County budget in flux over tax cuts
 
By Jim Seckler
Mohave Daily News
 
KINGMAN - The rapid increase in Mohave County's population and a proposed property tax cut has created a nightmare in shaping the county's budget.

Mohave County officials held a workshop Friday to forge the 2006-07 fiscal year budget for one of the fastest growing counties in the country.

"We're losing ground to growth," Mohave County Manager Ron Walker said. "Our growth is overrunning us."

County department heads en masse asked the county Board of Supervisors for more staff to handle the increasing services required by the growing population.

County Finance Director John Timko said this year's budget is projected to be about $89.9 million for general fund expenses and about $79.9 million for projected revenues. This year's contingency fund is projected to be about $9.9 million.

The general fund also calls for 12 new full-time employees. Ninety-two employees were requested. Other funding would pay to add 20.7 full-time employees.

Timko also said the county should move forward with a new county jail, medical examiner's office and county morgue as well as a record's warehouse.

Timko reminded everyone the county's projected budget did not take into account what will happen at the state Legislature.

Walker expressed frustration at attempts by tax revolt groups to cut property tax revenue compounded by an influx of new residents into the county, all demanding more and more county services from law enforcement, restaurant inspectors and nurses.

Timko said with the uncertain political climate, it is uncertain what the cost-of-living raise will be for county employees.

District 1 Sup. Peter Byers, who noted District 3 Sup. Buster Johnson's absence, said county employees' salaries need to be compatible with other counties.

"It's unfortunate we can't move ahead," District 2 Sup. Tom Sockwell said. "But we see cuts coming in our direction."

Walker and Byers also criticized state legislators, especially state Sen. Ron Gould of Lake Havasu City, for not looking out for the needs of Mohave County residents.

Sheriff Tom Sheahan led a parade of department heads in seeking more staff for increasing demands for county services.

Sheahan said the calls for service for sheriff deputies went up 25 percent in the last 18 months.

The Mohave Valley district handles about 25 percent of all the calls in the county. The Kingman district sees about 40 percent of the calls for service.

Sheahan also spoke about the need for a new sheriff's substation in Mohave Valley. The existing substation can only hold up to 20 inmates.

"We need to double that," Sheahan said.

Superior Court Judge Richard Weiss presented a pre-trial release pilot program that would release non-violent criminal defenders freeing up valuable jail beds.

The defendants would be monitored with surveillance, electronic monitoring, drug testing, curfews and geographic restrictions. Weiss suggested hiring four employees, including two surveillance officers, in the first phase of the plan.

Weiss said the program would eventually save the county money in reducing jail space. It costs the county about $46 a day to house a jail inmate.

Byers asked about the success of similar programs at other counties especially similar-size Yavapai and Yuma counties. Walker said money would have to be taken from other departments to initially pay for the program.

County Treasurer Lee Fabrizio asked for an investment officer who could earn the county 10 times his salary in making investments for the county.

Fabrizio said there are two ways for the county to generate revenue - taxes and portfolio earnings.

Public Defender Dana Hlavac said, like the sheriff's office, the number of criminal cases have gone up 48 percent since 2002. Hlavac again spoke of the high cost of contracting out felony cases to more expensive private attorneys, who will only charge more and more for their services.

Hlavac said the judges despise using contract attorneys costing the county twice to three times as much, slowing the court system down and hurting everyone, including victims.

"We can't stop representing people," Hlavac said. "And the sheriff's office can't stop arresting people."

Public Health Director Patty Mead, in asking for two registered nurses and three licensed practical nurses, spoke of the shortage of nurses Mohave County as compared to Yavapai County. Yavapai County has 16 county nurses while Mohave County has only six.

Clerk of the Court Virlynn Tinnell also asked for more staff, saying giving the public defender's office more attorneys will mean more work for her court staff.

County Attorney Matt Smith was the lone department head who did not ask for more staff, except for making special investigator Gary Engels' position a permanent one. Smith said Engels is important in the long-term investigation into the polygamist town of Colorado City near the Utah border.

Last year's county budget included $75 million in expenses and about $68.1 million in revenues with a contingency fund of about $7 million.

One of the biggest increases in county spending again this year is for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and the Arizona Long Term Care System. Both systems provide health care services to indigent county residents.

Timko projects the county is expected to spend about $11.29 million for AHCCCS and ALTCS, depending on what the state Legislature does. Last year, the county spent $9.3 million for AHCCCS and ALTCS.

The sheriff's office also saw one of the largest increases in that department's spending. Its budget increased from $7.9 million last year to $9.2 million for this projected fiscal year.

A tentative budget will go before the county supervisors for approval at the July 10 board meeting.

 
MohaveDailyNews.com
Originally published Saturday, June 17, 2006
 
Back