Know Your Pima County

Know Your Pima County

A Citizen’s Handbook of Tribal, County, and Municipal Governments

Full Revision June 2014 – Last Update June 25, 2014

League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson

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Know Your Pima County Handbook Document

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THIS HANDBOOK

A Citizen’s Directory of Elected Officials

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CITIZEN’S DIRECTORY

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About this Citizen’s Handbook

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Know Your Pima County

A Citizen’s Handbook of Tribal, County, and Municipal Governments

Illustrations by David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Daily Star Cover by Robert Kembel, Tucson Artist

The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization established to promote political responsibilities through informed, active participation in government at all levels.

Only a well-informed public can assure good government.

Researched, written and edited by

Acknowledgments

The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson thanks the many officials, government staff, League members and citizens who

provided and authenticated information for this handbook. Our appreciation to Dave Fitzsimmons and the Arizona Daily Star for cartoon drawings

Robert Kembel for the cover painting

Organization of this Handbook

The purpose of this League of Women Voters Handbook is to provide general information on local government that is rarely available in one document but is needed knowledge for good citizenship. Because we are committed to informed citizen participation, we start in the first chapter with citizens, their responsibilities and rights, with the hope that they might use this information on public authorities to enhance their understanding of and encourage their role in governance. The second chapter covers Elections and Voting, the fundamental activity of citizens in a democracy and the central focus of the work of the League of Women Voters.

We then cover government structures and functions of all kinds in Pima County. We start with the two tribal governments because they came before the others. County Government structures follow. We include here the informal committees and groups organized by the many unincorporated communities themselves, to interface with formal county government.

Next, we cover the five incorporated municipalities in Pima County: Tucson, South Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita. Also the many other public authorities we call taxing districts which govern specific areas or issues such as schools, fire protection, flood prevention, libraries, and many others. Few realize these latter outnumber all other local “governments”.

Next we recognize a growing trend in local governance -- regional approaches to problem prevention and problem solving. Some formal structures and many intergovernmental agreements and informal cooperative efforts enable organization of the many governments in Pima county to plan and implement such shared problems as pollution, water supply and quality, flooding and transportation.

Finally we cover the judiciary and courts.

We believe government is a serious business but not without its humor. We trust that the drawings contributed by local political cartoonist David Fitzsimmons will remind readers that the democratic experience also requires a sense of humor.

This Handbook is only available on the League of Women Voters website and will be updated periodically, refer to the date on the cover page. The previous publication was a paperback published in 2006. Due to publishing costs and information changing frequently, only an online version will be provided by the League. We would appreciate your bringing to our attention any errors or omissions, just send us an email, address is on the bottom of the pages.

For locating specific government services, we recommend consulting: · The blue-edged pages in telephone directories · Websites of local governments (see “Links” on our web site) · The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson’s

“ A Citizen’s Directory of Elected Officials” for contact information and Web sites.

Click on this link… www.lwvgt.org/files/CDIR.pdf

League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson - - League @ lwvgt.org -- www.lwvgt.org -- Facebook & Twitter too -- jump TOC Page 4



Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 6

Pima County Today & Pima County’s Past ........................................................................................... 6

1. CITIZEN RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES ....................................................................... 9

2. ELECTIONS AND VOTING ................................................................................................................ 12

3. TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.................................................................................................................. 18

Map - Tribal Communities .................................................................................................................. 19

Tohono O’odham Nation .................................................................................................................... 20

Pascua Yaqui Tribe ............................................................................................................................ 24

4. PIMA COUNTY GOVERNMENT ....................................................................................................... 29

Pima County Government Organization Chart .................................................................................... 31

5. UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN PIMA COUNTY .............................................................................. 41

Map - Major Un-Incorporated Communities & Incorporated Cities ...................................................... 55

6. INCORPORATED CITIES AND TOWNS ........................................................................................... 56

General Information on Municipalities ................................................................................................. 56

City of Tucson .................................................................................................................................... 64

City of South Tucson .......................................................................................................................... 71

Town of Oro Valley ............................................................................................................................. 75

Town of Marana ................................................................................................................................. 80

Town of Sahuarita .............................................................................................................................. 86

7. EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................................... 91

Map - Public School Districts .............................................................................................................. 95

8. SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS ........................................................................................................ 102

Map - Tucson Area Fire Districts ...................................................................................................... 106

9. REGIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES AND COORDINATED EFFORTS ....... 107

10. THE JUDICIARY AND THE COURTS............................................................................................ 115

Map – Judicial Districts ..................................................................................................................... 123

Appendix 1 – Voting Districts & Ward Maps ......................................................................................... 124

INDEX .................................................................................................................................................. 128

Keep a Record of Your Voting Districts ................................................................................................ 129

MAP - PIMA COUNTY ARIZONA ........................................................................................................ 130

Note: Just left click on any item above to jump to that page. Click on TOC at the bottom of any page to go back to the Table Of Contents (TOC)



Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Pima County Today & Pima County’s Past

Pima County, one of fifteen Arizona counties, lies in the southeastern part of the state. The Sonoran Desert gives it its distinctive natural landscape featuring the saguaro, a mighty monolith among cacti. The

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum showcases Pima’s rich habitat and its plants and animals. The Coronado and Ironwood National Forests, Saguaro National Park-East and Saguaro National Park-West constitute a natural desert environment unique in the world. Pima today includes a colorful heritage of Spanish, Mexican, and American Indian cultures – mixed with settlers coming to the western frontier by stage coach and covered wagon from the

East. The flow became a torrent after the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Arizona in 1882. Pima is home to two Native American tribes, the Pascua Yaqui and the Tohono O’odham, now federally authorized Nations. The tribes that preexist much of the local government structure in place today are a link with the long and unique history of Southern Arizona. Their casinos have grown into a major economic resource for the tribes and the county. Today the county has almost a million residents. The official estimate as of 2012 is 992,394, nearly twice Pima’s population of 1980. There have been significant changes related to this growth.

· Raytheon Systems Company, the county’s largest private employer, now has upwards of 11,000 workers.

· The University of Arizona, with a main downtown Tucson campus of 362 acres, accommodates a student body of 40,700 and a faculty and workforce of thousands more.

· Hospitals and health services proliferate to meet the needs of a population bulging with retirees. · World-class resorts and scores of hotels, dude ranches, and health spas serve many thousands of

tourists attracted by the warm climate. · Astronomers from throughout the world, drawn by the clear skies, keep telescopes busy on

mountaintop observatories. The university designs and produces the most advanced telescopic lenses, and a related optics industry has developed.

· In addition to Tucson, there are now four other incorporated cities and towns in Pima County and many growing communities that have not incorporated but are important population centers.

Growth in the county presents public authorities with important challenges. Growth strains infrastructure, especially in a desert environment with limited water. In addition, of the 3,042 counties in the United States, Pima is one of only a handful with an international frontier. This geographical position on the Mexican border and the flow of immigrants and illegal drugs into the area adds to the pressure on governments.



Introduction Other challenges have combined to make governing more difficult:

· Despite a healthy economic expansion, the tax base remains anemic. · Low wage levels and a diminished taxable land base dampen government revenues. · Eighty three percent of the county’s lands are tax-free. · Native American reservations occupy 42 percent of the county. · State Trust Land occupies 15 percent, and

federal lands (forests, monuments, parks, and the military) occupy 29 percent. This leaves only 14 percent of land that can be taxed by local governments.

· Most of the nontaxable land is in unincorporated areas, where 35 percent of the county’s population lives.

· A traditionally independent-minded Arizonan population, part-timers, and retirees have resisted paying higher tax rates to make up for this deficit.

· The proliferation of new towns and communities has made coordination on regional issues more difficult.

All of these combined - attractions, advantages, and special challenges set the stage for what governments must deal with in Pima County. Pima County’s Past Archaeological excavations indicate that humans may have been present in the area around Tucson for more than 12,000 years. Researchers have unearthed extensive irrigation systems and villages along the Santa Cruz River dating back at least 4,200 years. It is believed that continuous habitation started with the settling of farmers and artisans in the region more than 2,000 years ago. Modern Tohono O’odham Indians are likely descendants of these Hohokam people, the “Ancient Ones.” Written history of southern Arizona begins with petroglyphs, calendar sticks, and the diaries of sixteenth century explorers and missionaries. Settlement of the Spanish dates from the 1690s.

Did you know... There are more than

seventy-one governing entities/local governments

in Pima County?



Introduction Silver and gold were discovered in the mid-eighteenth century, bringing prospectors and ranchers into the area, most from what is now Mexico. The Royal Presidio de San Augustin del Tucson, completed in 1781, was the northernmost outpost of Mexico in our region. Mexico seized Pimeria Alta (including Southern Arizona) from Spain in the 1820’s but lost it to the United States in the Mexican American War of 1848. “Anglo” settlers did not come until the mid-nineteenth century, when Mexican land south of the Gila River was sold to the United States in the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. American soldiers arrived in 1856 and populated the Presidio. Some “American” civilian presence existed during the Civil War, and increasing numbers of farmers and ranchers moved into what was then considered western New Mexico Territory. The separate Arizona Territory was created in 1863. Arizona finally became a state in February of 1912 after lengthy efforts to draft a state constitution and mobilize support. In that same year Arizona women won the right to vote -- before women in most other states. Male voters approved Arizona’s first initiative for women suffrage by a landslide. Originally, Pima County was much larger than it is today-- just one of four counties set up by the territorial legislature when the Arizona Territory was established. Mining and the introduction of cattle ranching led to the establishment of railroads. The last link on the Southern Pacific line between California and Texas was built through Tucson in the 1880’s and touched off a new and greater influx of people, products, and ideas. The present-day boundaries of Pima County were established in 1899. When Arizona became a state in 1912 the county population was almost 25,000, today it numbers approximately a million. Arizona’s 5 C’s, copper, cotton, cattle, climate and citrus, have been important in the history of our county’s economy as well. But one additional factor has uniquely influenced the development of this region - availability of water. The presence or absence of water has been a recurring theme and will remain a key factor in Southern Arizona’s future. To read about how state and county governments have organized to face water challenges, please consult Regional and Intergovernmental Structures in this Citizen’s Directory, Chapter 9.



Ch 1.Citizen Responsibilities and Opportunities

1. CITIZEN RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Most of this handbook deals with local government structures and functions. But because in a democracy power ultimately rests with the people, we start with them. Citizens can –and should – play a significant role in public decision-making. They contribute by voting and participating in election-related activities, communicating with representatives about pending issues, serving in volunteer capacities and serving on juries when summoned to do so. In addition, citizens must oversee government. Citizens owe it to their representatives and officials to be informed about issues and government operations. They should monitor behaviors of their local government officials and vigilantly guard minority and individual rights from infringement by government. Governing is difficult business, and its complexities are daunting. Unreasonable and uninformed demands on our public officials can be counterproductive. This handbook first outlines ways citizens can participate in the governing process and then provides an overview of government structures and functions to help them better understand the scope of their civic responsibilities. Staying Informed Perhaps most important, the public needs to be knowledgeable about what is happening in their community and what their local governments are doing. Reading a newspaper is an easy habit to get into to keep up on public affairs. Watching local news on TV is also good, but more in-depth newspapers, blogs, web sites or current affairs books will provide greater detail. Members of the public may attend city or town council meetings and meetings of the board of supervisors or other public bodies. Arizona’s Open Meeting Law requires local public bodies to post notices and agendas for their meetings at least 24 hours in advance. The public has a right to attend, listen, tape record or videotape. While there is no right to speak out or disrupt a public meeting, many public bodies include a call to the public as an agenda item. This allows members of the public to address the public body on relevant topics of their concern. More information about Arizona’s Open Meeting Law can be found at Arizona Ombudsman Citizen Aide website at http://www.azleg.gov/ombudsman/meetings.asp . Arizona Public Records Laws provide an additional tool to help interested people learn more about local government. By law, public officials and public bodies must maintain records reasonably necessary to provide an accurate accounting of official activities and of any government-funded activities. Arizona citizens have the right to access public records upon request.



http://www.azleg.gov/ombudsman/meetings.asp


The Arizona Ombudsman Citizen Aide recommends that:

· It is best to request public records from the agency that owns or created the record. It is also advised to keep the scope of your request as narrow and specific as possible. Doing so will save time and expense for all parties.

· More information can be found at: http://www.azleg.gov/ombudsman/public_records.asp. Other ways to keep abreast of current issues and government activities include:

· Formal or informal discussions · Libraries, schools, neighborhood associations,

community centers, and so forth, have discussion groups or meetings in which you can discuss local issues.

· Town hall meetings. Most elected officials and some administrative officials hold meetings to present information or hold discussions or focus group sessions. Interested persons can attend and sometimes ask questions or participate in exchanges with other attendees

· Candidates and issues forums. Before elections, candidates and issues forums are held in which the public can see the candidates in person and ask them questions, or find out about current issues on or off the ballot. These forums bring an invaluable personal touch to local politics in a media age. Many organizations hold their own candidates or issues forums.

· Special classes sponsored by local governments, nongovernmental organizations and the University of Arizona. For example the Town of Marana offers a Citizens’ Forum (see their web at http://marana.com/index.aspx?NID=1136) and (during the summer of 2013) the UA Downtown Sustainable City Project/Arizona Cooperative Extension/City of Tucson, Office of Conservation & Sustainable Development sponsored a workshop series titled, Becoming an Effective Citizen Planner for Sustainable Development in Southern Arizona.

Voting and Election-related Activities The election process provides a wide range of opportunities to participate in local government. In Pima County there are elections to select candidates, and to vote on issues in the form of ballot measures. Voters also decide tax rate increases and authorize local authorities to sell bonds for needed revenues for capital and other substantial expenditures. See Chapter 2 on Elections and Voting for how to exercise this responsibility. Citizens can affiliate with a political party when they register to vote and can volunteer in party organizing activities. Campaigns offer a great way to get involved (candidates welcome volunteer help). Citizens can choose to volunteer in support of a specific candidate and help that person run for office. Ballot measures are one of the few ways citizens get a chance to be lawmakers. This direct democracy provides opportunity for citizens to initiate legislation, circulate petitions, or work on presenting arguments for or against an issue. And citizens can work at the polls. Every jurisdiction (except those relying on a mail-in ballot) needs people to work at the polls on election day. Poll workers receive training in advance and usually serve all day and receive some kind of an honorarium for their work. Contact the County Elections Office, a city or town clerk, or the tribal elections offices, for more information.

Did you know... The county and municipalities often rely on volunteer help to provide basic services?



http://www.azleg.gov/ombudsman/public_records.asp

http://marana.com/index.aspx?NID=1136


Serving On Citizen Boards and Commissions Virtually all local governments have volunteer boards to help them make decisions. Citizen advisory boards are comprised of volunteers who are willing to put in the time to study issues and help government officials think through issues and provide public input. Each government has lists of boards, commissions and advisory committees that need members and are often seeking volunteers to serve on them. There is one for almost any interest you might have. A list of Pima County’s public board’s boards, commission and committees with links to more information is on-line. Google: Boards, Commissions and Committees Pima County Government. Among them are the Animal Care Advisory Board, the Arizona Municipal Property Corporation, the Bicycle Advisory Committee (Tucson/Pima County), Boards of Adjustment, Fair commission, Library Advisory Board, Metropolitan Education Commission and many others. Corresponding lists for the City of Tucson or other local municipalities are online at the municipality’s web site. Boards and commissions are usually listed under the City or Town Clerk. Nongovernmental Organizations Nongovernmental organizations often contribute to active civil society, representing issues and lobbying their representatives. These civic, public interest, and business and narrowly focused interest groups are independent of government, but provide an indispensable service to governments by advocating for a specific group. Hands-On Volunteer Opportunities in Government Local governments also seek volunteers for help with hands-on tasks. Volunteer opportunities exist in various tasks of government such as emergency management, police functions, animal care, libraries, fire corps, public health, nursing and general administrative services. Look on local government websites or Google volunteer opportunities in your area of interest.

Remember... Government is not a vending machine for our desires, but a means to act collectively for a better society.



Ch.2. Elections and Voting

2. ELECTIONS AND VOTING Note: See Appendix 1 – Voting Districts & Ward Maps

Registering to Vote in Pima County

Who may register and vote? A person who is: · Citizen of the United States · At least 18 years old by the next election · Resident of Arizona for twenty-nine days prior to the next

election · Free of conviction of treason or a felony, unless civil rights

have been restored · Not under guardianship or declared mentally incompetent by

the courts When must a person register or re-register?

· At least twenty-nine days before the next election. · If you change your name, address or party you must fill out the registration form again and re-

register. How may one register?

· Register to vote by mail by obtaining a registration form from government offices, libraries, the Motor Vehicle Department when you apply for a driver’s license or car license, the League of Women Voters or various other locations. Fill out the form and mail to the County Recorder’s Office, PO Box 3145, Tucson, AZ 85702-3145

· Register to vote in person at the office of the County Recorder of Pima County, with a city or town clerk, or with those who are helping at fairs, meetings, door to door registration, etc.

· Go online using Service Arizona EZ Voter at www.servicearizona.com

You must also provide proof of citizenship: send in with your registration form a copy of your birth certificate, your passport, or include your Arizona driver’s license number. Those currently registered in Pima County and only changing name, address, or party affiliation do not need to provide proof of citizenship.

General Information about voter registration The county handles registration of voters for all government elections in Pima County except for tribal elections. (Tribal membership determines who may vote in tribal elections and that is handled by the tribe.) Each registrant will receive a Voter Notification Card identifying the districts for the voters place of residence (congressional, state legislative, county, city or town, and school district). It also shows the precinct number and party affiliation. See sample image on the following page. Voting location changes; the current location will be on the sample ballot you will receive before each election.



http://www.servicearizona.com/

Ch.2. Elections and Voting Voting in Pima County

Types of Elections General Elections of national and state officials, state judiciary and county officials are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, in even-numbered years. Only one person from each party and independents may run in a general election. The primary election determines who the candidate will be from each party. Primary Nomination of party candidates and election of party precinct committees are held on the tenth Tuesday before a general election. Persons registered to vote in a party, those registered as independents, and those registered “no preference” may vote one party primary ballot. The voter must choose which ballot to receive. Special Special elections include bond elections, budget overrides, school budget overrides, special assessments, and recall. They are held when called for under circumstances prescribed by law. Dates of special elections are prescribed by state law. Elections may be held on either the second Tuesday in March, the third Tuesday in May, or may be combined with a primary or general election. Municipal Municipal or public authority elections are now all held in even-numbered years as mandated by State law, as of 2014. The City of Tucson has opted to retain elections in odd numbered years. As a charter city, Tucson has the autonomy to make its own decision on years elections will be held. Partisan and Nonpartisan or Retention Election All federal, state, and county offices except justices and judges, are elected in partisan elections (candidates run as members of a party). All city and town officers in Pima County are elected in nonpartisan elections, except for Tucson and South Tucson which have partisan city elections. Supreme, appeals, and superior court judges are not partisan. Justices of the peace, however, run as partisans. (Municipal magistrates are appointed.) At-large versus district elections Counties and cities or towns in Arizona may hold elections in which governing council members represent either separate districts or the entire geographical area. Pima County Board of Supervisors members and Pima Community College members are elected by district, Tucson City Council members are nominated by ward but elected at large (all registered citizens in Tucson vote on each council member). The Mayor of Tucson is nominated and elected at large. All other cities and towns in Pima County have councils elected at large.



Ch.2. Elections and Voting Know what’s on the ballot Candidates:

· In primaries: candidates run to become their party’s candidate for public office in general elections.

· In general elections: candidates run to win an office · For National offices: president and vice president of the United States, representatives and

senators for the U. S. Congress; · For state office: five statewide offices and one senator and two representatives of the state house

for your district in the state legislature (There are thirty legislative districts in the state, seven in Pima County.)

· For county office: county-wide offices and representatives to the Pima County Board of Supervisors;

· For judicial positions: for judges in the supreme, appeals or superior courts (a retention yes or no vote); competitive elections for justices of the peace

· For city offices: for city or town council, and mayor · For tribal offices: representatives for district councils,

representatives for Tribal Council or Legislative Council, for Tribal Chair, or district chairs.

Initiatives These are issues put on the ballot by citizen petition for citizens to decide to make their own laws. Some states have no constitutional provision for ballot initiatives, but Arizona allows for these citizen initiatives. The number of signatures required for petitions varies depending on whether it is for the state, county, or city/town level. There are no initiatives at the federal level. The Arizona Legislature may also place measures on the ballot, for citizens to decide. Referenda A referendum is a ballot measure placed on the ballot by the Arizona Legislature or registered voters challenging laws passed by the legislature. If enough signatures are gathered, the law that the legislature passed does not go into effect until after the election. Referenda used to change either the constitution or an existing state statute. Recall This is a ballot measure proposing to remove an elected public officer before the end of the officer’s term. This may be placed on the ballot only by citizen petition with a sufficient number of voter signatures. Bonds The Arizona Constitution requires that voters must approve a local government borrowing money through selling bonds. Campaign Finance Laws Candidates for state-level offices in Arizona must adhere to certain limits on single contributions. They may, however, opt for the Clean Elections Program and be given money from the Clean Elections Fund if they: a) promise to limit spending, b) accept only minimal private contributions, and c) show that they are viable candidates by collecting $5.00 contributions from a specified number of registered voters in the

Did You Know … You must show evidence of citizenship to register to vote?



