ON THAT, WE WILL BE VERY GLAD THAT WE MADE THAT EFFORT.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T TRY, THAT'S WHEN WE LOSE.

WE ARE LOSERS WHEN WE DON'T TRY.

SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING AND APPRECIATE THAT ALL THOSE NONPROFITS ARE ON THAT LIST.

AND THAT WAS HALF A PAGE OF 12.

[02:30:03]

AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, I APPRECIATE OUR COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY DISTRICTS THAT 98% OF THE DISTRICT IS THE COUNTY.

SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR ONE TEAM IS VERY ENGAGED, THESE OPIOID SETTLEMENT ABATEMENT MONIES.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.

WE'RE SHARING WHAT MATT FORCE IS DOING AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND BEST PRACTICES.

SO I FEEL THIS TEAM IS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONING EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY GET.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT IF FOLKS LISTENING HERE WANT TO GO INTO A XLEAGUE.TV AND WATCH THE VIDEO OF HOW WE PRESENT OUR BILLS AND COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW 89 WAS GOING TO BE FUNDED ALONG WITH OTHER TRANSPORTATION BILLS, I SPONSORED AND SPOKE TO HOUSE BILL 2097 AND I STOOD UP AND I EXPLAINED, FIRST OF ALL, CHINO VALLEY IS OUR LARGEST CITY IN OUR DISTRICT.

I LIVED OUT THERE IN THE 90S.

I EXPLAINED WHERE THAT ROAD IN.

YEAH, WELL I THINK POPULATION THAT WAS CHANGING AT THE TIME, BUT IN THE 90S WHEN I LIVED THERE IT WAS GROWING.

POINT BEING IS WHERE THAT ROAD GOES FROM TWO LANES TO ONE.

I GOT UP AND STOOD BECAUSE I FIGURED IF WE COULD GET MORE VOTES ON THIS BILL, THE ODDS OF IT GETTING THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS WAS BETTER.

SO I GOT UP IN A PASSIONATE PLEA TO GET THE VOTES FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FLOOR, AND I EXPLAINED I WAS ALMOST RUN OFF THAT ROAD AS IT CAME FROM TWO LANES TO ONE. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK ON THE LEFT.

I'M ON THE RIGHT.

I'M TRYING TO GET AROUND AND I ALMOST WENT IN THE DITCH AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY AS WELL.

SO CERTAINLY IS A PRIORITY OF MINE.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW I WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

YEAH. AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU MENTIONED THE I-17 FOR THE GOVERNOR.

I FIND IT VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT SHE WOULD EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT STOPPING THAT.

WE HAVE BLOWN UP THE MOUNTAIN OVER THERE.

WE'VE GOT STUFF EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SAY STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE LANE IS.

IT IS A DISASTER.

AND THERE ARE ALL THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING DILIGENTLY, BOOTS TO THE GROUND.

WE CAN HAVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS THAT WE NEED.

BUT THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, WE HAVE NOTHING.

I'M SORRY. WE ARE WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS STATE MOVE.

AND SO THAT PROJECT NEEDS TO GET FINISHED.

WE DON'T JUST LEAVE IT LOOKING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT'S EVEN A THOUGHT.

ANYWAY, ENOUGH ON THAT.

NOT ONLY DID WE NOT TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM IT, WE ENDED UP PUTTING 76.2 MILLION IN THIS BUDGET TO COMPLETE THE I-17 FUNDING.

THERE'S SOME OVERRIDES AND THINGS AND THEN 89 MILLION ON I-10 BETWEEN PHENIX AND CASA GRANDE NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

SO 160 SOME MILLION DOLLARS, $160 MILLION WENT TO THOSE TWO PROJECTS ALONE INSTEAD OF TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM THEM.

RIGHT. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND IT'S AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE NEED TO MAKE THAT THE PRIORITY AND OUR SAFETY, OF COURSE, TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

THANK YOU. MY ROLE AS CHAIR OF SUB APPROPRIATIONS ON FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT'S PART OF MY ROLE AS TO ASSURE I-17 DOES GO FORWARD.

THE DAMAGE THAT RESULTED FROM THAT LETTER FOUR DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNOR GOT IN OFFICE WAS IT IT SHOOK THE CONFIDENCE OF THE CONTRACTORS AND THOSE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

I BELIEVE WE DID SEE SOME SLOWDOWN OF THOSE PROJECTS AS CONFIDENCE WANED ON.

WILL WE BE HERE JULY 1ST OR NOT? SO WE DID POINT THIS OUT, I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY, LOOKING BACK, IT LOOKED AT HOW IN UNPREPARED THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF WAS AT THE TIME STEPPING INTO OFFICE. BUT I WON'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE ALSO THE SUPPORT ON ELECTIONS.

THAT'S ALSO A VERY BIG TOPIC NOWADAYS.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR ATTENDING TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY TRYING TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL THE RIGHT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

I THINK AS SUPERVISOR MICHAELS MENTIONED, WE JUST NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE, LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, AND. IDENTIFY OUR PRIORITIES.

AND THEN WHEN WE GO INTO THE BUDGET, WE'RE PREPARED.

IF THERE'S A BUCKET OF MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE AND WE'RE STARTING TO FUND AND PRIORITIZE THOSE NEEDS THAT HAPPEN WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF IT AND WORKING TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU. OKAY WITH THAT? WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO BREAK.

THANK YOU. WE'LL BE BACK IN AT 1215.

[02:35:01]

WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE.

WE'LL GET STARTED ON ACTION.

[2. Facilities - Discussion and possible action regarding selection of a consultant for Space Planning based on the recommendation of the selection committee. Solicitation No.: FAC22231 (All Districts) ]

ITEM TWO FACILITIES, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING SELECTION OF CONSULTANT FOR SPACE PLANNING BASED ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. KENNY VAN VANCUREN.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

HELLO. THERE YOU GO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

KEN VAN KEUREN, FACILITIES DIRECTOR.

SO BACK IN JANUARY, THE BOARD DIRECTED THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE OUT RFPS FOR SPACE SPACE PLANNING CONSULTANTS.

WE DID RECEIVE TWO PROPOSALS.

ONE WAS FROM GENSLER AND ONE WAS FROM FHN SOLUTIONS.

WE FORMED A SELECTION COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED EXTENSIVELY BOTH PROPOSALS.

AND WE UNANIMOUSLY SCORED THEM SEPARATELY AND UNANIMOUSLY.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO WITH GENSLER ON THEIR OPTION.