Ch.2. Elections and Voting candidate’s election district. The Clean Elections Fund monies are public funds but not strictly tax monies. The fund comes from felony and misdemeanor fines, and contributions. The amount a candidate may receive depends on the office he/she is running for. The City of Tucson is the only local government in Pima County with a public campaign fund program. Tucson’s candidates must also adhere to campaign contribution limits. They also have the option of receiving matching funds if they agree to abide by stricter limitations on campaign contributions and campaign expenditure, and show they are viable candidates. State Requirements for Holding Local Elections The Arizona Constitution sets a limited number of days when local elections may be held (county, city, or town, school district, community college district, or special district). The effort to consolidate elections for a limited number of days is to decrease costs to taxpayers. These days as of 2014 as follows:

· The tenth Tuesday before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (for primary elections)

· The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

Each local jurisdiction may select its primary and general elections dates from these options. Special elections must be held on a different day each time they are held, but must be held on one of the consolidated election dates as below: · The second Tuesday in March · The third Tuesday in May · The tenth Tuesday before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November · The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

Vote by Mail and Early Balloting In Pima County you are not limited to voting at the polls on the designated voting day. You may vote early at a number of locations around the county or in the city or town if it is a local election. Or you may request a vote by mail ballot and fill out your ballot at home and mail it in to the County Recorder. You may request an early ballot from the County Recorder . In most local elections, the towns of Oro Valley, Sahuarita, Marana and City of Tucson limit voting to ballot by mail, unless the Pima County Board of Supervisors calls a county wide election. Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) PEVL allows a voter to make a single request to receive early ballots by mail for all future elections. Prior to the creation of PEVL, voters were required to make a separate request for each election to receive an early ballot. Currently if you add your name to the list you will be sent a ballot by mail automatically before each election in which you are eligible to vote. Your ballot will go in the mail with the very first batch of ballots being mailed out in the election, usually 26 days prior to Election Day. For more details about PEVL from the Recorder’s Office, click here: for the link below. http://www.recorder.pima.gov/pevl.aspx Election Facts in Each Jurisdiction Pima County Elections

· Primary elections: in August of even numbered years · General elections: November of even-numbered years · Congressional Districts: 1, 2, 3 · Arizona Legislative Districts: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14 , Pima County Districts 1 - 4 · Who runs elections: Pima County Elections Office and County Recorder



http://www.recorder.pima.gov/voter_faq_pevl.aspx%23a

http://www.recorder.pima.gov/pevl.aspx

http://www.recorder.pima.gov/pevl.aspx

Ch.2. Elections and Voting

· Referenda and initiatives are allowed · Contact for elections: Pima County Department of Elections (www.pima.gov/elections) · Contact for voter registration and early balloting requests: Pima County Recorder

(http://www.recorder.pima.gov) · Early balloting starts twenty-six days prior to the election · Elections: partisan, except for justices and judges

Town of Marana Elections · Primary elections: March of even numbered years · General elections: May of even numbered years · Congressional Districts: 1, 2, 3 · Arizona Legislative Districts: 11 · County Supervisors District: 1, 3 · Who runs elections: Pima County (by contract with Town) · Referenda and initiatives are allowed · Contact for elections: Town Clerk · Contact for voter registration: County Recorder · Early balloting starts twenty-six days prior to the election · Elections: nonpartisan, conducted entirely by mail

Town of Oro Valley Elections

· General elections: November of even numbered years, primary inAugust · Congressional Districts: 1 · Legislative Districts: 11 · County Supervisors Districts: 1 · Who runs elections: Pima County (by contract with Town) · Referenda and initiatives allowed: Yes · Typically conducts elections entirely by mail · Elections: nonpartisan

Town of Sahuarita Elections

· General elections: May of even numbered years, primary in March · Congressional Districts: 2, 3 · Legislative Districts: 2, 14 · County Supervisors District: 2, 3, 4

· Who runs elections: Pima County (by contract with Town) · Referenda and initiatives allowed: Yes · Typically conducts elections entirely by mail. · Elections: nonpartisan

City of South Tucson Elections

· General elections: May of odd-numbered years, primary in March · Congressional Districts: 3 · Legislative Districts: 2, 3 · County Supervisors District: 2 · Who runs elections: Pima County (by contract with City) · Referenda and initiatives allowed: Yes · Elections: nonpartisan



Ch.2. Elections and Voting City of Tucson Elections

· General elections: November of odd-numbered years, primary in August · Congressional Districts: 2, 3 · Legislative Districts: 2, 3, 9, 10 · County Supervisors District: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 · Who runs elections: City Clerk of the City of Tucson · Referenda and initiatives allowed: Yes · Elections: partisan, conducts elections entirely by mail.

Tribal Elections All tribal members are also U.S. citizens and vote in federal, state, and county elections. If tribal members live off the reservation in a municipality, they may vote in municipal elections as well. For tribal officers and council representatives, tribes conduct their own elections. See Chapter 3, Tribal Governments.

Do you know your voting districts?

Review the Appendix 1 Maps and list them inside the back cover of this

book.



Ch.3.Tribal Governments

3. TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

General Information on Tribes in Arizona

Background We start with the tribes because Native Americans were the first communities in Pima County. There are two tribal nations located in Pima County: Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation. Their governments have a distinct status as preexisting sovereign entities that are now “federally recognized” nations relating directly to the federal government by treaty and federal statute. Indigenous peoples had systematic ways of governing themselves, the land and the people before the arrival of Europeans and are not local governments subordinate to states, as counties or local governments are. (See section on relations with the federal government, below, for an explanation of federal recognition.) Arizona and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) Arizona has twenty-one federally recognized tribal governments. Nineteen, including the Tohono O’odham and the Pascua Yaqui in Pima County, joined together in 1952 to form the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.(ITCA) under the laws of the State of Arizona. The associations purpose is to promote tribal sovereignty and to strengthen tribal governments. It provides a unified voice to take action on matters that affect the tribes collectively and tribal members individually. The ITCA operates more than twenty projects and employs a staff to provide technical assistance and training to tribal governments. The ITCA council members are the highest elected tribal officials, tribal chairpersons, presidents and/or governors. Relations with the Federal Government Under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, tribal nations were formally recognized as sovereign and self-governing entities, within the relevant laws of the United States. This allows tribes to conduct government-to-government relations with the federal government, the relationship operates differently for different tribes. Tribal governments have a unique status from most states and local governments. Tribal recognition confers benefits, such as eligibility for federal grants, and protection by the U. S. federal government. Tribal governments are similar to the U. S. form of democracy. To be accepted under the “recognition” process administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs were required to adapt a form of democracy. Some tribal governments have refused to accept the idea of new constitutions designed by the U. S. government rather than their traditional forms of government. Power of Tribal Governments Tribal self-government includes such powers as choosing the tribe’s own form of democracy, determining tribal membership, regulating property within its jurisdiction, regulating domestic relations and rules of inheritance, policing conduct of its members, administering justice, and providing services. Some areas of tribal governance are specifically limited by acts of the U. S. Congress. The most well-known example is gaming enterprises. Gaming is protected from state prohibition on reservations under a U. S. Supreme Court decision in 1987, but is regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. The latter law provides for both federal and state roles in monitoring and regulating gaming on reservations. States are given the power to regulate (but not prohibit) gaming within their states and must enter into state-tribal gaming compacts to establish the parameters of Indian gaming. Compacts must be approved by the U. S. Department of the Interior.




Relations with the State The power to regulate and protect tribes (from encroachment by states and citizens) is wholly federal. The states are excluded from any power over tribes within their territory unless Congress delegates power to them specifically. There are many areas such as police, child care, and education where tribes and the state work together on a voluntary cooperative basis. This varies by tribe. Relations with County and Local Governments Tribes are also autonomous from county and local governments but have entered into agreements with local governments for law enforcement, education, child welfare, and other services. These agreements are specific to the tribes as well.

Map - Tribal Communities




Tohono O’odham Nation Vital Statistics

Population: 10,787 (2010 census), Enrolled tribal members living on the reservation (estimate. Approx.. 28,000 Mexico residents not included). Area: 2.8 million acres—about the size of Connecticut; the second largest reservation in Arizona (the Navajo is the largest). Elevation: 2,674 ft. Geographical Area: Made up of four non-contiguous segments

· Sells area goes from south of Casa Grande, to the Mexican border and encompasses parts of Pinal and Pima counties, 2.7 million acres (1916)

· San Xavier area just south of Tucson, 71,095 acres (created in 1874) · San Lucy District near the city of Gila Bend, 10,409 acres (1882) · Florence Village near the city of Florence, 20 acres

Location of Tribal Headquarters

Tohono O'odham Nation, P.O. Box 837, Sells, Arizona 85634 Executive Office: Telephone: (520) 383-2028 Tucson Office: (520) 930-0511 Web: www.tonation-nsn.gov

History 1100 AD The Hohokam, ancestors to the Tohono O’odham, lived in communities where they built 500 miles of canal, produced their own food, and engaged in math, science, and astronomy. Prior to European contact, the tribe exercised regional political sovereignty. 1937 In December of 1936, The Tohono O’odham (then known as the Papagos) submitted a tribal constitution under provisions of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act that was approved by the Secretary of Interior in 1937. That action resulted in the Papago Tribe being formally recognized by the U. S. Government. 1986 The Tohono O’odham revised their constitution. The revised constitution gives districts on the reservation more ability to enact their own ordinances but strengthens the power of the central legislative council on national issues. It also officially changed the name of the tribe to Tohono O’odham Nation, the traditional name of the people who had been given the name Papagos by early Europeans. Membership Membership is defined in the Tohono O’odham Nation’s constitution and requires legislative council approval. There remain today Tohono O’odham who live across the border in Mexico. Approximately 28 percent of the nation lives on the reservation. Those who live off the reservation have rights of citizenship in the nation. They register as members and may vote in all elections. The tribe crosses three counties and the U. S. border into Mexico. That portion of the Tohono O’odham nation in Mexico is not considered a part of the federally recognized nation’s government, but some enrolled Tohono O’odham members live in Mexico.



http://www.tonation-nsn.gov/


Relationship with the State of Arizona and the counties The Tohono O’odham partner and have intergovernmental agreements with county and local governments on many services including child and family services, education, and in border issues, homeland security and emergency response. Form of government The Tohono O’odham Nation operates under a three-branch system: executive, legislative, and judicial branch, as well as eleven district local governments. The districts elect their own district chairman, vice chairman and district council members. Legislative Branch The Nation’s Tribal Legislative Council Powers

· Passes legislation on tribal nation matters including final approval of land disposition since all land is held in trust

· Elects a council chair from among its members · Elected every four years with one-half of members standing for · election every two years

The Eleven District Councils Powers

· Power over local matters. They decide, among other things, which families may contract to hold land for their home sites. These decisions however, must pass through the chair of the nation who approves contracts.

The Eleven District Councils Members

· From five to twenty-two members depending on the size of their area and population · Members represent specific areas within the district · Serve four year terms with one-half of members elected every two years · Has a district chair and vice chair elected from among the members preside over each council

Executive Branch The Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman/Chairwoman

· Serves as the chief executive officer for the entire Tohono O’odham Nation · The chair and vice chair are elected by the tribal members at large and are separate from the tribal

council. · Provides leadership to the nation. · Has veto power over resolutions approved by the legislative council

The Executive Office of the Chairperson

· The Attorney General · Government Operations · The Treasurer · Tohono O’odham Gaming Office (Regulations)

Chief Administrator The chief administrator oversees the administrative support offices. The administrative departments are program offices and under the general guidance of the chair and vice chair.

· Chief Advocate · Public Safety and Emergency Management (including police, fire, solid waste) · Economic Development




· Education · Human Services · Membership Services · Natural Resources · Planning · Kohn Radio Station · Realty · Veterans’ Affairs

Judicial Branch Judges

· Six judges · Six pro tem judges · Six year terms · Appointed by the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council · Judges may sit in on other courts for some cases · Pro tem judges may sit as judges on a particular court when there is any conflict of interest with

the regularly appointed judge · A chief judge is selected from among the six by his/her peers · Judges are not required to have a law degree, but two currently do

Courts, the six courts are:

· Criminal · Adult · Juvenile · Civil - adults, children · Traffic · Appeals

Jurisdiction

· Over all tribal members on and off the reservation · Over most types of infractions · The federal government handles major crimes, and many drug related and immigration matters · Tohono O’odham courts work closely with state and county probation offices (the tribe crosses

three counties: Pima, Pinal and Maricopa). There is close cooperation with other governments in handling child cases. Child Welfare of Arizona can determine if the state will handle the case or whether it will revert back to the tribal court

Legal Code

· Tohono O’odham national and district ordinances and resolutions are codified in the Tohono O’odham Legal Code 1st edition, 2006

Tohono O’odham Nation Elections

· Qualifications to vote: Membership in tribe and registered to vote · Election of Legislative Council Representatives: half of council elected every two years, in May of

odd-numbered years. Terms are four years. A candidate is nominated by placing his/her name on a list on which tribal members vote




· Election of the tribal chair and vice chair is held every four years in May of odd numbered years at the same time half of the legislative council is running

· Election of District councils: half of each district council runs every two years in odd-numbered years

· Who runs elections: the Elections Office of the Department of Membership Services · Referenda and initiatives allowed: Yes

Finances Tribal revenues are generated primarily from gaming at the three Desert Diamond Casinos. A new casino hotel complex opened in the fall of 2007 at the site of the Nogales Highway casino. Cattle raising remains a strong part of Tohono O’odham family livelihood. Expenditures The tribe spends revenues generated on various tribal enterprises, education, human services, health care infrastructure, government operations, and periodically on per capita member payouts from the casino revenues.




Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Vital Statistics

Population: 3,942 on reservation; 18,342 enrolled members; 8,476 members in Pima County Area: 3 square miles of total reservation land including Trust and fee land in Pima County. Geographical Location: The tribal administrative headquarters are on Camino de Oeste, 15 miles southwest of Tucson. U. S. Congressional District: 3 State Legislative District: 3 County Supervisory District: 3, 5

Location of Tribal Government in New Pascua Village

Pasqua Yaqui Tribe, 7474 S. Camino de Oeste, Tucson, Arizona 85746 Phone: (520) 883-5000 Web: www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov E-mail: contact @ pascuayaqui-nsn.gov

Other Areas of the Tribe

Old Pascua – near Grant and Oracle Roads Barrio Libre – in downtown Tucson Yoem – in Marana Penjamo – in Scottsdale High-Town – in Chandler Guadalupe – an incorporated town near Tempe Coolidge – an incorporated city in Pinal County Eloy – an incorporated city in Pinal County

History

500 AD The Pascua Yaqui are descendants of the ancient Toltecs (Uto-Aztecas) from northern Mexico, who migrated north. 1870s The first modern Yaqui settlements in the United States were in Nogales and South Tucson when members moved north to avoid political persecution in Mexico. They settled in various locations from Tucson to Phoenix, but the tribe had no designated area for a reservation.



http://www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov/

mailto:[email protected]


1964 The U. S. Congress passed legislation transferring 202 acres of desert land southwest of Tucson to the Pascua Yaqui Association, a nonprofit Arizona corporation formed to receive the land. 1978 The Pascua Yaqui secured federal recognition as a U. S. Indian tribe. 1982 Congress transferred another 690 acres to the tribe, and later another 140 acres to the reservation. These areas near Tucson are the core of the recognized nation today. 1988 The current Pascua Yaqui Constitution was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 1994 The federal government changed the designation of the Pascua Yaqui from a “created tribe” to an “historic tribe” (having had continuous inhabitation of their land and not a reconstituted community).

Membership

Members must prove they are direct descendants from a Pascua Yaqui through a process designated by the enrollment department of the tribe.

Form of government

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe has an Elected Tribal Council form of government.

Legislative Branch

Tribal Council Powers

· To pass legislation in the following six areas: education, housing, finance, public safety, health, and social services over reservation and off-reservation Yaqui tribal members

· To appoint a chairman, a vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer · To operate tribal enterprises

Council Members · Eleven (11) members · Elected every four years as at-large representatives · Representatives must be enrolled members of the tribe, but they may live either on or

off the reservation anywhere in Arizona Meetings

· Once a month in study and/or public session to vote on legislation Staff

· See under chairperson, below; staff serves both the council and the chairperson in his/her executive duties

Executive Branch Tribal Council

· The Council chairperson, as well as the vice chairperson, secretary, and treasurer, act as officials over the executive departments for the tribe, as well as being legislative leaders

· The Council hires managers (called chief administrative officers) to oversee departments




Tribal Departments and Divisions · The tribe has full responsibility for services to the tribe, but it cooperates with Pima

County and/or the State of Arizona for assistance in services, and is eligible as an administrative agent to receive funds for many federal programs as a “recognized” tribe

Attorney General Department

· Provides nonpartisan legal advice and representation to all officials, agencies, departments, divisions, and enterprises of the tribal government

Education Division

· Usim Mahtawapo --- the Headstart Program · K-12 Y.E.S. Program—to enhance Yaqui students services in public schools · Higher Education Scholarship Program · Language Development Program --- to promote the Hiaki language · Adult and Continuing Education Program --- adult basic education and GED classes · The Community Resource --- computer access for community members · Intel Computer Clubhouse --- after-school program in computer professional skills

Development Services Department

· Develop job opportunities and reduce poverty by diversifying the economy · Economic Development · Community Development · Tortuga Ranch

Facilities Management Division

· Building Maintenance · Construction/ Energy · Custodial · Fleet Management · Inspections/Housing · Streets/Parks Maintenance

Finance and Operations

· Information Technology Department · Grants and Contracts --- Administration Office · Procurement

Health Services

· Tribal Health --- to promote better tribal health · Centered Spirit --- behavioral health · CCORE-Guadalupe --- Community Change-Oriented Recovery Effort · Behavioral Health Program - mental health and substance abuse Services

Internal Audit Department

· Monitors management and employees of tribe and its enterprises to see that systems are operating effectively and efficiently




Land Use Department · Land use and recording · Environment, and infrastructure · GIS Mapping

Member Services

· Enrollment Department-member enrollment services · Liogue Senior Center

Prosecutor’s Office

· Prosecutes for the tribe in criminal matters · Victim advocates

Public Defender Department

· Provides legal defense in Pascua Yaqui courts to economically disadvantaged member

Public Safety · Police Department · Fire Department

Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO)

· Maximizes employment and protects rights and interests of all tribal members in employment in tribal and outside enterprises

Radio Station Elections Office Tribal Enterprises

· Casino del Sol Resort · Casino of the Sun · Anselmo-Valencia Tori Amphitheater · Chevron gas and convenience store · Sewailo Golf Club

Judicial Branch Tribal Court

· Chief justice · Two associate judges

Provision for court of Appeals

· Meets periodically only when there is an appeal · Changes size and members depending on the case · Judges are often brought in from outside the tribe to insure their independence

Jurisdiction

· Complete autonomy on law enforcement on the reservation · Major felony crimes such as murder, rape, or child molestation, however, go to federal

courts to be tried because of the lack of facilities on the reservation to handle these cases · Cases involving tribal members off reservation go to state courts first




· The state may, and usually does, notify the tribe and transfers cases to tribal court depending on the ability of the tribe to handle cases, adequate facilities and personnel for probation, and so on

Pascua Yaqui Tribal Elections

· Qualifications to vote: Membership in tribe, age eighteen or over (no registration to vote) · Election of Tribal Council members: First Monday in June, every four years (falls on same day

as U. S. presidential election); tribal chair and vice chair are selected by the Tribal Council · Qualification to run for council: enrolled member may file a declaration of candidacy, petition

with the Department of Elections; then candidates go through a background check. A list of all candidates is put before the tribal members. Most candidates are from Pima County but may come from anywhere out of county. The eleven receiving the most votes are elected. There are several polling sites

· Who runs elections: Tribal Elections Department · Referenda and initiatives allowed: Yes, as are recall and “secretarial elections,” such as any

changes in the constitution requiring direct BIA oversight · Elections: nonpartisan

Tribal Finances and Budget

Revenues Pasqua Yaqui tribal government revenues come from several sources including the federal and state governments. Approximately 90 percent comes from the two gaming facilities, Casino del Sol and Casino of the Sun. Other revenues come from the Casino del Sol Resort and the Anselmo Valencia-Tori Amphitheater (AVA) entertainment venue on the reservation. Individual members do not pay taxes to the tribe. Tribal members living on the reservation do not pay federal, state, or local taxes, but members living off the reservation pay taxes as any other U.S. citizen.

Expenditures Approximately 90 percent of tribal revenues go to services to its members, combining with federal and state programs to provide housing, health and education, child protection and law enforcement, and public safety. The remainder is expended on infrastructure and tribal administration. A portion of casino revenues goes to support Arizona state programs and to local, state and national charities.



Ch.4.Pima County Government

4. PIMA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Vital Statistics Population: 992,394 (official estimate, 2012) Area: 9,189 square miles Location and Boundaries: Pima County is located in the south central part of Arizona bordered by Mexico and Santa Cruz County on the south, Cochise and Graham counties on the east, Maricopa and Pinal counties to the north and, Yuma County to the west. Elevation: Ranges from 1,200 to 9,185 feet (Mt. Lemmon), Tucson is 2,437 feet.

Location of County Seat

Pima County Administration Building, 130 West Congress, Tucson, Arizona 85701 Contact Numbers

General Information: Telephone: (520) 724-9999, Web site: www.pima.gov County as Subdivision of the State of Arizona

Pima County, like all county governments in Arizona, is a political and administrative subdivision of the state government of Arizona. Thus it carries out strictly regulated functions mandated in state statutes for counties. The county has some discretion to choose to provide other services, but less autonomy than municipalities.

State Mandated Elected Officials

Pima County is required to have nine administrators who are elected by the county electorate. These officials have a more direct relationship with the state than other department heads and unlike other department heads do not report directly to the County Administrator. This despite the Board of Supervisors in the county having budget authority over all officers and departments.

State-mandated functions of the county over all people living in the county, in both incorporated and unincorporated areas:

· Conduct elections and maintain voter registration roll · Operate jails · Prosecute state crimes and operate superior and justice of the peace courts · Record deeds and mortgages · Build and maintain roads and bridges · Operate agriculture extension services · Oversee public schools



http://www.pima.gov/


The county’s non-state-mandated functions The county is permitted to, and may opt to, provide other countywide functions. Over time Pima County has elected to provide the following:

· Wastewater management · Flood control · Job training · Neighborhood conservation · Libraries · Stadium District · At-risk youth programs

Services for unincorporated areas only Pima County also performs some traditionally municipal functions only in unincorporated areas such as law enforcement, zoning, and other land-use regulation, regulation of traffic, public nuisance control, and building safety. Counties have less discretion than municipalities in providing these local services. Some of these functions are state-mandated and are closely regulated by the state. Other local services are not allowed by the counties, such as fire protection. Over time, many county initiatives and state modifications in all areas have made it more difficult, than the lists above might suggest, to distinguish clearly between the many activities and programs that are state-mandated and closely regulated, and those that are not.

Form of Government Pima County is governed by a county commission form of government in which the elected commission (Board of Supervisors) has legislative and executive powers over some functions, and state mandated administrative officers have powers over other functions as specified in the Arizona Constitution. Thus, Pima County government does not strictly follow the three-branch organization of government where legislative or executive powers are centered in their respective branches.

Counties in Arizona with over 500,000 population (only Maricopa and Pima counties at this time) may choose to become “charter” counties to gain more autonomy from the state.

Although both Maricopa and Pima counties have tried for charters, neither has been able to gain the necessary voter approval. In 1998, Pima County voters turned down the bid for charter status by their county.

Did you know... that there is no single head

of the County directly elected at-large?




Pima County Government Organization Chart




Legislative Branch Board of Supervisors (The board is also executive and quasi-judicial for some purposes.)

Powers · Makes policies within the strict limits of state statutes · Sees that state-mandated functions are carried out but cannot change state-mandated

functions · Appoints the county administrator, the clerk of the board, the public fiduciary, the

county engineer, the public defender and legal defender · Has direct control over the county manager, community services, indigent defense,

medical, health, and welfare services, and public works · Has limited authority with respect to the functions of elected administrative officials · Sets the county tax rate and levies property taxes · Adopts the county’s annual budget · Determines voting precinct boundaries supervisory district boundaries, justice of the

peace district boundaries · Sits as the governing board for the Tucson Airport Area Enterprise Zone and the Pima

County Library District and is the incorporator of the Pima County, Arizona, Municipal Property Corporation

Meetings

· Where: Pima County Administrative Building. 130 West Congress Street · When: Regular meetings are held on the first three Tuesdays each month at 9 a.m.

This schedule operates from January through May and September through December. The Board of Supervisors adopts a summer schedule for June through August

Board of Supervisors

· Consists of five elected Supervisors · Supervisors serve four-year terms, elected simultaneously · Elections held every four years, in even-numbered years · Supervisors elected by district; there are five supervisory districts · Elections are partisan · Supervisors select one of their members to be chairperson; the chairperson conducts

the meeting and sees that the rules are observed. · Supervisors serve as official representatives of some citizen boards and district boards

The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

· Is appointed by the Board of Supervisors · Records and publishes all proceedings of the board · Preserves and files all accounts acted upon by the board · Keeps the official records for the board · Performs statutory requirements for special taxing districts · Maintains membership information of Pima County boards, commissions and

committees

The County Attorney · While the County Attorneys best known function is prosecuting people accused of

crimes, he/she also · Gives legal advice to the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator and

departments, boards, commissions, and committees (BCCs) (See Chapter 1 for more about these BCCs and how to serve on one)




Executive Branch

Nine officers are elected countywide, each of whom manages a department with independence from the supervisors or the County Administrator except for central administration and the budget:

· Sheriff · Assessor · Attorney · Recorder · Superintendent of Schools · Treasurer · Clerk of the Superior Court · Justices of the Peace · Constables

The County Administrator is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Administrator is responsible for:

· Carrying out the policies and goals established by the Board of Supervisors · Providing information and technical assistance to the Board of Supervisors · Administering and overseeing all non-elected official departmental operations · Providing management, coordination and communication on legislative issues and

intergovernmental needs

The Departments (see organization chart, 2 pages back) are organized into five functional areas. They are as follows:

· County Administration · Community Resources · Justice and Law Enforcement · Health Services · Public Works

The county organizes departments into these functional areas, mixing state-mandated and other functions together, and departments headed by elected officials and appointed officials together. The departments and their associated programs are listed under their functional areas on the Pima County Government Organization Chart shown on a couple of pages back.

Judicial Branch Superior Courts are technically state courts but they are partially supported financially by the county and are widely referred to as county courts. Justice Courts are county courts. See Chapter 10, The Judiciary and the Courts.

County Elections See Chapter 2 on Elections and Voting. County Finance and Budget Local governments including Pima County must, by state law, balance their budgets. Pima County relies on property taxes for much of its revenue but this source is limited because only 13.8 percent of its land is privately owned and thus taxable (see Introduction).




Major sources of county revenues Primary Property Tax and state revenue sharing are the main sources of revenue for the General Fund. Restricted funds (designated for a special purpose) come mostly from federal and state-grants, state-shared HURF monies( for transportation only) and bonds (secondary property tax designated for special purpose). Fees from county enterprises also contribute about a third of the budget. Aside from the vagaries of economic conditions which make government revenues less predictable are uncertainties from state cutbacks on state sharing in any one year.

County general obligation bonds General Obligation bonds are a major source of funding for Pima County’s large capital projects. By Arizona law, the County’s general obligation bonds (debt) may not exceed 6% of the value of taxable property as of the latest assessment. Debt may be incurred up to 15% if voters approve. Pima County’s Bond Advisory Committee initiates, reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on what projects should be approved for bond support. The Supervisors then decide whether to call an election for voter approval. All municipalities and tribal authorities as well as citizens are represented on the County Bond Advisory Committee. It is unusual for a county to include other jurisdictions on their advisory boards but it does provide a vehicle to sort out overlapping jurisdictional issues. County projects within a municipal boundary can be evaluated to considere broader regional impacts and purely local needs.

In addition to periodic state of Arizona audits of bond project expenditures and implementation, is monitoring by the County Bond Advisory Committee.

State Limits on County Budget Other than state limits on general obligation bonds, resources for the County budget are limited by the state in other ways. The State of Arizona Economic Estimates Commission sets a spending limit for the county - as well as for each local municipality - every year, based on the actual expenditures during Fiscal Year 1979-80, adjusted for inflation and population growth since that date. The spending limit doesn’t include bond proceeds, debt service, interest earnings, special voter-approved districts, highway-user revenue funds, federal funds, monies from intergovernmental agreements, and restricted state grants. Levy limitation: The annual growth rate of the primary property tax levy (for general operating expenses) is limited by state statute to 2 percent plus the percentage growth of the physical property tax base.

Other Limits Pima County does not levy a sales tax. The county is permitted by the state to do so if there is unanimous agreement among supervisors. Thus far supervisors have not been able to agree to leveling a county sales tax. Taxes are further limited by enterprise zones. These are zones that give property or other tax-fee breaks to businesses to encourage them to locate in these economically underdeveloped zones. Pima has two enterprise zones, one in South Tucson and portions of Tucson, and the other in an unincorporated portion of the county just southwest of Tucson.




County Accounting Funds The three major types of funds for all local governments are:

· The general fund, primarily from taxes: these are monies that can be used for any government purpose

· Enterprise funds, monies that come from government-owned enterprises or businesses - such as providing sewer service - and go back into those enterprises

· Special revenue funds: monies usually from grants restricted to one program or purpose, such as a gas tax that must be used for roads

Fiduciary Funds Pima County also has fiduciary funds. These are not county funds, but the county acts as the official financial officer for many other public authorities in the county and accounts for these monies in fiduciary funds. Pima County bills for and collects property taxes for all local governments in the county. It is also the fiscal manager/treasurer for some local governments and special taxing districts. Fiduciary funds are shown in the budget for information only. They are not County monies, nor are they figured in the budget totals. Your Property Tax Bill The county sends you a bill for property taxes for jurisdictions in Pima County and then passes on the revenues to those various jurisdictions. Pima County, the City of Tucson, and the City of South Tucson are the only general government jurisdictions that currently levy a property tax. For an image of a sample Pima County Property tax bill/statement and an excellent explanation of all the items on the statement, go to the Pima County Treasurer’s web site www.pima.gov/taxes . Holding the cursor over an item brings up afull explanation of that item. For more information contact the Treasurer’s office.



http://www.pima.gov/taxes


Pima County Budget The following charts from fiscal year 2012/2013, gives an overview of Pima County’s finances and budget. Since budgets and taxes can change every year, this budget information is offered as a benchmark for the size of the budget, tax rates, categories of revenues and major expenditures, and budget organization. Expenditure is by program (within departments). A particular program may get funds from more than one category of revenue. Thus, for example, a transportation program may get funds from general taxes, revenues generated by bus tickets (enterprise funds) and special grants.

Pima County Budget, Fiscal Year 2012/2013 · Total Budget: $1,233,496,441 · Property Tax Rate per $100 assessed property value (determined each year). · Sales tax: None




Fiscal Year 2012/2013 Total Budget $1,233,496,441

Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Pima County Budget Recommended – click here or use link below http://webcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Government/Finance%20and%20Risk%20Management/Reports/budget%20reports/2013-2014/Recommended%20Budget%202013-2014.pdf

30%

36%

34%

Pima County Revenues Fiscal Year 2012/2013

General Fund 36% Primary Property Taxes 22.4% State Revenue Sharing 9.3% Other Local Taxes & Fines 3.5% Other Revenues 0.9%

Restricted Fund 34% Capital Projects 10.7% * Secondary Property Taxes County Free Library 2.2% Regional Flood Control Dist. 1.5% Debt Service 5.0% Federal Revenue 5.8% State Shared HURF 2.8% Other State revenue 3.6% Other Revenue 2.8% * Includes other Funding Sources

Enterprise Funds 30% Regional Wastewater Mgmt. 28.8% Development Services 0.5% Parking Garages 0.2%

13%

38%

49%

Pima County Expenditures Fiscal Year 2012/2013

Enterprise Funds 13 % Regional Wastewater Mgmt.13.4% Development Services 0.05% Parking Garages 0.1%

Restricted Fund 49% County Free Library 2.8% Employment & Training 1.5% Justice & Law 5.0% Health 2.2% Transportation 3.1% Federal Revenue 5.8% Debt Service Fund 9.2% Capital Project Fund 18.2% Other 4.2%

General Fund 38% Justice & Law 20.1 % Health Services 8.2% Central Administration 3.0% Public Works 2.6% Other 6.0%



http://webcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Government/Finance%20and%20Risk%20Management/Reports/budget%20reports/2013-2014/Recommended%20Budget%202013-2014.pdf




General Fund Sources of Funds and Uses of Tax Dollars – Fiscal Year 2012/2013

Sources of Funds Misc. 4% Licenses & Fines

Tranfers-In 16%

Inter- governmental 28% State Shared Sales Tax Vehicle License Tax Highway User Revenue Fund Grants

Local Property Tax 33%

Charges for Services 19% Wastewater Mgmt. Health Plan fees Court Ffees Correctional Housing Fees

Local Property Tax 33%

Use of Tax Dollars Percent of Local Property Taxes

Health 20%

Public Safety 45%

Parks & Rec. 4% Community Services 3%

Debt Service 16%

Flood Control 5%

Library 7%

14%

10%

3%

37%

36%

Allocation of Pima County Budget Fiscal Year 2012/2013 Health 14%

UAMC South Campus State Medicais (AHCCCS)

Community Services 10% Outside Agencies Vocational/Remedial Employment Training Youth Health/Social

Parks & Recreation 3% Parks

Public Safety 37% Prosecution Indigent Defense

Public Works 36% Wastewater Management Solid Waste Management Environmental Quality

Prim

aryTax

Seco

nd

ary Tax




“Did You Know” these facts about some Pima County Projects?

Sonoran Desert Conservation

The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) adopted by the Pima County Board of Supervisors and approved by citizens vote in 2003, is now being implemented. Many governments and their agencies, special districts, non-profit and private organizations, ranchers, and others are making decisions on a range of policy issues. Among these are conserving wildlife habitats, healthy riparian areas, natural resources, soils, cultural heritage sites and reserving areas for economic and residential development. Coordination of the efforts to implement the Plan is now centered in the new 1) Pima County Division of Sustainability and Conservation located in the Public Works Department; and the 2) Pima County Flood Control District. More information on the SDCP and its implementation is available on the Pima County web site. Click on Public Works in Departments. Or phone the Division of Sustainability and Conservation at (520) 724-6451.

Economic Development Pima County has a new Economic Development Plan passed by the Board of Supervisors in November 2012. The plan’s purpose is to make Pima County more competitive economically, and to attract more high wage jobs. It addresses improvements across the board: infrastructure, facilities for tourism, employment center, permitting process for new businesses, revitalization of neighborhoods, and museum and library innovative programs. Plan oversight is located in the County Administrator’s office. Hands-on implementation falls mainly in the community and Economic Development Administration, Development Services and Public Works. For more information, please go to the Economic Development Action plan, Pima County web site or the office of the




There are two on-going programs that have been recently changed.

Health Programs Pima County is mandated by state government to provide public health services. It has traditionally providing patient services through Kino Hospital and other sites, as well. However, over the last decade, the County has moved Kino Hospital to the private sector and no longer operates a hospital, nursing home or health plan. The Health Department of the County now focuses on Public Health. But continues to provide health services to adult and juvenile detainees, and certain psychiatric evaluation services to individuals involuntarily committed.

Library Also, over the last decade, Pima County has assumed total responsibility for library services throughout Pima County. Prior to 2006 the County shared this responsibility with the City of Tucson.

Did You Know? Pima County offers an innovative program that provides public health nursing in its library system. The program, which served more than 2,800 patrons in its first year of operation, is being used as a model throughout the nation.



Ch.5.Unincorporated Areas in Pima County

5. UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN PIMA COUNTY Overview Pima County has a large unincorporated area with a number of large and growing communities. These unincorporated communities increasingly require municipal-type services the county cannot provide. Such communities have thus far opted not to incorporate as municipalities, or do not meet state requirements. See next Section on Incorporated Cities and Towns. Some have developed other mechanisms to provide such services, and have developed governing bodies short of incorporating as municipalities to work with the county to improve their areas. Why communities may choose not to incorporate Arizona law requires that a community have a population of at least 1,500 before it may incorporate as a municipality. Many communities that meet this standard choose to remain unincorporated for various reasons. The question whether or not to incorporate has been a contentious one among many Pima unincorporated communities. Some have had movements to incorporate but these movements have not succeeded. The contest is over more and better services versus potential for more taxes and another layer of government. Those areas that decide to incorporate usually have problems with infrastructure; roads, water, and so forth, and seek better services by having more local control over them. They also seek to take advantage of state revenue sharing with incorporated areas or protection from annexation by neighboring cities or towns. But many remain satisfied with fewer services and prefer to remain unincorporated and keep their independence and distance from government. Under direct county jurisdiction The communities that develop an identity but choose to stay unincorporated remain directly under the jurisdiction of county government. County government in Arizona was designed to carry out state functions, such as public health, environmental regulation, and the sheriff, that municipalities don’t provide. But counties do provide unincorporated areas with some municipal-type services. In more isolated areas, municipal services are costly to provide to the satisfaction of the communities. Being unincorporated does not mean that communities do not organize locally to operate as communities. There are different ways and levels of involvement communities use to govern themselves. Some efforts are formal, some informal; some are intended to gain more services from county government; some allow the community to operate autonomously. Unregulated subdivisions—wildcat subdivisions Under Arizona state statutes, subdivision regulations allow a landowner to divide property up to five splits, unplatted, and without having to comply with those local subdivision regulations that address infrastructure needs such as roads, access, sewer, and drainage analysis.




Most communities or housing subdivisions of more than five plots are regulated through local development processes that mandate standards for adequate infrastructure. Developers are required to provide adequate infrastructure, which is then handed over to public authorities to maintain. Under the state “wildcat subdivision” statute, infrastructure is taken care of privately; therefore, it may not be up to standard, and is not handed over for public maintenance. Over time, wildcat division and re-division (each of the divided parcels may in turn be divided again into up to five plots, ad infinitum) has created some densely populated residential areas that now want better infrastructure and services. For example substandard roads wash out easily in floods. But the county cannot spend tax dollars to maintain these often substandard private roads As of 2005, the county, under the Minor Lands Division, does require a wildcat subdivision to go through a land survey and application process designed to inform landowners what problems might occur in the future with flooding, legal access requirements, and so forth, and to insure that the subdivision does not have more than five plots. The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has offered funds to some of the poorer wildcat neighborhoods, calling them colonias; concentrated populations in unincorporated areas, especially in border areas lacking basic services. Thus far, Arizona’s border area colonias have not received as much federal aid as the arguably worse colonias in New Mexico and Texas. Special taxing districts Unincorporated communities are increasingly providing themselves the essential services they need by special taxing districts, such as fire or water districts. See the Chapter 8, Special Taxing Districts. These are a formal type of public authority or local government; they can impose and enforce a tax. But they can be used only for a single specific purpose. These special purpose districts are the fastest growing part of local government in Pima County and nationwide. Tax power limited to providing only one service may seem to the community an easier way to hold public authority accountable. Improvement districts can be created as a special taxing mechanism to pay for improvements or services to a neighborhood or homeowner association area. Homeowner and neighborhood associations Another way of organizing to provide some services and/or controls is to form a homeowner association and/or a neighborhood association, some incorporate. Also, see Chapter 6, Incorporated Cities and Towns, The City of Tucson. Homeowner associations (HOAs) are legally different from neighborhood associations. Membership in the former is not usually voluntary if one owns a home in the area. HOAs have covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs), which they may enforce, these CC&Rs are attached to the land deeds. These may include the collection of annual fees and requirements for housing styles and uses, RV parking restrictions, garbage pickup, paying for recreational facilities, and so forth, similar to municipal ordinances. Homeowner associations are considered private. Neighborhood associations are considered public organizations especially if they are officially recognized. They are encouraged by public agencies to work with them in improving neighborhoods. They are voluntary in membership, although they might charge a fee for joining. They organize to maintain value and bring improvements to the neighborhood through cooperation on planning and improvement projects, or lobbying city, town, or county government to provide better services. CC&Rs or deed restrictions on land in neighborhoods are often more restrictive than local governments’ Land Use Codes.




CC&Rs and land deed restrictions do have legal status. On land issues, although they do not take precedence legally over the county or city codes, they may challenge public land-use decisions through the courts where there is some conflict. On crime issues, in 1997 the Arizona Neighborhood Protection Act (NPA) extended certain parts of victims’ rights to registered neighborhood associations to help track a criminal proceeding related to crime in their neighborhoods. Community committees or commissions Some communities have formed committees or commissions that have elected representatives as an intermediary between the people and the county government. These may be organized for a specific purpose, such as providing social services to its communities. Or, they may be broadbased representing the community at large and sometimes can act much like a volunteer government as the one in Green Valley does. Private contracting for services Municipal services such as water or garbage pickup are sometimes provided by private enterprises. Or property owners themselves may provide their own services, such as water wells, or septic tanks. The county controls all sewer services for those not on private septic tanks. Fire service is provided by volunteers, by special taxing fire districts or by individual homeowners’ contracts with private companies such as Rural Metro. Pima County unincorporated communities Pima County has many unincorporated communities across its expanse. We present brief information on those with major populations or those that have the most activity related to governing. Ajo, Altar Valley/Three Points, Arivaca, Avra Valley/Picture Rocks, Casas Adobes, Catalina, Catalina Foothills, Corona de Tucson, Green Valley, Mt. Lemmon, Rincon Valley/Vail, Tanque Verde, Tucson Estates, and Tucson Mountains. See Map at the end of this Section. In addition to these, there are other smaller or less organized communities that we merely list here: Cortaro, Drexel/Alvernon, Drexel Heights, East Sahuarita, Flowing Wells (lies partly within the City of Tucson boundaries), Redington, Rillito, Santa Rita, Santa Rosa, Summit, Tortolita, Valencia West, and many more on the Tohono O’odham reservation. Remember, Arizona is growing and urbanizing so rapidly that this picture of unincorporated areas may change from our occasionally updated numbers.

Did you know… The county is not permitted by the state to provide fire protection services!




UNINCORPORATED AREAS

AJO (Why and Lukeville) Vital Statistics Population.. 3,304 (2010) Area............. 28.1 square miles Location...... Ajo is in western Pima County on Highway 85, north of the junction with State Highway 86. Elevation..... 1,798 feet County Supervisory District 3 Website www.ajochamber.com/ Description and History Ajo, an ethnically diverse rural community in western Arizona, began as a copper mining town in 1911 under the Phelps Dodge Corporation. Phelps Dodge has since closed its operations. During the 1980s, Ajo became primarily a retirement community and tourist destination in the winter months. Its name comes from the first people to inhabit the area—the Tohono O’odham. They named the area for the red pigment they obtained from the ore-rich rocks called “au-auh.” Civic Organization Western Pima County Community Council

· This council represents the interests of Ajo and the smaller communities of Why and Lukeville to the county

· It has eleven elected members, one representative from each of seven districts and four at-large councilors. Ajo has five districts; Why has one, and Lukeville one

ALTAR VALLEY/THREE POINTS-ROBLES JUNCTION/SASABE Vital Statistics Population.. 8,600 (approximate) Area............. 713,807 acres Location...... The Valley is bounded by the Baboquivari and Coyote Mountains on the west, Tohono O’odham Garcia Strip to the north, Black Mountain, Sierrita Mountains, and Cerro Colorado Mountains near Arivaca on the east, and the Mexican border on the south. Elevation..... 3,000 ft. County Supervisory District 3 Description and History The Altar Valley is a long, narrow trough through which the Altar Wash flows northward from Mexico. A mix of ranches on both private and leased grazing land, farming, along with rapid residential growth along the rural edge of the greater Tucson metropolitan area, the Altar Valley has historic and culturally significant areas—from early Native American settlements to early nineteenth-century European ranches. Both Sasabe and Arivaca are communities of historic significance. Baboquivari Peak has cultural value to the Tohono O’odham, who believe it to be the center of their world. Civic Organization Website www.roblesjunction.org Robles Responds is a coalition of several small community groups that addresses issues and works for positive change in the area.



http://www.roblesjunction.org/


ARIVACA Vital statistics Population: 695 in immediate town area, (U.S. census 2010) Area: 130 square miles. The area considered the town has designated commercial areas as established by Pima County. Land area primarily ranch lands sold in 40 acre parcels to individuals. Location: Sixty miles southwest of Tucson, 23 miles west of Interstate Highway 19. Elevation..... 3,800 feet County Supervisory: District 3 Website www.arivaca.net Description and History Arivaca was an O’odham village known as Aribac in 1695, when Father Kino was setting up his missions in the Pimeria Alta. It became a mining and ranching area in the 1800s and became a federal town site in 1916. The remote town now has retirees, commuters, ranchers, and those wishing to live a quiet country life. Mary Kasulaitis, the local historian, describes her town in her Village of Arivaca—A Short History, as “in many ways...a remote backwater, retaining the flavor of an Old West mining and ranching town.” People move to Arivaca to experience limited governmental control. The town is deliberately unincorporated but has organizations, groups, and individuals that meet the needs of the community. Civic Organization Website www.arivaca.net Provides a preschool, event venue and limited overnight quest accommodations. Arivaca Coordinating Council Human Resources Group

· This group works with the county to provide social services for low income, disabled and elderly people

The Arivaca Family and Community Education Association · This association has restored the old school house and now runs it as asmall community center in

town, with an adjoining park. The association is funded by some county grants and self-funded. Arivaca Health Services, Inc.

· The Arivaca clinic was started by part of a network of rural clinics funded by the federal Public Health Service and local contributions

Arivaca Community Center · Built with HUD funds and now supported by the community · Used for children’s programs, town meetings and social events · It includes a performance stage, playground, and skate park · Provides emergency fire and medical services

Arivaca Humanitarian Office

· Helps residents deal with living on the border issues Other organizations include: Arivaca Artists’ Co-op, Arivaca Community garden and 4H



http://www.arivaca.net/

http://www.arivaca.net/


AVRA VALLEY/ PICTURE ROCKS Vital Statistics Population: 15,613 (2010) Area: 346 square miles Location: The Avra Valley is defined by the Roskruge, Waterman, and Silverbell mountains on the west, Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Monument on the east, Tohono O’odham Garcia Strip on the south, and Pinal County on the north. Elevation: 2,079 feet County Supervisory: District 3 Description and History The cultural and historic resources of the Avra Valley are the products of thousands of years of human settlement from the earliest prehistoric times to modern times. The town of Silverbell and the Silverbell ghost town are examples of communities historically linked to mining in the West. Today the large community of Picture Rocks is an unplatted settlement east of Saguaro National Park West. Historic uses of mining, ranching, and farming in the valley continue, but now rapid private development and a pattern of growth dominated by unregulated development of individual lots along with a few platted residential subdivisions is taking hold. Civic Organization Citizens for Picture Rocks

· This is a voluntary community organization formed in 2002 to urge the county to improve law enforcement in the area. It is now active in community cleanup as well

· It promotes volunteers to help the sheriff’s office with its new Walk and Watch program to fight crime and to help with a quarterly citizen cleanup effort. Dues are voluntary, but only those who pay dues may vote

· The committee meets monthly CASAS ADOBES Vital Statistics Population: 65,436 (2010) Area: 23 square miles Location: North of Tucson, bordered by Oro Valley and Marana Elevation: 2,400 feet County Supervisory: District 1 Description and History The Casas Adobes area, just north of the City of Tucson, was mostly cattle ranches and citrus orchards until the 1920s, when ranches were sold off in parcels of land for home sites. In the 1950s, Italian-born Sam Nanini developed three subdivisions on about 300 acres that became the heart of the Casas Adobes community. The homes were built with adobe from which the community gets its name. In 1997, Marana initiated an effort to annex the area, and from 1997 to 2001 activists tried to incorporate to defend against annexation, but the attempt to incorporate was finally defeated in 2001. In 2003, Oro Valley annexed the commercial centers at the Oracle/Magee intersection.




Civic Organization There are many neighborhood associations in Casas Adobes that work together to promote quality of life issues including crime and nuisance prevention, and with the County Board of Supervisors on compliance with county code issues, as well as on transportation, annexation, and other issues that affect the greater area. These organizations are volunteer, public organizations with no restriction on participants and with no powers to fine or enforce regulations. Some are listed below:

· The Northwest Community Coalition (NWCC) (a coalition of more than thirty neighborhood associations)

· Casas Adobes Neighborhood Association · Casas Adobes West 2 Neighborhood Coalition · The Central Village Alliance · Shannon/Magee Neighborhoods Association, · The Northwest Area Transportation Coalition (NWATC) · La Canada Magee Neighborhood Association

There are also many private homeowners associations in the area. CATALINA Vital Statistics Population: 8,250 (2010) Area: Approximately 17 square miles Location: Twelve miles north of Tucson on Arizona Highway 77 sitting next to the Pinal County line. Elevation: 3,200 feet County Supervisory: District 1 Website www.OurCatalina.com Description and History Catalina is a small residential community set in wide-open spaces close to the Catalina Mountains. It was founded in 1950 when the ranchers E. B. Garner and his wife started selling parcels of their 112-acre land. San Manuel copper miners settled in the area with others who wanted rural or more affordable lives. In 1959, Lloyd Golder III from Chicago bought the large Rail N ranch, renamed Golder Ranch, and in the 1960s began subdividing for mostly wildcat development. Tucson commuters, retirees, and original homeowners now give the area an eclectic mix of residents. Recently one large planned residential development has been built in Catalina, and business development along Oracle Road is increasing. Civic Organization Greater Catalina/ Golder Ranch Village Council

· The council disseminates information between community and the county and other local governments

· There are local annual elections for membership of the council. One-third of the (number of) council members is elected every year. Members are elected at large

Did you know… There are more than seven communities in Pima County with over 5,000 population that are not incorporated as municipalities?




CATALINA FOOTHILLS Vital Statistics Population: 63,181 (2010) Area: 44.5 square miles Location: Just north of Tucson’s city limits, from First Avenue on the west to Sabino Canyon Road on the east and from River Road on the south to the Coronado National Forest line on the north. Elevation: 2,560 feet County Supervisory: District 1 Description and History The area in Pima County that stretches along the lower south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains is generally referred to as the Catalina Foothills. Once all native vegetation and sparsely populated, the area is now mainly developed. Much of the area was acquired by John Murphey in 1928 in a successful bid to buy 7,000 acres of the public land. Murphey wanted to develop a Mexican hacienda style community with amenities to attract prominent buyers from the East Coast who wished to spend the winters in the desert. Murphey divided his land into large parcels, creating the Catalina Foothills Estates (CFE) on which he placed strict Covenants Codes and Restrictions (CC&Rs) in order to maintain the desert and protect property values. This area is roughly bounded by River Road on the south, Skyline/Sunrise on the north, First Avenue on the west and Hacienda del Sol on the east, and includes an area west of the northwest corner of Skyline and Campbell. CC&Rs in areas CFE No. 1 through No. 4 expired in 1980. Some property owners have reinstated the basic CC&Rs. CFE No. 5 and No. 6 maintain original covenants. CFE areas No. 7 through No. 9 have their own CC&Rs and boards as does area No. 10. Condos and townhomes in any of the areas have their own CC&Rs and boards. The foothills area holds many resorts, gated communities, retail and office complexes, and shopping centers, in addition to thousands of homes and apartments. Civic Organization

The Catalina Foothills Association (CFA) Website www.cfatucson.org · This is the largest among many homeowner associations and gated communities in the Foothills.

The CFA encompasses nine residential areas (numbered 1 through 9) that were eventually turned over to the CFA from the original Murphey Trust

· A board of fifteen to eighteen elected representatives from areas No.1 through No.9 (area No. 10 does not participate in the association.) is elected annually for staggered three-year terms.

· The mission of the CFA is to act on behalf of all the residents on matters that affect Catalina Foothills Estates Nos. 1 through 9

· Participating residents pay dues and elect board members · Committees oversee complaints and compliance of the CC&Rs for areas Nos. 1 through 6. Areas

No. 1 through 7 have their own boards and oversee their own CC&Rs, but do bring issues of concern to the association



http://www.cfatucson.org/


GREEN VALLEY Vital Statistics Population: 28,570 (estimated, 2004), 31,200 (estimated 2012) Location: Green Valley is in the Santa Cruz Valley, twenty-three miles south of Tucson on Interstate 19. Size: 17 square miles Elevation: 2,900 feet County Supervisory: District 4 Description and History Green Valley is part of the original San Ignacio de la Canoa Land Grant from the King of Spain. In 1964, a development company started the current community primarily as a retirement community. In 1966 several Green Valley homeowner associations came together to form the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council (GVCCC). The GVCCC incorporated as a 501c(4) in 1973 with six homeowner associations. Today there are more than 73 homeowners associations (HOAs) represented, plus many institutional members represented on the council. Civic Organization Website www.gvccc.org The GVCCC or “The Council” is a volunteer government but with no legal municipal authority

· It works with the many homeowner associations (HOAs) in Green Valley; and any enforcement powers come from the CC&Rs of the HOAs as they work together

· Its purpose is to manage community issues, promote a common voice when dealing with the Pima County government, alert members to legislative actions that could affect them, and to advocate for retiree residents

· It is a 501c(4) Arizona Corporation · Board of Representatives

• Each members HOA (73 in 2013) selects a representative to the board (This represents 90 percent of Green Valley residents). More than 50 local organizations and businesses send representatives

• HOAs get proportional vote based on their size; institutional members get one vote · Executive Board

• The Executive Board has eleven members (6 officers and 5 members at-large) • They are elected every two years in March. • Executive board members must be from a member HOA

· Staff is two-and-a-half paid employees and 350 volunteers

MT. LEMMON /SUMMERHAVEN Vital Statistics Population: 90 permanent residents (2010) Location: 25 miles northeast of Tucson, high in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest Elevation: 8,200 feet County Supervisory District 4



http://www.gvccc.org/


Description and History Mt. Lemmon/Summerhaven is a small village in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. It is a resort community serving skiers in the winter and Tucson and Phoenix residents seeking cooler temperatures in the summer. The Summerhaven area was originally used by the U.S. Army at Fort Lowell in Tucson as a military camp in its campaign against the Apache Indians, in the 1870s and 1880s. Summerhaven suffered major losses from the Aspen fire in 2003. Civic Organizations The Mt. Lemmon Firewise Committee

· After the Aspen Fire on Mt. Lemmon in 2003 the residents of Summerhaven and the Mt. Lemmon Fire District formed the Mt. Lemmon Firewise Committee to promote fire safety within and adjacent to the community

· The committee also has as members the Arizona State Land Department, the U.S. Forest Service, the Mt. Lemmon Domestic Water Improvement District, Pima County, the Santa Catalina Ranger District, and the Coronado National Forest

· This committee and the Mt. Lemmon Fire District have become the focus for community organization

Mt. Lemmon Woman’s Club GREATER VAIL AREA Includes: Vail, Rincon Valley, New Tucson, Empire Mountains, Corona de Tucson Vital Statistics Population: 21,753 (in 85641 Zip Code) Area: 18.2 square miles Elevation: 3,235 ft. Location: The community center is on Colossal Cave Road one mile north of Interstate 10. The Greater Vail Area stretches from Houghton Road eastward to J6, from the Rincon valley south to the Santa Rita Mountains. County Supervisory District 4 Congressional District 2 State Legislative District 14 Fire Districts

· Corona de Tucson Fire Department · Rincon valley Fire Department

Description and History The Greater Vail Area southeast of Tucson stretches from the Rincon Mountains, south to the Empire and Santa Rita Mountains. The original town site is located between two sets of railroad tracks and bookended by its two remaining historic buildings, the 1935 Shrine of the Santa Rita in the Desert and the 1908 Vail store and post office. The community of Vail began in 1880 as a Southern Pacific railroad siding. It took its name from ranchers, Walter and Edward Vail who settled in the area in the late 1870s and established the Empire and Vail Ranches.




The Greater Vail Area contains many historical and scenic treasures, including the Cienega Creek Preserve, Arizona Trail, Colossal Cave Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park East. The top-performing, community minded Vail United School District attracts families and is one of the reasons that Vail was named one of the top 10 places to live in the U.S. The Greater Vail Area has grown over 350% from 2001 to 2013. The rural ranching and railroad community has become a highly desirable place for suburban families. Natural & Cultural Resources

· Cienega Creek Preserve · Rincon Mountains · Empire Mountains · Santa Rita Mountains · Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Civic Organizations Cienega Watershed Partnership (CWP) CWP facilitates cooperative actions that steward the natural and cultural resources of the Cienega Watershed while enabling sustainable human use. CWP will accomplish this by generating and dispersing resources to enable the implementation of strategies, programs, and projects that contribute to the ecological health, long-term sustainable use, and cultural richness of the region. www.cienega.org/ Empire-Fagan Coalition This coalition has a strictly-defined mission: to protect our community by opposing open-pit quarries in Davidson Canyon and in the New Tucson area. Greater Vail Area Chamber of Commerce To represent and support business and promote the economic growth and enrichment of the greater Vail community. www.greatervailchamber.com Rincon Institute The Rincon Valley Farmers & Artisans Market is a project of the Rincon Institute, a non-profit organization that works to integrate community and conservation throughout the Rincon, Vail, and Tanque Verde valleys. www.rinconinstitute.org

Santa Rita Foothills Community Association Vail Education Foundation (VEF) The Mission of the VEF is to expand the possibilities of both curricular and extracurricular education in the Vail School District through strategic funding of projects and strengthening community relationships. http://www.vail.k12.az.us/our-district/vail-education-foundation/



http://www.cienega.org/

http://www.greatervailchamber.com/

http://www.rinconinstitute.org/

http://www.vail.k12.az.us/our-district/vail-education-foundation/


The Rincon Valley Coalition Formed in 2004 to protect and preserve the unique qualities of Rincon Valley and to proactively facilitate informed, environmentally and culturally responsive land-use planning and development in the community. www.rinconvalley.org Vail Community Action Board (VCAB) Recognizes the importance of staying in tune with the needs and direction of the community it serves. All members serve on a committee. There are five major committees with subcommittees under each. Strategic Planning and Operations, Fund Raising, Community Development, Community Relations and a Vail Student Action Team. www.vailcab.org Vail Preservation Society Since 2006 the Society has actively worked to engage community members of all ages in the work of historic preservation utilizing preservation efforts to provide educational opportunities and enrich community life. Connecting community through local history is at the heart of every project. www.vailpreservationsociety.org Community Newspaper The Vail Voice www.TheVailVoice.com NOTE: Petitions were circulated in summer of 2013 for Incorporation. The Nov 2013 vote turned down Incorporation. TANQUE VERDE Vital Statistics Population: 19,021 (2010) Area: 32.9 square miles Location: Twelve miles northeast of Tucson near the foothills of the Rincon and Catalina Mountains Elevation: 2,675 feet County Supervisory District 4 Description and History Tanque Verde began as a small community, at that time remote from Tucson. Settled by ranchers arriving in the West around the 1860s. The name Tanque Verde means green tank in Spanish and refers to the algae in a large and prominent stock water tank in the area in the late 1800s. The Tanque Verde Valley was frequented by Apache and the U. S. Army from Fort Lowell. In 1866 the Tanque Verde Valley established the Tanque Verde School District as the first significant political entity of the community, and the school board remains a central community organization today. Tanque Verde has grown alongside Tucson, but because much of its land is in covenants controlling growth and ensuring land preservation, it has grown at a slower rate. By the 1960s it had become a true suburb of Tucson. Today it is an affluent community, with a strong equestrian influence.



http://www.rinconvalley.org/

http://www.vailcab.org/

http://www.vailpreservationsociety.org/

http://www.thevailvoice.com/


Civic Organization Tanque Verde School District Board

· This is a central organizing body for the community which has always taken pride in its schools Tanque Verde Valley Association (TVVA) TVVA has been in continuous existence since its incorporation in 1949. It is a non-profit organization with no political affiliations or loyalties and is the oldest and largest organization of its type in Pima County. The TVVA exists for the purpose of offering a unified voice on issues that impact the communities within the Tanque Verde Valley. The board and membership work to guide the orderly development of the Tanque Verde Valley, to uphold zoning codes, to preserve or improve the unique scenic and ecological characteristics of the area, and to address new issues that may arise. www.TVVA.org TUCSON MOUNTAINS Vital Statistics Population: 30,881 (2000) Area: 22 square miles Location: West of Tucson, bounded on the north by Twin Peaks Road, on the east by Silverbell Road, on the south by Starr Pass Boulevard and on the west by Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park. Elevation: Highest point is Wasson Peak, 4,690 feet. County Supervisory: Districts 3, 5 Description and History This once far-flung community located in the desert foothills and Tucson Mountains was settled by homesteaders in the earliest years of Arizona territory and statehood by those that valued rural life and the land that makes it possible. It remains a community dedicated to preserving expanses of land to support that life style. Civic Organization Website www.TucsonMountainsAssoc.org The Tucson Mountains Association

· This is an association of some of the homeowners in this vast area.. It now has 300 fee-paying members

· Formed in 1934 by homesteading families who organized to fight for needed roads and utilities · Incorporated as a nonprofit in the early 1950s, and works mostly for conservation of lands and to

protect its way of life by working with public authorities · It is not a conventional homeowners’ association since it is voluntary and represents a small

proportion of the families in the area · While it has no legal status to enforce positions it takes, it has raised money to purchase land to

hold in conservation until the county agrees to buy it to protect it



http://www.tvva.org/

http://www.tucsonmountainsassoc.org/


TUCSON ESTATES

Note: updated information since the 2006 handbook has not been provided Vital Statistics Population: 9,755 (2000) Area: 3.9 square kilometers Location: North of Ajo Way on Kinney Road, south of Old Tucson Studios in the southwestern area of Tucson. Elevation: 2,620 feet County Supervisory District 3 Description and History Tucson Estates is a community of manufactured homes in a single development that is so large it has become a self-contained, town-sized community. Civic Organization Tucson Estates Property Owners Association, Inc. (TEPOA)

· In 1991, the individual residence owners of Tucson Estates created TEPOSA to hold the title to the common areas of Tucson Estates. It has the powers of a standard incorporated homeowners association

· Because it is the size of a medium town, it has more ties with the county than most homeowners’ associations

Website: www.TucsonEstates.com



http://www.tucsonestates.com/


Map - Major Un-Incorporated Communities & Incorporated Cities (white ovals depict un-incorporated areas, dark outlines define the five incorporated cities)

Pima County



Ch.6.Incorporated Cities and Towns

6. INCORPORATED CITIES AND TOWNS

General Information on Municipalities OVERVIEW Pima County incorporated communities Current Date of

Population Incorporation City of Tucson - charter city 520,116 1877 South Tucson - city 5,652 1940 Oro Valley - town 41,011 1974 Marana – town 34,578 1977 Sahuarita - town 25,259 1994 (source of population: U. S. census, quick facts)

Municipal Incorporation Local governments in Pima County, as in all counties in Arizona, exist at the will of the state and can form only if permitted by the state of Arizona. Local governments thus derive their right to exist and most of their powers from state law. A local area may choose to become a “municipal” incorporation under the Constitution of the state of Arizona, (see Article XIII), governed by Arizona Revised Statutes (Titles 9). Incorporating gains the city or town the power to impose taxes, borrow money and make ordinances to spend those resources to improve their area of jurisdiction. Local government services are limited geographically and to certain municipal functions, except in charter cities. Municipalities have some autonomy from the state—more than counties do. Municipal functions include police and fire protection, operating trial courts and jails, and providing residents with water, sanitation, and other vital utilities, as well as land use management. They may provide other services as well, such as community development and social services to low-income and disadvantaged communities. Unincorporated informal communities do not have the powers or all the services of incorporated towns or cities. However, Pima County is permitted by law to provide some municipal services to these areas. How to incorporate as a municipality To become incorporated as a town or city, two-thirds of qualified electors in the area must sign a petition and submit it to the Pima County Board of Supervisors. No election is needed if this many sign, unless the area is within six miles of an existing incorporated area. Then they must have approval of the neighboring city or town. Incorporation can also occur if 10 percent of electors propose an election and a majority vote in favor of incorporation. A city or town can also disincorporate and become part of the county again by special election in which two-thirds of the qualified voters vote in favor of disincorporation. The city of South Tucson has incorporated, voted to disincorporate and then voted again to incorporate. Types of Municipal Government General Law Town Incorporated towns have some autonomy in practice but legally they are not sovereign governments. In practice this means the state mandates in detail how they are to operate and if and when there is a conflict between a town or city’s ordinances and state laws, the state laws over local matters prevail.

· Incorporated towns are required by the Arizona Constitution to have a council (rather than a town meeting legislative process)




· To qualify to become a town, an area must have a population of at least 1,500 · A town may not adopt its own charter · As long as it has a council, a town may decide whether it would like a strong or weak mayor

system · Most town officials have job descriptions mandated by the state

General Law City

· A city must have a population of at least 3,000 · A city council is given more discretion to hire and fire, fix

salaries, and prescribe duties of appointive officers · A city council may be bigger than that of a town - up to

seven members · A city council has more discretion in exercising regulation

within the city · Pima County has one general law city, South Tucson

Charter City

· A charter city must have a minimum population of 3,500 · Only incorporated cities may adopt a charter and be granted

home rule · A city must go through the state determined process to become a charter city—elect a charter

commission to draw up a charter and then have a majority of the city’s population approve it in an election

· Having a charter means the state has given a city a grant of power to run things locally on their own discretion. They have virtual sovereignty over local affairs—how to organize, what officials to have, how to elect them, and what local issues to address. They have standing to sue the state if it interferes in their processes or decisions that comply with overall grants of power.

· Pima County has one charter city, the City of Tucson · Charter cities are sometimes called home-rule cities. But the term, “home-rule” commonly refers

to the specific provision that allows any city or town to go over the state imposed spending limit if a proposition allowing overspending is passed by a majority of voters

Forms of Government All local governments in Pima County have a council/manager form of government. This differs from a mayor-centered city or town where the mayor is the operating executive. A council /manager form of government means a council makes the laws and a professional manager executes the law. A mayor in this system, whether directly elected or selected by the council members, serves more as a legislative leader and an honorary head of the city or town. The office of mayor was weakened in the progressive era at the turn of the century when reforms transferred the appointive and firing power and supervisory powers to a professional city or town manager. The Arizona Constitution mandates that local government may only have a council (common council) form of government. This means they are not permitted to have a town meeting form of government where the population would actually make the laws. But the state leaves to each jurisdiction the decision whether they have a strong executive mayor or an appointed manager. All have opted to have a professional manager rather than the strong mayor system. Annexation An incorporated city or town may grow in area by annexation - legally adding on geographical areas to their jurisdictions. Adjoining areas may ask to be annexed to a town or city to gain more municipal services. Cities or towns in Arizona may annex areas where more than 50 percent of the property owners

Did you know... Municipalities in Pima County often rely on volunteers to provide basic services?




as well as more than 50 percent of the assessed valuation ownership sign petitions in favor of annexation, and the city or town passes an ordinance. State law requires that an annexation touch existing municipal boundaries and there are some limits on the shape of the annexed areas to avoid long corridors. Marana, Oro Valley, and Tucson have had aggressive annexation plans and programs. Municipal Government Finances Local governments in Arizona must, by state law, pass a budget annually, balance their budgets, and may not switch money from fund to fund informally. In addition they are required to use a different accounting method (GASB-34) from private business. Revenues Sources of local government funding are mainly sales (business privilege) taxes, fees for services, fines and forfeitures collected from those who have engaged in illegal activity, revenue sharing from the federal and state governments, and charges for licenses and permits. Municipalities use the primary property tax sparingly because there is a strict state limit on its use for local governments. Under state law municipalities may not levy income taxes. Sales Tax (Transaction Privilege Tax) The local sales tax is the major revenue source for most local jurisdictions in Pima County. Cities and towns and the state (but not the county) use the sales tax. Currently the state of Arizona has a 5.6 percent sales tax. Municipalities add their tax rate to that.

Property Tax Property tax is a source of revenue available to all local governmental jurisdictions - state, county school districts, municipalities, fire districts, flood control districts, and so forth. Each jurisdiction determines its own tax rates and levies its own taxes, but the county does all the administration of property assessment and collection of local taxes through the County Assessor and County Treasurer. Only the county, the City of Tucson, the City of South Tucson and school districts and other special purpose districts now levy property taxes. Privately-owned property is subject to taxation unless exempted by statute (schools, churches, certain buildings for use of indigents, properties owned by a qualifying 501c(3) charitable organization or properties owned by governments). Your property tax statement includes the taxes for all the local jurisdictions. Property owners may appeal their property’s assessed valuation to the county Board of Supervisors sitting as a Board of Equalization. The appeal may then be taken to the State Board of Tax Appeals. The Primary Property Tax

The Primary Property Tax may be used for anything, that is, any town or city purpose. This is called general fund money or general government operations. However, it is not a major source of funding for municipalities because of the strict state limits on the amount of allowed annual increases.




The Secondary Property Tax The secondary property tax is called a limited tax since it may be used only for paying back bond monies—retiring debt from general obligation bonds for capital expenditures, such as buildings, streets, sewers, special assessments for fighting flood control, and overrides of tax limitations. The secondary property tax is based on the full cash value of the property, which is a figure determined by the assessor to reflect current market value. Citizens, by voting to purchase bonds, invest in governments the authority to make these capital improvements. If citizens so vote, a secondary assessment may be levied for a temporary budget override not to exceed one year.

Municipalities are prohibited from using

· An income tax · A gas tax · A real estate transfer tax

Other revenue sources Local taxes and fees (the county also uses these):

· State shared sales taxes · State shared income taxes · State shared highway user revenue funds (HURF)—for maintaining major roads · Other local taxes; use tax, transient tax (tax on hotel rooms or mobile homes), franchise fees,

alcohol and beverage tax · Licenses and permit fees, business licenses and permits, residential and commercial building

permits, sign permits, special inspection fees, grading permit fees, and so forth · Charges for services: court costs, fees for recording documents, zoning and subdivision fees

(impact fees), user fees for swimming pools, parks and recreation fees for special programs, fees for defensive driving classes of justice courts, town hall usage fees, fines and forfeits,: court fines, bail bond forfeitures, and so forth

Municipal Bonds There are three kinds of Municipal bonds a city or town may use to fund its capital projects:

· General Obligation Bonds finance buildings, streets, schools, and projects that do not generate revenues

· Revenue Bonds finance projects that generate income for services (sewer, water). That generated income covers the cost of the project over time

· Improvement Bonds finance local improvements (street lighting, etc.) in a specific area designated as an improvement district. The bonds must be approved by 51 percent of property owners in the proposed district for this type of bond. All property owners are assessed to meet the interest and principal of the bonds

Certificates of Participation (COP) A certificate of participation is like a bond in that a municipality borrows from the public investors to fund a capital project and then pays the investors back. But it differs in that the municipality pays back the loan by means of “leasing payments” for use of the facility which is technically owned by the investors. Further it starts those payments immediately on completion on the project and not after an extended period waiting for the bond to mature. An investor prefers COPs because repayments start immediately. The municipality likes COPs because they do not count in a municipality’s indebtedness, thus can be available even after the city has reached its allowable bonding limit. The leases are paid through annual appropriations by mayor and council and not through general obligation bonds.




Intergovernmental Funds Pima County and its municipalities receive a substantial portion of their revenues from federal and state government. These include:

· State shared income tax - for general fund · State shared sales tax- for general fund · State shared Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF) – use restricted to development and

maintenance of roads · State restricted grants—many specific grants, for example, safe schools grants, and so forth · Federal grants restricted to specific purposes, e.g.

• Health (Medicaid funds go to support the state ACCCHS program administered at the county level)

• Law enforcement and court programs • Public transit • Community service and community development block grants including housing • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Homeland Security funding

Legal Limits on Revenues Primary Tax Rate Limitation The State Constitution [Article IX, Section 20(1)] imposes a limit on local government primary taxes of two percent increase per year over the prior year’s maximum allowable primary levy, plus an added amount due to growth of construction during the year. For this reason, property tax does not play an important role in local revenues.

City charters may also impose a limit on the primary property tax rate. For example, Tucson’s charter limits the tax rate to no more than 10% over the previous year’s rate. There is also a statewide controlled assessment system to hold the value of property down. Property values can only go up a certain amount and cannot fluctuate as markedly as the market value.

Secondary Tax Rates—Not Limited Secondary tax rates are not subject to these state limitations for either increases in rates or property values. Expenditures Municipal expenditures, as with other public budgets, are constrained by locked-in expenses. Bond debts have to be paid on time. Legal mandates to provide certain services must also be met. But State law has placed even more constraints on local government discretion in budgeting by limiting not only (tax) rate increases but by mandating strict expenditure limits as described below. Legal Limits on Expenditures State Mandated Limits On Municipal Spending Before a political subdivision draws up its budget every year (or every two years) the state’s Economic Estimates Commission (EEC) determines its expenditure limit or cap for the county and each local government or district. This limit is based on the jurisdiction’s actual spending for 1979/80 (when the law requiring the limit passed) and adjusted each year for population growth and inflation..




Municipalities may exceed the spending limit only if a majority of voters pass what is called a “home rule” initiative. This vote signifies the city or town may exceed the spending limit but only for a period of four years. Local Governments’ Self-imposed Limits Cities and towns and districts may impose more stringent limits than the state on their spending or tax rates. For example, the City of Tucson imposes a $1.75 per $100 assessed value limit on the combined primary and secondary property tax rate they levy. Accounting and Budget Funds Local governments in Pima County keep accounts according to the State Accounting Manual using “funds” to separate different uses for the monies. These “funds” are also the way the budget is organized, so it is important to know this when you are reading the budget or locating revenue information for your special interest.

· The General Purpose Fund is money that goes to pay for general government purposes, for example, police, fire, parks, and so on. It comes mainly from taxation revenues. This is the only revenue that can be used for any legitimate government purpose.

· Restricted Funds (sometimes called special revenue funds or named for a specific restricted grant). include a variety of grants that are designated for particular programs and must be accounted for separately - for example, grants for low-income housing, youth programs, transportation, or virtually any specific purpose. They also include secondary property taxes collected for a specific purpose, or bond monies collected for a specific major capital project.

· Enterprise Funds - these are monies earned by the government charging fees for an enterprise they run, such as water sales, garbage pick-up or parking garages, golf courses, or use of an airport. The revenues go back into running the enterprise much as a private business.

Budget Adoption There are both state and city legal requirements for the budget; its process, dates for completion, and some of the content. The budget process does not start with an independent determination of need but with the total amount the statewide Economic Estimates Commission calculates for each political subdivision. Then the county and municipalities determine needs and adjust them to the limit. The budget must be adopted by the third Monday in July of each fiscal year. Budget Revisions Spending is monitored during the year and if any budget shifts are needed, they may only be made by the administrators if they are within “purposes” defined as the basic units of the budget, e.g. housing, parks and recreation, and so forth. The cities and towns may define what they mean as a specific purpose but usually it is defined as a separate “department;” Pima County defines purposes as “programs.” State statutes state that local governments may only change budget allocations between “purposes” (from department to department) with a majority vote of the council or supervisors. No changes may be made between funds. And no increases in the total budget may be made.

Did you know... Municipalities have more independence from the state than the county government?




Audits State law requires each incorporated municipality to have an annual independent audit. Towns may do an audit every two years but must include each of the years. Audit reports are public record. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report State law requires each municipality to produce an annual report, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) on actual revenues and expenditures. The CAFR is public record. Specific Budgets Although specific budgets are quickly outdated, the budgets for 2013-2014 are presented in the county and municipalities chapters to describe how budgets are constituted, where revenues originate and where those funds are expended. Knowledge of such basics can help keep up with and understand future budgets. Single Family Residence Impact Fees (also called Development Fees) Impact fees are one-time charges on construction in new residential developments (and to new commercial properties - not covered here). These development fees are to cover the added costs of infrastructure and services that the county or municipal governments must now assume because of the new development. Included are such things as roads, parks and recreation, fire and police services, flood control, wastewater management and even administrative overhead related to these services. Municipalities vary in what services they say will be included. New State Regulations on Municipal Impact Fees Municipalities in Pima as well as in other counties in Arizona are now modifying their impact fees to comply with a new state law SB1525 passed in 2011. SB1525 requires municipal impact fees reflect only costs attributed to necessary public services that are directly impacted by a new development. “Necessary public services” are limited to those services specifically listed in the statute. Municipalities must bring their impact fees into compliance with the new law by August 1, 2014. During the transition period until 2014, certain modifications must be made as well. That means municipalities are in the process of transitioning to fees that will be different for different areas in the jurisdiction. A generic fee will not be allowed if the impacts are determined to be different for different areas.

(Note that the new state law, SB1525, 2011, does not apply to counties)*

Pima County $5,478 (Unincorporated areas only)

City of Tucson * See below

City of So. Tucson Has no impact fees

Town of Oro Valley $6,203

Town of Marana * See below

Town of Sahuarita Has no impact fees




In this table it should be noted that, The City of Tucson and the Town of Marana are currently transitioning. Marana charges vary by the specific development. We have put the other general impact fees in the chart above as a general indication. But these figures will change in 2014 to comply with the new state law. For further details on current fees please go to the municipality web sites and click on impact fees. You can search the web for more information on the new Arizona state law.




City of Tucson

Vital Statistics Population:.520,116 (2010 census) Area: 227.6 square miles Location: Located in the valley of the usually dry Santa Cruz River, the City of Tucson is encircled by the Santa Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita, and Tucson mountain ranges. Elevation: 2,437 feet Location of Tucson City Hall 255 West Alameda Street, Tucson, Arizona, 85701 The mayor has an office in city hall, Each council member has an office in the ward he/she represents Mail: P.O. Box 27210, Tucson, Arizona, 85726-7210 Contact Numbers General Information: Telephone: (520) 792-CITY (520) 792-2489) To leave a message for mayor and council 24 hours a day: (520) 791-4700 Web site: www.tucsonaz.gov E-mail: [email protected] History The City of Tucson, commercial and cultural center of Pima County, second largest city in Arizona, and now the thirty-second largest city in the nation, takes its name from an early village, called Chuk Son, or “mountain dark at base,” by the Tohono O’odham. Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, the Jesuit explorer, first mentioned the area north of his San Xavier del Bac Mission in his 1697 records as “the richest soil in the whole fertile Santa Cruz Valley.” In 1776, Hugo O’Conor, an Irishman, who fled from British-occupied Ireland and was fighting for the Catholic King of Spain in the Pimeria Alta, made the decision to move the northernmost garrison of New Spain in Tubac farther north to Tucson to expand the Spanish reach. His decision to establish the Royal Presidio de San Augustin del Tucson with its walled city, marks the founding of the “Old Pueblo”, modern-day Tucson. After the liberation of Mexico from Spain in 1821, the Old Pueblo became the military outpost for the province of Sonora, Mexico, to fight the Apaches. It remained the northernmost outpost of Mexico until the arrival of American soldiers in 1856 after the purchase of the area by the United States, the Gadsden Purchase (1853). Tucson became part of the United States and for the next few decades it remained isolated and in battle with the Apaches. When Arizona was organized as a federal territory in 1863, Tucson was its capital. First the mines and then the arrival of the transcontinental Southern Pacific Railroad in Tucson in 1880, attracted a greater Anglo/American population. Fort Lowell, established in 1873 as a military outpost, defended the population against Apache raids. It was deactivated as a fort when the Apache raids ended with Geronimo’s surrender in 1886. In 1912, when Arizona became a state, Tucson was its largest city and remained so until the 1920s when it was surpassed by Phoenix. Tucson had been incorporated as a city in the Arizona Territory in 1877 and became a charter city in 1883. Its charter was reformulated in 1929 when it was changed from a strong mayor system to a council/city manager form of government. This change turned over to a city manager



http://www.tucsonaz.gov/



many of the powers of the former mayor and council and the city staff was professionalized under a civil service system. Tucson operates under that 1929 charter today.

Form of Government Council/Manager Charter City Legislative Branch: Mayor and Council

Powers · Legislate and form policy for improving the city by enacting ordinances · Legislate changes in structure or governing processes for the city (charter city); some

changes require voter approval · Pass “resolutions” that express opinion, will, or intentions of the mayor and council. These

are not entered into the code · Appoint city manager, city clerk, city attorney and the city magistrates · Approve city manager appointment of the police chief and fire chief · Adopt budgets · Establish and appoint members to citizen advisory boards, commissions and committees · Set tax rates and levy property taxes · Place charter changes and sales tax increases on the ballot

Meetings

· Where: City Hall, council chambers, first floor · When: four Tuesdays a month (except in July and August when the Council meets only the

first Tuesday), at 5:30 p.m. · Are open and public except for some financial, legal, or personnel issues · Meetings are cablecast live on Channel 12

Members

· Six Council Members and the mayor, a total of seven · Serve four-year staggered terms · Elections are held in November of every odd-numbered year · Are nominated by primary election in the ward in which they reside, but are elected at-

large · Are elected in a partisan election

Did you know … The Rio Nuevo project started in 1999 for revitalizing downtown Tucson. Rio Nuevo is no longer under the authority of the City of Tucson, but directly under the state of Arizona. The Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District authorized by the voters in 1999 was formed as a special state municipality district to qualify for special state shared funding known as TIF ( Tax Increment Funding). In 2009 The Arizona Legislature strengthened the Legislature’s control by reconstituting a new Rio Nuevo District Board of Directors now appointed by the Governor, President of the State Senate and the Speaker of the State House of Representatives. Want to know more?, go online to Rio Nuevo- Tucson for more information.




Staff

City Clerk · Appointed by mayor and council for a two-year term · Is the official secretary to the council

and custodian of city records, deeds, subdivision plats, and other documents

· Runs elections and oversees campaign finance

· Publishes official notices; is historian for the city

· Provides administrative support to all citizen boards and commissions

City Attorney · Appointed by the mayor and council

for a two-year term · Legal advisor to mayor and council and all city departments, boards, commissions, and

agencies · Prepares city ordinances, resolutions, contracts, opinions requested by the council · Represents the city in litigation in which the city is a party · Prosecutes criminal misdemeanor offenses that occur in the city

Advisory Citizen Boards, Commissions, and Committees

· Tucson has more than sixty boards and commissions of volunteer citizens who assist and advise mayor and council

· Citizens are selected by the City Council · Administered by the city clerk · see Chapter 1 for more about boards and commissions and other volunteer opportunities

for citizens Executive Branch The Mayor (and Vice Mayor in his/her absence)

· The Mayor is directly elected, the Vice Mayor is selected by council from among its members · More a legislative mayor than an executive, but provides informal executive and legislative

leadership · Runs council meetings · Heads the agenda committee, which determines issues the council will handle · Is the official representative of the city for legal and ceremonial purposes · Votes on all issues except the firing of the city manager · Not formally responsible for running the city (see City Manager, below)

City Manager

· The de facto chief executive/administrator of the city · Appointed by the Mayor and Council · Responsible for administering the city departments and carrying out the policies set out by the

Mayor and Council

Did you know… The City of Tucson charter has been amended more than 50 times since 1929, compared to the U.S. Constitution, which has been amended 27 times since 1789?




· Formulates a budget to be finally approved by Mayor and Council and oversees its implementation

· Hires and fires the fourteen department heads, those not appointed directly by the Council The Departments (see the organization chart)

· Department heads are appointed by the city manager; and some also must be approved by the city council

· Organized into three categories for budget “purposes” • Public Safety/Neighborhood Services • Operations • Support Services

Please go to City of Tucson adopted budget 2014 for further details.

Judicial Branch The City Court office of Tucson has:

• Twelve regular magistrates • “Special magistrates” (who are attorneys) are on call for extraordinary circumstances such as

needing to hold court in the evenings. • Two “ limited special magistrates” ( sometimes known as hearing officers) who are not attorneys

and don’t have permanent appointments. Special magistrates help with regular magistrate functions, for example, hearing civil traffic violations

• City court (magistrate) judges are appointed by the mayor and council upon recommendation of the City Magistrate Merit Selection Commission

Magistrate Courts have two supervisors:

• The city manager and Mayor and Council in the executive branch • The state court system through a presiding magistrate

City Elections (See Chapter 2 on elections and voting.)

Did you know … A key feature of government in Tucson is the active role neighborhood associations take in relating to government and shaping city policy. Unlike homeowners’ associations, which are private entities, neighborhood associations are public organizations officially recognized by the city council. Aside from encouraging residents to work together on issues of concern to the neighborhood, the city of Tucson cultivates the forming of neighborhood associations to relate more closely to grassroots residents. In addition, neighborhood associations that register with the city Department of Housing and Community Development are permitted rights of notification and of participation in proceedings that deal with crimes and potential hazards in their neighborhood. There are currently 134 registered Neighborhood Associations in Tucson. For more information go online to Neighborhood Associations, Tucson.




City of Tucson Finance and Budget Refer to “Municipal Government Overview – Finance” at the beginning of this chapter for general information and the meaning of budget terms Legal Constraints on City Taxing and Spending

• State law limits spending in fiscal year 2013. The limit was $712 million, plus some revenues from grants, etc. that are not subject to spending limits, for a total budget of $1.3 billion

• In 2005, voters passed a “Home Rule” Initiative that gives the City of Tucson discretion to spend over the state imposed spending limit for four years

• There is a state limit on primary property tax levies of 2 percent per annum • Tucson City Charter imposes a city property tax levy limitation of $1.75 per $100 assessed for

both primary and secondary levies - more restrictive than state Budget Process

• Tucson now has a biennial budget cycle; basic planning is done for two years, but numbers are adjusted and the budget is voted on (adopted) annually

• Fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 • Public hearings are held in May and June. The council also takes comments from the public by

telephone and the internet • The deadline for the council to pass a budget is June 30 • Copies of the budget are online and at the library

City of Tucson Fiscal Year 2013 Budget The City of Tucson’s budget for Fiscal Year 2013 is offered as a benchmark the size of budget, the tax rates, and revenues and expenditures. Revenues come from three sources: 1) taxes and general fees (council members have discretion on how to spend); 2) charges for services government provides (to cover the costs of an enterprise); and 3) grants and bonds etc. (restricted funds that can only be spent on specific purposes.) The budget allocates money by program. A particular program may get funds from more than one category of revenue. Thus, a program may have multiple sources of funding. City of Tucson Budget - Fiscal Year 2013 Total budget: $1,314,260,260 Sales tax: 2 percent Property tax: The principal tax rate for general support for Tucson city government is 0.4213. The rate of secondary tax, which goes to cover the bond debt of the city, gives a total tax rate of 1.26 per $100 assessed valuation.

Need more information on the City of Tucson budgets? how to get a copy? Or about public hearings? Agency that handles the budget: Budget Department in Support Services. www.tucsonaz.gov/budget Budget pdf file http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/files/budget/14book-op.pdf Telephone: (520) 791-4551 More property tax information can be found at www.pima.gov/Taxes



http://www.tucsonaz.gov/budget

http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/files/budget/14book-op.pdf

http://www.pima.gov/Taxes


Did you know… The Tucson International Airport (TIA) is not run by the city of Tucson, but by a nonprofit corporation, the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) formed in 1948. At that time Tucson was requested to develop a civilian airport with federal land deeded to the city for the purpose, but the city had neither the money nor the desire to take on this task. TAA was formed by several businessmen. It leases land from the City of Tucson and owns some additional land. It receives no local tax dollars, instead it uses airport revenue bonds and charges airline tenants for services. It has a nine-person governing board to oversee policy decisions gets input from community members, and 300-person staff that handles operations. More information: www.tucsonairport.org







City of South Tucson Vital Statistics

· Population 5684 (2012 US Census estimate) · Area 1.2 square miles

· Located approximately 1 mile south of downtown Tucson, South Tucson is bounded by 25th and 26th Streets on the north, by 40th Street and I-10 on the south, by South 12th Avenue on the west and by the Union Pacific Nogales Railroad on the east

· Elevation 2,389 feet · Location of City Hall: 1601 South 6th Avenue, South Tucson, 85713

· Contact Numbers: (520) 792-2424 website www.southtucson.org History In 1940, the Town of South Tucson incorporated in an area just outside the Tucson’s city limits. Over time, the City of Tucson acquired all of the land around South Tucson, but never succeeded in convincing the business and property owners of South Tucson to agree to annexation. In 1975, the Town of South Tucson incorporated as the City of South Tucson and today remains an independent municipality surrounded entirely by the City of Tucson. The population of South Tucson is 78.5% Latino/Hispanic, and 10.7% Native American. South Tucson is home to many popular Mexican restaurants and is known for its strong cultural heritage as seen in the architectural styles and colorful outdoor murals reflecting its ethnic history. South Tucson is home to over 300 businesses. This large number can be explained partly by the requirement that owners of rental properties have a business license.

Form of Government

· Council/Manager · General law city

Legislative Branch: City Council

· Passes ordinances to direct city improvements

· Selects the Mayor from among council members at the first meeting after an election and city manager, city magistrate, and city attorney

· Adopts budget

· Establishes and appoints members to citizen advisory boards and councils Meetings:

· Place: City Hall, 1601 S. 6th Avenue · Time: 2nd, 3rd, 4th Mondays, 6:00pm



http://www.southtucson.org/


Council Members

· 7 members, including the mayor

· Serve staggered 4-year terms, with 3 members elected in odd-numbered years (2013) and 4 members elected the next odd-numbered year (2015)

· Elected first in a partisan primary on the second Tuesday in March, followed by an at-large general election held the following second Tuesday in May

· Receive an annual stipend including benefits

Executive Branch - Mayor (and Vice-Mayor) · Selected by the council · Mayor selects the vice-mayor

· Provides informal legislative leadership and executive oversight

· Chairs council meetings

· Presiding officer votes only in event of a tie · Officially represents the city · Does not administer the city (see the city manager below; City Council Appointees)

City Council Appointees

· City Manager - executes Council policies and ordinances and appoints City Clerk who works for both manager and council. The clerk prepares agenda, council minutes oversees elections, is custodian of all official documents, including legislation, resolutions, minutes, licenses and permits. Appoints following department heads:

• Public Works – traffic, solid waste, parks, adult probation/elder care, streets and drainage • Human Resources- employment and personnel requirements • Housing Authority- two low income housing programs totaling 304 vouchers • South Tucson Prevention Coalition- to reduce youth substance abuse • Department Services- building inspection to ensure building code compliance • Transportation and Flood- street, public transportation, and pedestrian design, flood control

projects • Bid Opportunities • Finance Department • Information Technology • Planning and Zoning • Fire Department • Police Department

· City Attorney, provides legal advice to the council and departments · City Magistrate, presides over and administers city court

· Citizen Boards and Commissions, includes Board of Adjustments, Economic Development Council, Industrial Development Authority, Merit System, Municipal Property Corporation, Fire Public Safety Retirement System Board and Police Public Safety Retirement System Board, Planning and Zoning Commission

Did You Know … The City of South Tucson is 1.2 square miles and completely surrounded by the City of Tucson?




Judicial Branch South Tucson has one magistrate appointed by the City Council (see the Judiciary and Courts Section).

City Finance and Budget, 2013 Refer to “Municipal Government Overview – Finance” at the beginning of this chapter for general information and the meaning of budget terms. The City of South Tucson employs about 80 people, including elected officials, full and part-time workers, fire-fighters, and police. City sales tax is 2.5%, and restaurant tax is 3.5%. Property tax is $.25 per $100 valuation. The 2011-12 budget indicates revenue and expenditures of $13,504,069. The City of South Tucson relies heavily on federal, state and municipal grants for a portion of its budget. Of 2012 revenue, 35% was generated from general funds such as tax revenue, with much of the remainder considered restricted funds, reserved exclusively for Community Development Block Grants, police funding, and low-income housing distributions.

Intergovernmental Agreements and Other Contractual Arrangements Contracts with other municipalities provide essential services South Tucson does not provide, such as water service is provided by the city of Tucson Water and sewer services by Pima County Wastewater.

SunTran bus service is coordinated through the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Public Library next to City Hall is a branch of the Pima County Library System.

Animal control is provided through a contract with the City of Tucson. The South Tucson Fire Department is reinforced by neighboring fire departments. Additionally, South Tucson is represented on the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).




Organization Chart




Town of Oro Valley

Vital Statistics

Population: 41,000 (2010) Area: 35 square miles Location: Three miles north of the Tucson city limits on Oracle Road/Highway 77 Elevation: 2,620 feet

Location of Oro Valley Town Hall

11000 N. La Canada Drive, Oro Valley, Arizona, 85737-7015

Contact Numbers General Information: (520) 229-4700 Web site: www.orovalleyaz.gov

History Oro Valley was incorporated as a town in 1974, with 2.5 square miles and an estimated population of 1,000. It has grown rapidly in area through land annexations.

Form of Government

Council/Manager General law town

Legislative Branch Mayor and Council Powers

· Pass ordinances giving policy direction for the town, subject to state law · Appoint the town manager, the town magistrate, town attorney, the town clerk, and chief

of police · Adopt budgets · Establish and appoint members to citizen advisory boards, commissions, and committees

Meetings

· Where: Town Hall, 11000 North La Cañada Drive · When: the first and third Wednesdays, at 6 p.m.

Council Members

· Seven members including the mayor · Serve four-year staggered terms · Elected every odd-numbered year in November · Elected in at-large, non-partisan elections · Selects one council member to serve as vice-mayor



http://www.orovalleyaz.gov/


Staff Town Attorney

· Appointed by the council · Gives legal advice to council and town officials

Town Clerk

· Prepares agenda and records minutes of town council meetings · Under the supervision of the town manager (see below)

Citizen advisory boards, commissions, and committees

· Established and appointed by the town council · Oro Valley has the following boards, commissions,

and committees: • Planning and Zoning Commission • Board of Adjustment • Finance and Bond Committee • Development Review Board • Municipal Property Corporation • Industrial Development Authority • Water Utility Commission • Storm Water Utility Commission • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board • Historic Preservation Commission • Citizen Corps Council—Emergency Preparedness

Executive Branch

Mayor · Directly elected · Termed chief executive but has only honorary duties representing the town · Is a legislative mayor who provides informal policy leadership to the town · Runs council meetings; votes on all issues · No formal supervisory or administrative duties

Town Manager

· Appointed by the mayor and council · Serves as chief administrative officer of town government · Appoints town officers except the town magistrate, town attorney and the chief of police · Supervises staff and department heads report to Town Manager, except for the magistrate

and Police Chief

Departments · Communications · Constituent Services · Economic Development · Development and Infrastructure Services · Finance · Human Resources · Legal · Magistrate Court · Maps – GIS

Did You Know … Oro Valley does not collect any property tax to fund the town. It relies on other taxes and fees.




· Parks and Recreation · Police · Town Clerk · Water Utility For specific details about these departments, see the Oro Valley web site, Departments, use this link http://www.orovalleyaz.gov/town/departments

Judicial Branch

Oro Valley has one magistrate appointed by the town council.

Town Elections (See Elections and Voting, Chapter 2) Town Finance and Budget

(“Municipal Government Overview – Finance” at the beginning of this chapter contains general information and the meaning of budget terms.)

The following from Oro Valley’s fiscal year 2013-2014 budget provides a general picture of the size and organization of city budgets, the tax rate, where revenues come from, and what programs they fund.

Town of Oro Valley Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Total Budget: see pie chart next page Sales Tax: 2 percent , Construction Sales Tax: 4 percent Bed Tax: 6 percent, effective January 1, 2006 Property Tax Rate: No property tax



http://www.orovalleyaz.gov/town/departments


Total Revenues & Other Sources $62,852,318

Total Expenditures & Other Uses $60,913,592

45%

8%

24%

16%

6%

1%

Town of Oro Valley - Revenues Fiscal Year 2013-2014

General Fund 45% Taxes 21% Licenses & Permits 2% Charges for Services 2% State Shared Revenue 16% Grants 3% Other/Misc. 1%

Special Revenue Funds 8% Taxes 3% State Shared Revenue 4% Other 1%

Debt Service Funds 1%

Internal Service Funds 6%

Capital Projects Funds 16% Charges for Services 4% Grants 6% Impact Fees 6% Other 0.1%

Enterprise Funds 24% Water Sales 19% Charges for Services 2% Grants 1% Other 2%

47%

8%

26%

11%

6%

2%

Town of Oro Valley - Expenditures Fiscal Year 2013-2014

General Fund 47% General Goverment 12% Police 23% Dev. & Infranstr. Services 7% Parks & Recreation 4% Other Financing Uses 1%

Special Revenue Funds 8% Town Mgr. Office 1% Police 0.4% Dev. & Infranstr. Services 6% Other Financing Uses 0.6%

Debt Service Funds 2% Debt Service Principal 1.2% Debt Service Interest 0.8%

Internal ServiceFunds 6% General Administration 4% Dev. & Infranstr. Services 2%

Capital Proj. Funds 11% Water Oper. & Maint. 0.5% Water Capital Outlay 1.3% Water Debt Principal 2% Water Debt Interest 1.5% Roadway Improvements 5.5% Other Financing Uses 0.2%

Enterprise Funds 26% Dev. & Infranstr. Services 2% Water Personnel 4% Water Oper. & Maintenance 10% Water Capital Outlay 6% Water Debt Service Principal 3% Water Debt Service Interest 2%




Organization Chart




Town of Marana Vital Statistics

Population: 34,961 (2010 census) Size: 125 square miles Location: In the northeast section of Pima County, northwest of Tucson from the Pinal County line in the north to Orange Grove in the south, from Camino de Oeste in the east to Santa Cruz River Bridge in the west. Elevation: 2,000 feet

Location of Marana Town Hall

11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Contact Numbers

General Information: (520) 382-1999 or 382-1900 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.marana.com

History

Marana is one of the fastest-growing areas in Arizona, almost doubling its population since the 2000 census and increasing its area through annexation. The Marana/Avra Valley area was first inhabited by the Hohokam Indians, who developed extensive canal systems to use the waters of the Santa Cruz River for irrigated agriculture and then disappeared by the fifteenth century. Tohono O’odham were forced out of the area in the 1850s when both Mexican ranchers and Gold rush miners discovered highgrade copper ore in the Silver Bell Mountains and moved into the area. During World War II and the cold war, the federal government built an air base near Marana and then missile sites around the area. They developed a road system for these weapons systems and Marana began to grow. In 1961, the Arizona Highway Department and the federal government removed most of the Marana business district to widen I-10. Consequently there is no “Main Street” in north Marana, the original town center, and south Marana has become the main commercial region. The Town of Marana (about 10 square miles) was incorporated in March 1977 in order to preserve the local water rights. In early 1979 Marana began an annexation policy to support its services and is now more than 120 square miles.

Form of Government

Council/Manager General law town

Legislative Branch

The Mayor and Council Powers:

· Pass ordinances related to town improvement within strict state limits · Appoint the town manager and the town magistrate · Establish and appoint members to citizen advisory boards, commissions, and committees · Adopt budgets




http://www.marana.com/


Meetings:

· Where:: Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive · When: the first and third Tuesdays, at 7 p.m.

Council Members:

· Seven members, including mayor · Members serve staggered four-year terms · Elections are held every other year in odd-numbered years in May · Mayor is directly elected; vice mayor is selected by council · Members run at large · Members run in nonpartisan elections

Council Staff: Town Clerk

· Staffs the council under the supervision of the town manager; see below

Town Attorney

· Provides legal advice to the council, under the supervision of the town manager

Marana Citizen Forum

· Citizens volunteer to assist the council in studying issues, or specific cases that come before the council and advise council members

· Members appointed by the council following submission of applications · Forums meet twice annually

Executive Branch

The Mayor · Termed the chief executive but has only honorary duties representing the town · Informal leadership of city legislative and executive personnel · Voting member of the town council · Runs meetings and breaks tie votes · Does not have formal responsibility for running the city

Town Manager

· Appointed by the town council · Executes the policies of the mayor and council · Administers the town and supervises the town employees · Appoints and fires all department heads and officials except the town magistrate · Formulates the budget

Town Clerk · Appointed by and serves under the direction of the town manager · Responsible for overseeing elections and official records · Coordinates relations between the council and the town manager · Records the minutes for all council meetings

Did You Know … Marana offers 8 to 10 week courses for citizens who want to learn about the police and about how different town departments work?




Town Attorney

· Appointed by and serves under the Town Manager · Gives legal advice to town officials and departments, as well as the council

Finance Director

· Develops the budget and provides accounting services

Human Resources Director · Performs personnel work, reporting to the Town Manager for town employees

The Departments

Development and Development Services · Oversees five departments related to zoning, public works, and mapping:

• Building Services - building inspection and safety • Geographical Information Services—mapping services • Planning - administers planning and zoning commission work • Environmental Manager • Public Works - engineering, construction and improvement, roadway

abandonments, roads, and other infrastructure

Operations and Maintenance · Maintains roads, infrastructure, town facilities, and equipment.

Community and Neighborhood Development

· Oversees programs for affordable housing, the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), community cleanup, help for at-risk youth, and for attracting business and jobs to the area

Municipal Water Department

· Supplies water from groundwater; some parts of Marana are served byTucson’s Water Department

Police Department · Provides police protection

Marana Court

· One magistrate (see judicial branch below)

Marana Northwest Regional Airport · Owned and operated by the town of Marana and handles mostly private planes but

plans to increase commercial flights in the future

Parks and Recreation Department · Operates parks and recreation programs




Department of Community Programs · Provides citizen education about the town government through workshops on the

departments including police and emergency response; and administers town partnerships with non-governmental community agencies

Marana has formed partnerships with other public authorities and agencies to provide the following services:

· Sewer - Pima County · Solid Waste Management services are handled privately. Developers are required

to provide infrastructure and hook up with Tucson Waste Management · Fire Service - Marana contracts for fire services with the Northwest Fire District, a

special taxing district · Marana Public Library is a branch of the Pima County Public Library · Corrections (jail) is provided through the Marana Correctional Treatment Facility, a

private facility’ · Health - provided through the Marana Health Center, a private facility

Judicial Branch

Marana Municipal Court · Marana’s Magistrate’s Court has one magistrate appointed by the town council · Marana contracts with the City of Tucson for public defender services, and with private

attorneys for its prosecutors

Town Elections (See Elections and Voting Chapter 2) Town Finance and Budget Refer to “Municipal Government Overview – Finance” at the beginning of this chapter for general information and the meaning of budget terms. The following from Marana’s budget is offered to give a benchmark picture of the budgets’ size, organization, tax rate, source of revenues and types of expenditures. Expenditure is by program. A specific program may get revenues from more than one type of fund. Town of Marana Budget for Fiscal Year 2014

· Total budget: $82,882,224 · Sales tax rate: 2 % · No property tax




Note: Rounding may cause small discrepancies

44%

40%

16%

Town of Marana - Revenues Fiscal Year 2014

General Fund 44% Local Sales Tax 26% Other local taxes, fees & charges 6% Sales revenue sharing 11% Other 1%

Restricted Funds 40% HURF 3% Transportation 14% Grants & Contributions 1% Other 22%

Enterprise Funds 16% Water Fees 10% Wastewater 5% Airport 2%

38%

46%

16%

Town of Marana - Expenditures Fiscal Year 2014

Enterprise Funds 16% Water 9% Wastewater 5% Airport 2%

General Fund 38% Public Safety 14% Parks & Recreation 4% Public Works 3% Other 17%

Restricted Funds 46% Capital Projects 24% Debt Service 10% Special Revenue12%

Total $

Total $




Organization Chart




Town of Sahuarita Vital Statistics Population: 26,875 (official estimate, 2013) Area: 30 square miles Location: 19.5 miles south of Tucson on I-19 and 48.2 miles north of Nogales, Mexico Size: 30 square miles Elevation: 2,844 feet (average) Location of Sahuarita Town Hall 375 West Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita, Arizona 85629 Contact Numbers General Information Telephone: (520) 822-8800 Website: www.sahuaritaaz.gov History Since its incorporation in 1994, the Town of Sahuarita has grown from a rural community of about 1,900 residents into a modern small town. Sahuarita has grown more than 600 percent from its 2000 U.S. Census population of 3,242, helping to make it one of the fastest growing communities in Arizona. The current population is approximately 27,000 inhabitants. Sahuarita is rich in history. The area was populated by the Hohokam Indian Tribe (200-1450), who were thought to be highly innovative with an extensive use of irrigation. In 1879, James Kilroy Brown established the Sahuarita Ranch south of Tucson, naming the town after the many saguaros. The ranch was used as a stage station between Tucson, Arivaca and Quijotoa. The settlement around the ranch came to be known as Sahuarito. Brown sold the ranch in 1886 when Geronimo was active in the area and the settlement declined. Later, the community experienced resurgence. Today Sahuarita offers a wide range of neighborhoods, from “pioneer neighborhoods” like Santo Tomas and Sahuarita Village, to master-planned communities like Quail Creek, Rancho Sahuarita and Madera Highlands. No one knows exactly when the “o” at the end of Sahuarito was changed to an “a” becoming Sahuarita. The Town offers residents a quiet, small-town alternative, with many of the amenities associated with larger communities. Form of Government Mayor/Council General Law Town Legislative Branch Mayor and Council

Powers · To make policy decisions through passing local ordinances within strict state limits · Town council appoints the Town Manager, Town Attorney and Magistrate



http://www.sahuaritaaz.gov/


· To adopt the Town Annual Budget · To establish and appoint members to Town commissions, and committees

Meetings

· Where: Town Hall Complex/Town Council Chambers · When: second and fourth Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

Council Members

· Seven members, including the mayor · Members serve four year staggered terms · Elections held every odd numbered year in March · Mayor and vice-mayor are selected by council from among their members · At-large members · Nonpartisan elections

Council Staff - Town Attorney · Is appointed by the town council · Gives legal advice to the council and

town officials

Citizen Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees · Established and members appointed by the town

council · Staffed by the town clerk and the relevant departments · Advise and assistance to the council · Five citizen boards and commissions:

• Planning and Zoning Commission • Board of Adjustments • Board of Appeals • Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board (PSPRS) • Parks and Recreation Commission

Executive Branch The Mayor (and Vice Mayor in his/her absence)

· Is termed chief executive but has only honorary duties to represent the town · Selected by the Town Council · Informal political leader · Runs council meetings · Votes on all issues · Not formally responsible for administering the city

The Town Manager

· Directs and coordinates staff to implement Town Council policies and decisions and handle customer service.

Departments (report to the Town Manager) · Finance · Public Works—Town Engineer · Planning and Building Department · Human Resource Department

Did You Know … The town of Sahuarita is our youngest incorporated area? (1994)




· Town Clerk Department · Police Department · Parks and Recreation · Municipal Court

The Town Manager also contracts with outside agencies or private sources for:

· Fire services: Green Valley Fire District, and Rural Metro Fire, a private company · Infrastructure for development: Quail Creek Community Facilities District—a financing

mechanism created by the town

Judicial Branch One magistrate. (See The Judiciary and Courts Chapter 10) Town Elections (See Elections and Voting Chapter 2) Town Finance and Budget Refer to “Municipal Government Overview - Finance” at the beginning of this chapter for general information and the meaning of budget terms. The following from Sahuarita’s budget for Fiscal Year 2014 is offered as a benchmark to give a general picture of the budget size, organization, tax rate, sources of revenue and types of expenditures. Expenditure is by program. A specific program may get revenues from more than one type of fund. Town of Sahuarita Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 Total Budget: $95,717,340 Sales tax: 2 % No Property Tax

Did You Know … Sahuarita is one of the fastest growing towns in the U.S.




Town of Sahuarita Charts for Full Year 2014




Organization Chart



Ch.7.Education

7. EDUCATION

Introduction Pima County, as of 2013, had more than 152,000 elementary and secondary students. Those students attend traditional public schools in 18 school districts, more than 100 charter schools, private schools and home schooling. Pima is also home to Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. State Board of Education School districts in Pima County operate under the direction of the Arizona State Board of Education. The State Board of Education has eleven members, including the superintendent of public instruction, the president of a state university or a state college, four lay members, a president or chancellor of a community college district, a person who is an owner or administrator of a charter school, a superintendent of a high school district, a classroom teacher, and a county school superintendent. Members serve four years. They are appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. The state board’s function is to oversee and implement education requirements throughout the State of Arizona. Recently, curriculum and tests called Common Core have been approved throughout Arizona and are being included in all public schools. State Board for Charter Schools In Arizona, charter schools are public, state-funded, profit or non-profit schools. They may be “chartered” by the State Board for Charter Schools or a school district governing board, university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents, a community college with more than 15,000 students, or a group of community colleges with more than 15,000 students combined. The Arizona State Board for Charter Schools provides general supervision over the charter schools it sponsors. It also studies issues concerning charter schools generally and recommends legislation pertaining to them to the Arizona Legislature. The board has fourteen members including the Arizona superintendent of Public Instruction, six members from the general public (at least one from an Indian reservation), two members from the business community, one charter school operator, one charter school teacher, and advisory members from the legislature who are advisory only. Board members are appointed by the governor and serve four-year staggered terms. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction The Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected state official, whose term of office is four years. Official duties include the following:

· Directing the work of all employees of the Arizona Department of Education, which implements the policies of the State Board of Education

· Executing policies as directed by the State Board of Education · Apportioning to the counties the state school monies to which each is entitled



Ch.7.Education

Arizona Department of Education This is the Superintendent of Public Instruction's administrative department, which implements the policies of the Board of Education. Pima County School Superintendent Elected by voters in Pima County, the County School Superintendent’s duties include the following:

· Distributing all laws and pertinent instructions to school officials · Appointing school board or governing board members of school districts to fill vacancies · Establishing local advisory committees · Conducting school board elections · Maintaining teacher certification records · Overseeing expenditures of most local school districts · Helping in the formation, dissolution, annexation, or consolidation of school districts · Apportioning funds to each school district · Providing discretionary programs to school districts as an educational service agency · Providing educational services to an accommodation school

Pima County District School Boards (often called governing boards) Each public school district within Pima County (as in all Arizona counties) has a school board to govern the district’s schools. School board members are elected by the public for four-year terms. School board elections are held in the same years as general elections. Those who are registered voters in Arizona, have been residents of the school district for a least a year prior to election day, and who are neither employees of the district, nor married to a school employee, may run for the school board. School boards must meet at least once a month during the school year, most meet twice a month year-round. District or governing boards are responsible for such matters as:

· Setting goals and establishing policies for education · Acting as a link between school and the public · Acting as an advocate for school students · Purchasing school sites and constructing buildings when authorized by a vote · Deciding about opening new schools and closing old ones · Maintaining schools in good condition · Prescribing promotion and graduation criteria and

curricula · Overseeing teaching materials to assure they are not

sectarian, partisan, or denominational in character · Tracking school attendance · Providing students with adequate supervision · Providing special education for children with

disabilities · Maintaining school discipline · Overseeing school financial affairs · Providing annual reports to the country superintendent of schools or to the superintendent of

public education · Overseeing professional staff · Providing emergency response plans

Did You Know … There are some 70-80 different languages native to the students in Pima County schools?



Ch.7.Education

School District Superintendents in Pima County Each school district governing board is responsible for hiring a school superintendent whose duties include the following:

· Administration of schools · Overall supervision of district educational programs · Implementation of school board or governing board policies

Kinds of Schooling in Pima County Early Childhood Education: Available in several districts, as pre-kindergarden or pre-first grade and in some private facilities in Pima County. Traditional District Schools: Kindergarten – in virtually all elementary schools Elementary School – generally grades 1-5 Middle School (or Jr. High) – grades 6-8 or 7-9 High School – grades 9-12 Magnet Schools: Public schools at any level with a strong emphasis in one particular subject area, such as science, music, or drama. Students are usually selected through an application process instead of being assigned to a school based on their place of residence Charter Schools: Alternatives to traditional public schools for kindergarten through grade twelve, which are created and organized by various private groups such as teachers, parents, and/or community leaders or businesses and which operate independently, but in accord with a pre-approved charter, and may be non-profit or profit making. Accommodation Schools: Provide educational services for students who live in the Unorganized Territory of Pima County, for juveniles in the Pima County Juvenile Detention Center and Pima County Jail, and for individuals 18-21 who are identified as special education students in the Pima County Jail. Virtual Schools: Schooling by computer. There is only one in Pima County which operates under the auspices of Tucson District One. It is an online program with 120 students and one teacher. Alternative Schools: Offer options to non-traditional students who may not be able to have their educational needs met in a traditional school setting. Joint Technological Education District (JTED): A public high school vocational and technical district for all sophomore, junior and senior level high school students in Pima County. Subjects are offered by different schools and by Pima Community College and may be taken by students of any high school. Students who enroll in JTED programs earn high school credit, and in some cases, may earn college credit, industry certifications, and/or state licenses. While JTED is a district with an elected board, it does not offer core curriculum, nor award high school diplomas. There are 14 school districts associated with JTED



Ch.7.Education

Homeschooling: Students are taught at home by parents. Homeschooled students are not granted diplomas by the schools for their work, and are not required to take the AIMS test, but may do so. These students may qualify to take the GED (General Equivalency Diploma) to obtain a diploma. Or they may work through a correspondence school. School districts have no mandated responsibilities for these students but may use district funds to help them. Private Schools: A large number of private parochial and non-parochial schools exist in Pima County for all levels of schooling.



Ch.7.Education

Map - Public School Districts

For a Complete List of Schools by District, click here or use link below.

http://www.schools.pima.gov/images/uploads/public_schools_09-10.pdf





Ch.7.Education

Public School Districts in Pima County District 00 Pima Accommodation School District

Serves the educational needs of the Pima County Jail and Pima County Juvenile Detention Center

District 1 Tucson Unified School District

Covers central Tucson; the largest school district in Pima County, with more than 50,000 students registered. There are forty nine K-5 elementary schools, thirteen K-8 schools, ten 6-8 middle schools and eleven high schools (including twelve alternative education programs). Tucson Unified School District features eighteen magnet schools at all levels and one online school for homebound students.

District 6 Marana Unified School District

Covers Marana and north central Pima County with eleven elementary schools, one intermediate, two middle, three high schools, one alternative high school, and one on line learning school.

District 8 Flowing Wells Unified School District

Covers west Tucson and has one high school, one alternative high school, one junior high school, seven elementary schools, one preschool and one online school.

District 10 Amphitheater Unified School District

Covers northwest Tucson and has three high schools, two kindergarten through eighth grade schools, three middle schools and eleven elementary schools.

District 11 Joint Technological Education District (JTED)

There are 14 affiliated school districts. District 12 Sunnyside Unified School District

Covers south Tucson. There are twelve elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, one online school and one early childhood learning center.

District 13 Tanque Verde Unified School District

Covers east and northeast Tucson and has two elementary schools and one junior high school and one high school.

District 15 Ajo Unified School District

Covers parts of west and north Pima County and has one school, kindergarten through twelve.

District 16 Catalina Foothills Unified School District

Covers north central Tucson and has one high school, two middle schools, four elementary schools, and one preschool.



Ch.7.Education

District 20 Vail Unified School District Covers the Vail area, with nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.

District 30 Sahuarita Unified School District

Covers the Sahuarita area and has one primary school (preschool through second grade), one elementary school, one intermediate school (grades three through five), one middle school, and two high schools.

District 35 San Fernando Elementary District

Covers south central Pima County. It is the smallest district in Pima County and has one school, kindergarten through grade eight.

District 37 Empire Elementary District

Covers extreme southeast Pima County Students are transported to other districts. District 39 Continental Elementary School District

Covers the Green Valley area, with one pre school through grade eight. Grades nine through twelve are transported to Sahuarita high school.

District 40 Baboquivari Unified School District

Covers most of extreme southwest Pima County and the Tohono O’odham Nation. It has two high schools, one middle school, one intermediate school, and one primary elementary school.

District 44 Redington Elementary District

Covers the extreme northeastern Pima County. It is a transportation District. District 51 Altar Valley Elementary School District

Covers south central Pima County. It has one middle and one elementary school.

Pima Community College Pima Community College (PCC) operates under the Pima County Community College District, which is coterminous with the county boundaries. It was founded by citizen vote in 1966. The district and the school operate under the direct supervision of the Pima County Community College District Board of Governors. This board has five members, who are elected for staggered six-year terms.

PCC ranks among the 10 largest multi-campus community colleges in the nation. It has six campuses and five off-campus sites as well as six adult learning centers located throughout Tucson, Green Valley and Marana. In 2013-2014 PCC offered more than 5,500 active courses and 182 distinct program areas leading to certificates and associates degrees. There were more than 53,550 credit and non-credit students each year. Students may choose classes from a variety of day, evening, weekend, short-term (eight weeks



Ch.7.Education

or less) and self-paced formats. There are also televised and internet classes. PCC provides customized degrees and on-site training to business and industry throughout Pima and Santa Cruz counties.

Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) TOCC is a two-year college for individuals from all walks of life who want to further their education. It primarily serves the residents of the Tohono O'odham Nation, but anyone pursuing a higher education may attend. Classes are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The University Of Arizona (U of A) The U of A, the oldest of the three state universities, has its main campus in Tucson. Other branches include Sierra Vista and Phoenix Biomedical Campus as well as Agriculture Extension in every county. It was founded in 1885 as a land-grant college. The U of A is governed by the State Board of Regents whose members are appointed by the governor with the consent of the state senate.

The University of Arizona is a world-class public research university and prides itself on being a student-centered research university. It offers bachelor, master and doctorate degrees. Adult education and recreation programs are available to the community; and the library, planetarium, museums, sporting events, and other facilities are open to the public. There are more than 40,700 students studying at the University of Arizona.

Other Educational Institutions in Pima County The University of Phoenix, ITT Technical Institute, and Apollo College are among the largest of the many private schools and colleges in Pima County. Most offer courses leading to specific professions or jobs. Financing Public Education The primary sources of funding for elementary and secondary schools are the local school district property taxes, and state and county equalization funds. Other sources of income are state land trust money, state gaming money, and classroom site fund money through the 0.6 percent added state sales tax voters approved in Proposition 301 in 2002. There are some state special projects, some federal monies, including Title I, and contributions through school district foundations. Desegregation funds, that go to some schools that are under court order to desegregate, are not an added source or fund but are actually an added amount that districts are permitted to tax themselves to cover costs of desegregation programs.

The State Expenditure Limitation School districts do not determine their level of operating expenditures by the level of district revenues. Spending is determined ahead of time by the state for each district according to a formula based on:

· A base level of support per student set by the legislature. · Enrollment in the district. · The inflation factor since the last year.



Ch.7.Education

Some other factors, such as court-ordered desegregation, can increase the expenditure limitation for those few affected districts. This process determines the maximum a local school district may spend - known as the State’s Expenditure Limitation. The only way a district can exceed those limits is through an “override” vote by the citizens of the district. Transportation and capital allocations are determined differently.

State Equalization Assistance The amount of state aid to local school districts each year is determined by formula. The formula is based on the primary assessed property valuation in a district. If a poorer district has less property value in their district than other districts have, and its allowable tax rate under the annual allowable expenditures does not produce sufficient funds to meet the state expenditure ceiling, the state will make up the difference. This insures every district has the amount it is allowed under state expenditure limits in order to offer equality of educational opportunity.

Bonded Indebtedness Bonded indebtedness or capital expenditures for schools must be approved by the voters in a district. Capital funding in each district for building or purchase of property is appropriated by the legislature and financed under state law.

Financing Charter Schools (publicly funded, but privately run) Like traditional public schools, charter schools get an equalization payment per student each year. Charter schools can seek state, federal and private grants as well. But they do not have access to property tax funding that traditional public schools have. Charters do get some added state funding for things such as transportation and programs for special needs students.



Ch.7.Education

56%

2%

4%

4%

34%

Pima Community College Revenues

56% Property Taxes ($93M)

Total Revenues $165,658,000 (2012-2013) LWVGT

34% Tuition, Registration & Student Fees ($56M)

4% State Appropriations ($7M)

2% Gifts, Grants, Contracts & Other ($4M)

4% General Fund Applied to Budget less Transfers Out ($6M)

38%

16%

14%

4%

8%

20%

Pima Community College Expenses

38% Instruction ($64M)

Total Expenditures $165,658,000 (2012-2013) LWVGT

16% Academic Support ($27M)

20% Administration ($33M)

8% Operations & Maintenance ($13M)

4% Contigency & Scholarships ($6M)

14% Student Services ($23M)



Ch.7.Education

24%

16%

34%

10%

6%

10%

Financing the University of Arizona

24% Tuition & Fees ($411M)

16% State General Fund ($269M)

34% Grants, Contracts & Other Funds ( $564M)

10% Other ($174M) - Other operating Revenues ($62M) - Capital & Endowmnet Additions ($61M) - Other Non-Operating revenues ($28M) - Share of State Sales Tax ($20M) - Investment Income ($3M)

6% Gifts ($96M)

10% Auxiliary Enterprises ($171M)

Total Revenues (per IPEDS) $1,684,756,000 LWVGT

22%

13%

3% 42%

9%

2% 9%

Expenditures at the University of Arizona

22% Personal Services ($279M)

13% Professional & Outside Service ($173M)

3% Misc. ( $34M) - Library Acquisitions $3.7M - Land & Buildings $3.4M - Capital Equipment $26.7M

9% Empl. Relations ($115M)

2% Travel ($20M) - In State $2.2M - Out State $17.9M

9% Net Transfers Out (In) ($117M)

Total Expenses Estimated FY 2014 $1,284, 340,500 LWVGT



Ch.8.Special Taxing Districts

8. SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS What are special taxing districts? The special taxing district is another form of local government in Pima County. Special taxing districts are also called special-purpose districts, single-purpose districts, improvement, or special assessment districts. These are independent governments authorized by the state through the county or municipalities to tax and spend on a specific service for a designated geographical area. Their area of jurisdiction is typically smaller than the existing municipal or county boundary areas, but is sometimes coterminous with county boundaries or is regional and crosses county boundaries. Special taxing districts are common in unincorporated areas that want more municipal services than the county provides, such as firefighting. These public authorities are the fastest-growing sector of government nationwide as well as in Pima County. We are most familiar with school districts. Pima County has over fifty-one special taxing districts not counting the much more numerous improvement districts. How are districts formed? The process of formation differs for different types of single-purpose district. State statutes specify the procedure for forming a district. Generally the procedure involves approval by the county and a ballot referendum by those citizens who will be affected by the new district. What’s the reason for having special taxing districts? Special districts conventionally are formed in unincorporated rural or suburban areas to obtain specific urban services without having to create a city government or be annexed by a city. School districts are formed, like other single-function districts, so that a separate set of leaders can devote more attention to a particularly complex area or problem. Increasingly, regional districts are formed to handle problems that overlap city and county boundaries, such as transportation or environmental pollution. And districts are being formed within cities or towns to benefit from dedicated taxes or more flexible financial arrangements. Some districts form to allow citizens more control over a specific function than a unit of general government affords. Types of special taxing districts Arizona Revised Statutes authorize the formation of many different types of special districts including districts to provide schools, fire protection, water, pollution control or sewage disposal, flood control, libraries, health services, and street lighting or other community improvements. Each type must adhere to the applicable state statutory provisions. Governing boards of districts Special districts usually have governing boards appointed by officials of other governments or elected by the residents of the district. District boards are nonpartisan. In some cases the county board of supervisors or a city council may function as a district board, or supervisors or council members may serve on boards. District boards are held accountable by periodic election of board directors and through reporting and review requirements of the county or state.




Taxing and bonding authority Districts generally are funded by property taxes which since the county acts as the tax assessor and collector for all local governments, appear on your county tax bill (see chapter 3 on county finance and budget). Bonding must be approved by the voters in an election. The Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District in the cities of Tucson and South Tucson uses the state TIF (tax increment financing) mechanism to fund its projects. The TIF program allows the district to draw upon future revenues from the state sales tax in that district to pay back bond monies Special taxing districts in Pima County The number of special districts have increased rapidly in recent years. Arizona has more than 1,600, Pima County has over fifty-one. The growth in the number of special taxing districts in Pima reflects the rural nature of the county. Very little of Pima’s geographical area is incorporated. Therefore, these unincorporated areas form special districts to deliver needed municipal services, such as water, sewage services, street lighting, roads, or fire protection. But incorporated areas can also form them, especially when a specific area or neighborhood seeks to improve itself or its services. School districts School districts are addressed separately in the previous chapter, Chapter 7 Fire districts Fire districts raise funds and operate fire fighting services for the unincorporated areas listed below. Six of these districts contract with Rural/Metro, a private company, for fire protection and emergency medical services. The remainder operate their own full-time fire services, unless indicated otherwise.

Avra Valley Corona De Tucson Drexel Heights Golder Ranch Green Valley Heritage Hills (Rural/Metro) Hidden Valley (Rural/Metro) La Cañada (Rural/Metro) Mt. Lemmon (Combination paid/volunteer staff) North Ranch/Linda Vista (Rural/Metro) Northwest Fire District Picture Rocks (Mostly volunteer?) Rincon Valley (includes Vail) Sabino Vista (Rural/Metro) South Tucson Three Points Tucson Tucson Country Club Estates (Mostly volunteer; small paid staff) Why (Mostly volunteer?)

Did You Know … Special taxing districts are the fastest-growing sector of government?




Flood control districts Pima County Flood Control District: In 1978, after major floods, the Arizona Legislature passed legislation mandating all Arizona counties to establish flood control districts to address flood planning and prevention measures. The district in Pima covers the entire county and has as its board the County Board of Supervisors. It has major programs in structural flood control facilities, flood-prone land acquisition, and flood plains management. It also operates a flood ALERT system.

Facilities districts A facilities district is set up as a funding mechanism for infrastructure needs of a limited area with concentrated population, such as new developments. The following are in Pima County:

· Gladden Farms Community Facilities District · Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District (City of Tucson) · Vanderbilt Farms Community Facilities District (Town of Marana)

Water districts Green Valley Domestic Water Improvement District Marana Domestic Water Improvement District. Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAP) Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District Arizona Water Banking Authority

Health districts Ajo/Lukeville Health District Transportation districts Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). Library district Pima County Library District. Irrigation districts Avra Valley Irrigation District Cortaro/Marana Irrigation District Flowing Wells Irrigation District Silverbell Irrigation District

Special improvement districts Probably the most numerous of special taxing districts, special improvement districts (SIDs) may be formed by property owners to improve or enhance their neighborhoods, such as improvements to pavement and sidewalks, curbs and gutters, public safety, fire protection, refuse collection, street cleaning, and landscape maintenance in public areas. Improvement districts may be formed if a petition for the formation of the district is presented to the governing body of the jurisdiction in which such area is located. County Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) are too numerous to list here. Information can be found at https://webcms.pima.gov/government/improvementdistricts/




In the City of Tucson there are the following Districts: · City of Tucson Business Improvement District · Street Light Improvement Districts (there are 21) · La Cholla Boulevard Improvement District (commercial property only) · Cimmaron Foothills Improvement District

Wastewater management districts Pima County has one countywide wastewater management district. Stadium district Pima County Stadium District, a countywide district, was formed as a financing mechanism to support the development of the TEP stadium.




Map - Tucson Area Fire Districts



Ch.9.Regional and Intergovernmental Structures

9. REGIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES AND COORDINATED EFFORTS

Introduction Disperse population growth in Southern Arizona remains steady so that local governments must address many concerns at a regional level. Impacts of environment, water, air quality and transportation policies don’t stop at jurisdictional boundaries, they require cross-jurisdictional solutions. Shrinking budgets at all levels of government make cooperation critical for optimum regional solutions and foster more cost-effective delivery of services through economies of scale. Some metropolitan areas in the United States have formed regional or consolidated governments—regionalizing a single government to handle both county and city functions. Pima County, however, has tried to coordinate efforts of its many jurisdictions in selected specific policy areas. Pima Association of Governments (PAG) Website: www.PAGregion.com Information: (520) 792-1093 History and Purpose Pima Association of Governments (PAG) was established in 1973 as a federally recognized metropolitan planning organization for Pima County. The federal government mandated that such bodies be established to plan regionally and to review federal grants that would have a regional impact. PAG is a nonprofit organization. PAG provides a forum for elected officials to discuss and coordinate their plans for solving problems that cross jurisdictional boundaries, and its staff provides and analyzes data in support of that planning. PAG works to develop regional cooperation and to build consensus among jurisdictions to work together on regional programs. Following are the major PAG planning efforts:

· PAG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and PAG Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): PAG conducts long-range and short-range transportation planning with its members. Long-range planning identifies anticipated available funding to meet long-term transportation needs. Short-range planning addresses short-term capital improvement needs

· Regional Transportation Authority Plan (RTA): The Regional Transportation Authority

members jurisdictions and regional stakeholders developed a self-funded, 20-year regional transportation plan. The plan is funded by a half-cent transaction privilege tax ( a sales tax on rides). Members of the PAG Regional Council serve as Members of the RTA Board. Each governing body has different officers (for more information, see below.)




· Watershed Planning Program: The goal of the PAG program is to preserve or improve water

resources in the county’s watersheds and to protect the water supply from storm water pollution through research, planning and technical assistance. PAG’s “Clean Water Starts With Me” outreach campaign is one example of a collaborative effort among member jurisdictions to spread the storm water pollution prevention message across the region ( see Water in Pima County, an overview, below)

Members PAG members include Pima County, City of South Tucson, City of Tucson, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, Town of Sahuarita, and the Arizona State Transportation Board (ASTB). PAG is governed by a Regional Council comprised of chief elected officials from each of PAG’s member jurisdictions and a representative from the Arizona Transportation Board (for transportation issues) only. PAG also involves appropriate federal, state, and local agencies in its planning. Please note: The formal status of the following two programs can be confusing especially after reading the above sections. These programs were created as autonomous entities but the boards are coincident with the PAG board and PAG manages their planning and implementation. Know that it is not an exact description but perhaps it is simplest to think of them as boards operating in specific policy areas under the general planning efforts of PAG. Pima Association of Governments: Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Website: www.RTAmobilty.com Information: (520) 770-9410 History and Purpose The Arizona Legislature passed legislation in 2004 to establish the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County granting it legal authority to implement a regional transportation plan. The Regional Transportation Authority is a mechanism by which jurisdictions within a common geographic boundary can plan and implement transportation projects or programs serving regional needs with funding from a dedicated tax. It has authority beyond a mere coordinating body: No one jurisdiction may veto a plan that the voters approve. In 2005, the RTA developed a $2.1 billion, 20-year regional transportation plan after extensive public outreach. On Nov. 30, 2005, the RTA Board adopted the plan and placed it on the Pima County ballot for May 16, 2006. The plan and an accompanying half-cent transaction privilege tax were approved by Pima County voters in May of 2006. The plan and tax are effective through June 30, 2026. Any significant changes to the plan must be submitted to the voters. Membership RTA members include Pima County, City of South Tucson, City of Tucson, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, Town of Sahuarita, and the Arizona State Transportation Board (ASTB). The RTA is governed by the RTA Board which is comprised of chief elected officials from each of PAG’s member jurisdictions and a representative from the Arizona Transportation Board. PAG staff manages the RTA through a memorandum of understanding. The RTA is the fiscal manager of the $2.1 billion RTA plan. Most of the projects in the RTA plan are implemented by RTA member jurisdictions.




Pima Association of Governments: Water Quality Management Planning Agency (Wastewater Management) Website: www.PAGregion.com Information: (520) 792-1093 Pima Association of Governments (PAG) is the federal- and state-designated water quality management planning agency for Pima County, except for tribal lands. Under the Federal Clean Water Act, Section 208, the planning agency is required to have an area-wide wastewater management plan. That plan was completed in 1978 and was most recently updated in 2006. It is referred to as the 208 Plan. The Pima County Wastewater Management Department (PCWWM) is the federally Designated Management Agency (DMA) for eastern Pima County with the exception of the Town of Sahuarita which is its own DMA. In 2013, the Town of Marana became the DMA for much of its planning area. PCWWM collects, treats and disposes of wastewater in the area which includes Tucson, South Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, and some of the developed unincorporated areas. PCWWM is financially self-sufficient. It uses no tax dollars, but funds the system using sewer user and sewer connection fees. An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Tucson and Pima County in 1979 gave Pima County the right to use up to 10 percent of the effluent (treated wastewater) produced at the two major wastewater treatments plants in the City of Tucson. Tucson has rights to use 90 percent of the effluent. In 2000, a supplemental IGA gave the county control of effluent produced at nonmetropolitan treatment facilities. Please read the section below, “Regional Water Planning and Management”, which places the Water Quality Planning Management Agency in the context of all water related functions in the County. PAG has only limited water functions. Pro- Neighborhoods Website: www. proneighborhoods.org Information: (520) 882-5885

History and Purpose PRO Neighborhoods is an organization funded by a private/public partnership in Pima County. It was formed in 1994 to build strong neighborhood communities by nurturing skills of grassroots groups. It works with neighborhoods in all jurisdictions of Pima County - in both incorporated and unincorporated areas - to discover and utilize their own human and physical resources to grow stronger. It provides technical assistance and workshops on how to involve people, raise funds, organize, and develop other skills to help the community. This program works particularly with Tucson’s Department of Housing and Community development and Pima County’s Department of Community Development and Neighborhood Conservation.

Did You Know … Pima County operates the wastewater plants but the City of Tucson owns the lion’s share of the effluent water it produces? Both the County and the Tohono O’odham Nation retain a portion.




Membership Partners in funding and overseeing this program are the City of Tucson, Pima County, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, and the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. Sonoran Desert Conservation Please see the Pima County Government section of this book for information on responsibility for implementing Sonoran Desert Conservation. The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan was created by a wide variety of jurisdictions and private and non-profit entities and is an example of regional cooperation. The County Government/County Administrator’s office headed up the planning. Currently, the Division of Sustainability and Conservation of Pima County’s Public Works Department, is the contact point for the implementation of the Plan. Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) TREO is a non-profit organization that promotes economic and business development in the Tucson region. It is a collaborative effort of government and private partners. Funded by its partners and other grants, TREO handles federal and state tax incentive programs to support local business. It’s focus is on business recruitment, especially new entrepreneurial endeavors, and high quality jobs. Current partners include: The City of Tucson, Pima County, The City of South Tucson, the Towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, University of Arizona, Pima Community College, many private businesses and non-profits. More information available online at www.TREOAZ.org

COOPERATIVE REGIONAL EFFORTS The following two programs are not formal regional programs, and there are no central or regional management authorities. We offer a brief overview of how these two issues are handled in Pima County to assist citizens who may be are confused by the complexity of government organization.

Land Use Planning and Zoning Planning How land will be used and how buildings will be grouped on the land has been planned for centuries. The formalization of this process, however, largely took place in the twentieth century with the recognized need to protect the public’s health and safety from the deteriorating conditions of rapidly growing towns and cities. Land use planning generally results in plans intended to guide future growth patterns to avoid incompatible use in close proximity. Arizona law requires that counties, towns, and cities adopt general or comprehensive plans that establish policy direction for future growth and development. Jurisdictions must update these plans every 10 years. A jurisdiction may also prepare more specific plans, such as area or neighborhood plans, but these must be in compliance with the general or comprehensive plan. Zoning Zoning is a regulatory device for implementing land use plans. It involves dividing a jurisdiction into zones or districts according to the present and potential use of properties for the purpose of controlling and directing the use and development of the properties. Generally, in incorporated and unincorporated Pima County, zones are designated by their use, such as “residential,” “office,” “commercial,” and “industrial.” Each use zone is generally divided further for more specific types of types of uses, such as



http://www.treoaz.org/


“single-family residential.” Along with specifying use, zoning regulates building height, lot coverage (density), and similar characteristics. Changes to an existing zoning (e.g., variances, rezoning) may be requested following prescribed processes. The following table provides some general information regarding Pima County’s and the incorporated jurisdictions’ administration and legislation for planning and zoning

*Specific information as of Fall 2013

Other departments, divisions, or offices in a jurisdiction may also be involved in the development and implementation of land use plans. Some examples include a real estate division for government land acquisition, a historic preservation office for identifying historic and cultural resources, a transportation department to help in the planning of multi-modal transportation systems for access to land uses, and a housing department to consider mixes of housing types.

Planning or Zoning

Related Item

Jurisdiction* PIMA COUNTY TUCSON ORO VALLEY MARANA SAHUARITA

Webcms.pima.gov www.tucson.gov www.orovalleyaz.gov www.Marana.com Suahuaritaaz.gov Department(s) responsible for preparing, implementing, & administering land use plans and zoning

Planning & Zoning, Development Services Dept.

Planning & Development Services Dept. Planning & Community Development Div., Housing & Community Development Dept.

Planning Div., Development & Infrastructure Services

Planning Dept. Development Services Center

Planning & Zoning Division, Planning & Building Dept.

Citizen Planning & Zoning Commission (advises on land use policy, plans, & zoning)

Planning & Zoning Commission

Planning Commission


Planning Commission


General or Comprehensive Plan (establishes land use and other policies important to a livable community)

Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2003, Updated plan underway as of 2013 [Note: County plans do not have to be ratified by voters.]

General Plan adopted and ratified in 2001. New plan, adopted in July 2013, to be on Nov. 5, 2013, ballot.

General Plan adopted and ratified in 2005. Updated plan underway as of 2013.

General Plan adopted and ratified in 2011.

General Plan adopted in 2002 and ratified in 2003.

Zoning Code (establishes regulations regarding permitted land uses and development standards)

Pima County Code: Title 18, Zoning

Unified Development Code (Tucson Code, Chapter 23B)

Zoning Code Land Development Code

Sahuarita Town Code: Title 18, Zoning




Public participation is generally a requirement throughout the preparation of land use plans. Public hearings are required prior to adoption of plans, rezoning, etc. by decisions makers. Regional planning is the focus of Pima Association of Governments (PAG), which is a “metropolitan planning organization.” This designation allows PAG to receive federal funds to address transportation, water quality, air quality, and population growth across jurisdictions.

While there are established processes to create a plan or develop a property, each potential project usually generates its own specific questions about policy and regulatory interpretation. Agency staff is available in Pima County and the incorporated jurisdictions to answer questions and to assist with plan reviews, permit applications, and other such requirements.

Regional Water Planning and Management (Please note the Wastewater Management function for PAG explained above is only a part of all water issues. The following is an overview of water policy in Pima County.) For centuries, most of Pima County’s water has come from underground and non-renewable sources. Completion of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal in the 1990s, now allows water to be taken from the Colorado River, a renewable source, to our area. There are currently no other economical ways to bring more water to our area, so conservation and reuse are necessary to help sustain long term water supply. Authority and Responsibility Over time a complex decentralized governmental structure has evolved to deal with water in our region. There is no regional water management agency. Responsibilities are divided among the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), Pima Association of Governments (PAG), Pima County Wastewater, Tucson Water, several municipal water utilities, and numerous private water companies. ADWR does overall planning. All of urban Pima County is in the Tucson Active Management Area (AMA). There is a long term plan for the AMA and state law requires that anyone who wants to drill new wells other than for individual use, must show a 100-year Assured Water Supply that can be done in several ways. For details see www.adwr.state.az.us. ADWR also oversees water recharge projects, and drilling of wells by individuals, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has responsibility for water quality matters and, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, issues water quality permits, including those for wastewater treatment, water reuse, and safe drinking water.

Did You Know. . . The ADWR oversees a process and hydrologic model developers must use to show adequate water exists for new developments?



http://www.adwr.state.az.us/


The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has jurisdiction over private water companies, but not municipal utilities. CAWCD manages the CAP canal and oversees allocation and pricing of CAP water, which is used throughout much of southern Arizona. Who Provides Water? The City of Tucson operates a water utility that provides water to thousands of customers both inside and outside city limits, about 75% of the metropolitan area. A 2010 policy limits the growth of the service area, and Tucson no longer provides service on demand by new developments outside its declared service area. Water for new developments comes from other sources. Sahuarita has no municipal water utility, but water is provided by seven private water companies. Marana has a municipal water utility, but residents also get water from the City of Tucson and private water companies. Oro Valley has its own water utility. The largest private water companies in Pima County are Flowing Wells Water Company and Metropolitan Water Company. There are at least 50 other private water suppliers in Pima County and some entities such as Davis Monthan Air Force Base, University of Arizona, and the Winterhaven Neighborhood have their own wells and water systems The Tohono O’Odham Nation manages water within its jurisdiction and has a large allocation of CAP water, based on a legal ruling. Most agriculture on the Nation is irrigated with CAP water. Many residents get their water from individual wells. The CAWCD sells CAP water to many water providers under long-term contracts and allocations. It also provides water for agriculture and industry. Wastewater PAG does regional planning in a number of areas, including wastewater. It is led by representatives of each of the local governments within Pima County. An intergovernmental agreement between Tucson and Pima County in the 1970s forms the basis for division of responsibility. Pima County is responsible for treating wastewater and Tucson, for providing water. (Pima County is legally prohibited from being a water provider). Tucson owns most of the water that goes through the treatment plant, but Pima County retains a share. In addition, the Tohono O’Odham Nation has rights to a significant portion of treated waste, water as a result of a legal decision, in a trade for its rights to some CAP water. Tucson and Pima County also agreed to allocate a portion of the treated wastewater. Pima County is the regional wastewater management agency for the area and is the only county in Arizona with that authority. It has wastewater treatment plants in several locations, most notably along the Santa Cruz River at Roger Road and Ina Road. There are also some private wastewater treatment plants, mostly at golf courses where the water is reused on turf.




Water Recharge, Reuse, Water Harvesting, and Water Conservation Recharge systems store water underground for later use. The City of Tucson operates recharge basins to store CAP water for long-term water security. Pima County has recharge basins for treated wastewater, from which the water is sent for use on turf. ADHS has strict water quality rules to assure that contaminants from treated wastewater do not reach drinking water supplies. Both Tucson and Pima County have policies for conserving water on golf courses by requiring that new golf courses use reclaimed water where feasible. Many of the regional golf courses use reclaimed water on turf, as do some City parks. Reclaimed water for household use occurs elsewhere, but not in Pima County. Water Harvesting is a way to catch rainwater from roofs and other surfaces for use on the property. Tucson has requirements for water harvesting on new commercial property and encourages it on private homes. This reduces the demand for drinking water or irrigation uses. Water Conservation is an important element in maintaining a long-term supply. Tucson was a pioneer in the southwest in consumer education for conservation and in implementing a water rate structure to encourage conservation. An association of water providers, Water Casa, has worked for conservation and water harvesting, as have other municipalities.

Intergovernmental Agreements ( IGAs) An IGA provides a way for public entities to agree to or contract for services or for a joint exercise of common powers. The parties to an IGA may agree to joint or cooperative action or may form a separate legal entity, including a nonprofit corporation, to contract for or perform contract services or exercise powers jointly held by the contracting parties. In practice, there are hundreds of these agreements which are relatively limited in scope. They allow for sharing of costs, resources and personnel to avoid duplication and take advantage of economies of scale reducing the cost to the public. Among the many examples of IGA’s are contracts for cost-sharing of recreational facilities or programs, joint road maintenance project contracts, contracts between local cities and University of Arizona for educational services and joint purchasing or equipment maintenance agreements. The state of Arizona eliminated the filing requirements for IGAs with their local county recorders in 2009, so there is no central depository of all IGAs in Pima County. The effect is that IGA’s are only accessible in the same manner as contracts local governments make with private entities.



Ch.10.The Judiciary and the Courts

10. THE JUDICIARY AND THE COURTS Part of a Statewide Integrated System The court system in Pima County is part of a statewide integrated system, as provided for in the Arizona Constitution. This system includes a Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, superior courts (courts of general jurisdiction) and of record, (meaning proceedings must be recorded), and inferior courts of limited jurisdiction and not of record. Currently there are two types of courts inferior to the superior court: the justice of the peace courts and the city magistrate courts. See chart of how Arizona courts are organized.




Types of Courts The Arizona Supreme Court The highest judicial body in the state is the Arizona Supreme Court. Composed of five justices, its jurisdiction encompasses appeals from lower courts. These are mainly cases from the appeals court, but capital cases are appealed directly from superior courts. The court may choose or refuse to hear all appeals except for a capital punishment case. The Arizona Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction over suits against state officials and suits between counties. Supreme Court judges serve staggered six-year terms. They are appointed according to a merit-based system (see below under Selection of Judges). The chief justice is chosen from among supreme court justices by the others for a term of five years. The Court of Appeals There are two divisions of the appeals courts in the State of Arizona. One is in Phoenix with sixteen judges, and the other is Tucson withsix judges. The Court of Appeals handles appeals from the superior court, the tax court and the Industrial Commission, as well as unemployment compensation cases. It does not conduct trials or consider evidence in hearings. It may return a case to trial court to retry if it determines a procedure or decision was not in compliance with law. Cases are heard by a three-judge panel, but only two judges are needed to agree for an official court ruling. Judges are selected in the same way under the merit system as Supreme Court justices and must stand for a retention election every four years. See the Elections Chapter 10 for information about retention elections. The Superior Court in Pima County

General Information: Telephone: (520) 724-4200, TDD (520) 724-8887, Website: www.sc.pima.gov

The Superior Court, a general jurisdiction court, is the state’s major trial court and handles criminal felonies (murder, armed robberies, rape, assault, and so forth), as well as civil cases (private claims over $5,000, family law matters, probate, juvenile and mental health cases). It also handles juvenile law matters, both child welfare (dependency) and juvenile justice (delinquency). Additionally, the court handles appeals from limited jurisdiction courts— justice of the peace courts and municipal courts. While the Superior Court is a state court, each county has its own division and pays one-half of the judges’ salaries and most of the court costs. The courts are known, therefore, as county courts and exercise a degree of independence. At present there are more than one hundred superior court judges statewide. Pima County has thirty retained judges who are appointed by the governor as part of the merit selection process. Judges pro tempore (three), commissioners (eighteen), and hearing officers (two) are appointed and serve at the pleasure of the presiding judge to help with the large caseload. Judges pro tempore (temporary or short term) and retained judges preside over jury trials in criminal, civil matters and juvenile matters. Commissioners generally hear civil or criminal matters that do not require a jury. Hearing officers preside over routine matters, one in civil cases and one in criminal. Pima County Superior Court is divided into five different benches dealing with five different areas of law: the criminal bench, civil bench, juvenile bench, family law bench, and probate bench. The juvenile bench, more commonly known as juvenile court, adjudicates juvenile delinquency, dependency,



http://www.sc.pima.gov/


severance, and mental health cases in Pima County. The court oversees youth detention services, child and family services (adoptions, abused and neglected children, and dependency matters), and all juvenile probation services. Consolidated Justice Court

General Information: Telephone: (520) 740-3171, Website: www.pcjcc.co.pima.az.us

Also known as justice of the peace courts (JPs) these courts are county courts. Although the courts represent ten districts in Pima County, eight are “consolidated” into one location in downtown Tucson, with one in Ajo and one in Green Valley. There are ten justices of the peace elected for four-year terms in Pima County.

JP courts handle traffic violations and minor crimes (“misdemeanors”). They also have concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts over civil cases where the amount in controversy is under $10,000 . JP courts are more streamlined because their procedures are less formal, and proceedings need not be recorded. Expanding their jurisdiction over these cases can expedite cases through the system. JP courts handle preliminary hearings that precede felony trials held in superior court (an alternative to a grand jury) and issue search warrants and other types of judicial orders. JP judges are not required to have law degrees. This comes from the history of courts on

the frontier in the old Arizona Territory when common sense was considered enough to handle small cases. The judges serve for four years and are elected by popular vote. Municipal Court In Arizona each incorporated city and town is required by state law to have a city court (variously known as city, municipal, or magistrate court). The number of magistrates varies with the size of the city or town and is decided by the mayor and council of each city or town. Mayors and councils appoint these judges. For example Tucson has ten full-time magistrates, two limited special magistrates, and other special magistrates that try a variety of cases. In Tucson, magistrates serve terms of four years. In addition to these, there are municipal courts in Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and South Tucson, each with its own judge. These courts handle traffic violations and minor crimes (“misdemeanors”) that occur within city limits, as well as violations of city ordinances and codes. They authorize search warrants and issue injunctions in domestic violence and harassment cases. City courts do not handle private lawsuits between citizens as do JP courts. Municipal courts process more cases than any other courts in Arizona. Tribal Courts Tribal courts are different. (See the Tribal Governments, Chapter 3)

Administration of the Courts Courts at all levels need administration to assist with the legal process: scheduling of cases, arranging for interpreters, following up with fines and probation, and so on, and with the budgeting, personnel, and other office business. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court serves as chief administrator for all courts in the state. He/she is assisted by a clerk of the Superior Court and the presiding judge in each county. And by Justice of the Peace districts of Pima County administrative offices or divisions at each level of the court system.

Do You Know … What Courts of Record are?



http://www.pcjcc.co.pima.az.us/


Clerk of the Superior Court

As established by the Arizona Constitution, each county elects by popular vote a clerk of the superior court. The clerk is the official record keeper for the court and collects fines, fees, bonds, and restitution. The clerk of the court’s office is the first stop in initiating any Superior Court proceeding regarding family law, civil matters, passport, marriage license, protective order, legal records, criminal appeals, probate guardianship and conservatorship, and juvenile court. The clerk also maintains judicial documents, including findings in adoption, dependency, severance, and delinquency actions. The Presiding Judge A presiding judge in each county is selected by the Supreme Court from among the current superior court judges to work as a representative of the chief justice in each county. The presiding judge oversees court administration, prepares the Superior Court budget and names commissioners and temporary judges. He/she also exercises some authority over all the other courts in the county, including justice and municipal courts. There is a presiding judge for County justice courts and a presiding magistrate for larger cities, such as Tucson. Administrative Divisions There are also court administration divisions or offices (single staff in smaller cities and towns), in each jurisdiction handle administrative duties related to the courts. For strictly judicial functions these offices coordinate that with the presiding judge of the Superior Court and the clerk of the Superior Court. They also coordinate with the Board of Supervisors or in cities or towns, with mayors and councils regarding administrative functions such as finances or human resources. Superior Court Management Team The team is composed of the presiding judges of Superior Court and Juvenile Court, the associate presiding judge of Superior Court, the court administrators of Superior and Juvenile Court, the deputy court administrator of Superior Court, the clerk of the court, and the chief adult probation officer. The team meets regularly to address issues and policies of mutual concern, including overseeing the judicial merit system, which provides a uniform and equitable system of personnel administration. Other Superior Court - Related Programs Adult Probation

· Supervises convicted defendants who are eligible for diversion from prison. Jury Commissioner (see Jury Duty, below)

· Summons and screens jurors for trials held at Pima County Superior Court, Tucson City Court, Pima Consolidated Justice Courts and county and state grand juries

Interpreter

· Provides interpreting and translation services to superior and justice court divisions and departments. American Sign Language interpreters are also provided when necessary for jurors

Law Library

· Provides access to legal information and is open to all citizens of Pima County although borrowing privileges are restricted to judges, court personnel, and licensed Pima County attorneys

· Provides self-help assistance for self-represented litigants




Pretrial and Bail Services · Screens persons arrested for crimes and makes recommendations to judicial officers regarding

conditions of release from custody pending court appearance The Family Center of the Conciliation Court

· Provides mediation and counseling services for those considering divorce, for resolving child custody issues, and for resolving other parenting disputes outside of the courtroom

Calendar Services

· Provides the calendar for all matters heard at the court on a daily basis. Staff monitors cases to ensure they are processed efficiently and in a timely manner

Constables

· Are responsible, as officers of the justice courts, for serving papers; they are elected by partisan popular vote within each justice court precinct

Indigent Defense

· Composed of the Public Defender’s Office, the Legal Defender’s Office, and court appointed counsel. These lawyers are responsible for representing indigent defendants

Public Fiduciary

· Provides conservatorship, guardians, or personal representatives for individuals in need of them, burials for indigent persons, and other related matters assigned by the Supreme Court

Fines, Fees, and Restitution Program (FARE) — Municipal Court

· Outsources select parts of the collection process for fines and penalties to a private agency in order to reduce routine non-judicial functions. Pima County Justice Court will join this system in the near future.

Detailed information about the Arizona Court System, including a link to do a case search, is available at http://www.azcourts.gov/

Judges and Juries Selection of Judges Supreme Court justices, state appeals court judges, together with judges on the superior court in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties, are selected through a merit-based system passed by the voters in Pima and Maricopa counties in 1974. Previously, judges throughout Arizona were chosen in contested elections, which is still what occurs in smaller counties. Judicial Nominating Commissions Whenever there is a vacancy in Pima County Superior Court, new judges are selected from recommendations made by nominating commissions. A judicial nominating commission is established under the auspices of the Arizona Supreme Court. There are four nominating commissions in Arizona: one nominates candidates for the Supreme Court and appellate courts; one nominates candidates for superior courts in Maricopa County; one nominates candidates for superior courts in Pima County, and one nominates candidates for superior courts in Pinal County. Each commission must nominate at least three candidates per vacancy, no more than two of whom may be of the same political party. The governor chooses from this list. On each nominating commission (including Pima County) there are sixteen members: ten public members, five attorneys, and the chief justice (or his/her designee), who serves as chairperson.




Sitting justices and judges of the appellate and Maricopa, Pima and Pinal superior court stand for a retention election every four years; voters indicate by a yes or no vote whether to retain the judge for another term. A judge who does not receive a majority of votes cast must leave the bench. The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review (JPR) Since 1993, a statewide commission, the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review (JPR), establishes performance standards for judges and evaluates judges on whether or not they meet those standards. Its thirty members include eighteen public members, six attorneys, and six judges. The commission is required by law to inform the public of its findings in a publicity pamphlet. Election of Justices of the Peace (JPs) Justices of the peace are elected to office in regularly contested partisan elections. Also elected are superior court judges in counties other than Pima, Pinal and Maricopa. These elections are nonpartisan. Magistrate Selection Municipal or city court judges are selected by the city or town councils. Removal of Judges Justices or judges in general jurisdiction courts (superior courts and above) may be removed in three ways:

· Impeachment by the legislature · Recall of the people by ballot · The Supreme Court removes them on the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial

Conduct. This commission, appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court with jurisdiction over all judicial officers in Arizona, may also investigate and discipline judges, short of removal

· Municipal magistrates may be removed by mayor and councils

Juries Generally any person charged with a criminal offense or any party to a civil case has the right to a jury trial. There are two types of juries: the grand jury and the trial jury. The jury commissioner under the superior courts selects juries for all levels of courts. Grand Juries No felony trial may be held without an initial determination that there is probable cause from a grand jury or following a preliminary hearing by a justice court. Grand juries are made up of citizens who have been randomly summoned to serve. They consider whether sufficient evidence exists to justify a full criminal trial. The case is then referred to a superior court for prosecution by the county or dismissed. Grand juries have twelve to nineteen members; nine constitute a quorum needed for a decision. Trial Juries Trial juries may serve in superior court, justice court or city court. Superior Court Juries

· Juries hearing cases calling for a death sentence or at least thirty years imprisonment require twelve members and a unanimous decision

· Juries hearing all other felony cases require eight members, and a unanimous verdict · In civil cases, juries have 8 members and 6 must agree on a verdict, unless the parties agree

otherwise

Did You Know … Justices of the Peace are not required to have law degrees?




Justice Court Juries

· These juries may be requested by a defendant or prosecutor in a criminal case. They consist of six members, and verdicts must be unanimous

· In civil cases, the juries are comprised of 6 members and all but one must agree Municipal Court Juries

· Municipal court juries consist of six members, and their decisions must be unanimous · Municipal court juries hear many DUI (driving under the influence) and prostitution cases

Jury Duty The county jury roster for the selection of jurors of all courts contains the names of residents taken from the list of licensed drivers and registered voters. Jurors must be at least eighteen years of age and meet all of the following qualifications:

· United States citizen · Pima county resident · Never been convicted of a felony, unless the juror’s civil rights have been restored · Not currently adjudicated mentally incompetent

Several times a year the procedures below are followed:

· Names of prospective jurors are drawn; no one is called more than once a year · A summons for jury service is mailed with date, time, place, and group number indicated · A phone number, time and web site address are supplied so that potential jurors may check for

postponements · Failure to appear for jury duty is subject to penalty by law; service does not exceed one trial (trials

are usually three to five days long), and per diem pay and mileage compensation are provided In Arizona a person summoned to jury service, upon application in writing to the court, may be excused for the following reasons:

· Medical condition · Unable to understand the English language · Extreme physical or financial hardship · Peace officer employed by the State of Arizona · Seventy-five years of age or older · Full-time caregiver with no available substitutes · Military service member deployed outside of Arizona

Requests to be excused from jury service are rarely granted. A juror who has been selected to serve on a jury in Arizona is not required to serve again for one year.







Map – Judicial Districts



Appendix 1 – Voting Districts & Ward Maps

Tucson









INDEX Note: This Index is very brief as the pdf document is fully searchable using the pdf “Find” function. To use Find, click on Edit then on Find (or do a Ctrl+F), enter the word or phrase to find in the Find Box. “municipal” incorporation .................................. 56 annexation ............... 41, 46, 47, 57, 58, 71, 80, 92 Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

(ADEQ) ...................................................... 112 Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)

.................................................................. 112 Arizona Supreme Court .................... 116, 119, 120 business privilege .............................................. 58 CC&Rs ................................................ 42, 48, 49 Central Arizona Project (CAP) .......................... 112 Central Arizona Water Conservation District

(CAWCD) .................................................. 112 certificate of participation ................................... 59 charter schools ............................................ 91, 99 Chuk Son .......................................................... 64 Cienega Watershed ............................................ 51 Citizen advisory boards ................................ 11, 76 Clean Elections ................................................. 14 colonias ............................................................ 42 Common Core................................................... 91 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) . 62 Court of Appeals ..................................... 115, 116 development fees ............................................... 62 Economic Estimates Commission (EEC) .............. 60 Father Kino ...................................................... 45 fiduciary funds .................................................. 35 GASB-34 ......................................................... 58 General Obligation Bonds .................................. 59 governing boards ....................................... 92, 102 Grand juries .................................................... 120 HOAs ........................................................ 42, 49 Hohokam ......................................... 7, 20, 80, 86 home schooling ................................................. 91 HURF .................................................. 34, 59, 60 IGA ....................................................... 109, 114 impact fees ........................................... 59, 62, 63 Improvement Bonds .......................................... 59 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ............................ 18

Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) ................. 109 Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.(ITCA) ........ 18 JTED ......................................................... 93, 96 juries .......................................... 9, 118, 120, 121 jurors ..................................................... 118, 121 justice of the peace courts (JPs) ........................ 117 Municipal bonds ............................................... 59 municipal, or magistrate court .......................... 117 nonpartisan ................................................. 16, 28 Old Pueblo ....................................................... 64 Open Meeting Law ............................................. 9 Pascua Yaqui ................................................... 18 PEVL .............................................................. 15 Pima Association of Governments (PAG) .... 73, 107,

109, 112 Pima County Superior Court ............. 116, 118, 119 Pimeria Alta ............................................ 8, 45, 64 Primary Property Tax ................................... 34, 58 primary property tax rate ................................... 60 private schools ............................................ 91, 98 Quijotoa .......................................................... 86 Regional Transportation Authority Plan (RTA) .. 107 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) ................. 107 Revenue Bonds ................................................ 59 Secondary Property Tax .................................... 58 Service Arizona ................................................ 12 Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan .................... 110 special taxing districts ... 32, 35, 42, 102, 103, 104,

129 Tohono O’odham...........................................6, 18 Toltecs ............................................................ 24 traditional public schools ........................ 91, 93, 99 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)....... 107 TREO ........................................................... 110 wastewater management plan ........................... 109 wildcat subdivision ........................................... 42



Keep a Record of Your Voting Districts Don’t Know what they are?

Review our maps or you can call the Pima County Recorder’s Office at 724-4330 to determine your polling place and what Districts and City of Tucson Ward you are in or you can go on the Pima County Recorder web site and enter your address to get this information. Click on this web address to get info… http://www.recorder.pima.gov/public/voter_info.aspx

My Districts:

______ U. S. Congressional District

______ Arizona State Legislative District

______ Pima County Supervisor District

______ Tucson Ward (other municipalities are at large)

______ Justice Court District

______ Community College District (same as Pima County Supervisor District)

______ Local School Board District

Fire District or other special taxing districts _________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization established to promote political responsibilities through informed, active participation in government at all levels.

Please send us any comments, suggestions or corrections to the email address below, thanks

Researched, written and edited by

Please see our. . .

“A Citizen’s Directory of Elected Officials”

for local telephone, EMail contact numbers and Web sites.

Click here

Or Use this link… www.lwvgt.org/files/CDIR.pdf

League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson 5/21/14 web: www.lwvgt.org email: [email protected] Page 129




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