Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cochise County, Arizona public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
23 issues in taxes budget
Solid Waste Fee Increase
An operational update on the county's solid waste (trash) services, which affects transfer stations, landfills, and disposal costs for county residents.
Library District Financial Demands and Budget Amendments
The district's routine bills and budget amendments for operating transfers come before the board. It's standard financial housekeeping that keeps library services funded and vendors paid.
Cochise Combined Trust Health Benefit Rates
Moving HSAs and FSAs to Fidelity gives county employees better interest, no investment minimums, and lower costs.
Light and Heavy Fleet Divisions Update
A report on the county's vehicle and heavy equipment fleet — maintenance, replacement schedules, and the costs of keeping county trucks and machinery running.
Flood Control District Budget and Financial Administration
The Flood Control District handles drainage and flood mitigation across the county, which affects storm safety, infrastructure, and flood insurance for residents. This work session lets the Board hear where the District stands and steer its next steps.
Jail District Operating Demands and Budget Amendments
The board is set to approve routine demands and budget amendments moving money between operating funds. It's fiscal housekeeping, but it shows how the jail district is managing its budget.
General Election Day
Tuesday, November 3 is General Election Day, so the Board of Supervisors is not holding its regular meeting that week. Residents should plan to vote and watch for county business to resume afterward.
Jail District Excise Tax Clarification
Resolution 26-01 fixes a tax-table nuance so online lodging bookings are collected at the correct 0.55% rate instead of 0.50%, matching how transient lodging is taxed. This means the state revenue department will start collecting the right amount from those vendors.
Upcoming Meeting Agendas and County Operations
Supervisors debated internal communication flows between county administration, department heads, and elected officials after concerns were raised about supervisors being blindsided by localized projects.
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 County Budget Adoption
Chairman Antenori contrasted Cochise County's budget with Coconino County's $480 million in spending, crediting Administrator Gilman with running a tight ship — a point of pride for taxpayers.
County ERP system rollout
The county's new financial ERP system is live and the payroll piece is still rolling out — staff are stretched but Administrator Gilman thanked them for pushing through.
Property Value Appeals and Assessments
County supervisors approved the 2026 property tax rates, keeping county-level taxes flat for the second year in a row. However, supervisors warned that residents in poorer areas are facing steep tax hikes from local school, fire, and water districts due to a lack of economic growth and job losses.
State Expenditure Limitation and Pension Liabilities
Chairman Antenori flagged that the state's expenditure limit blocks the County from putting extra cash toward its roughly $6.2 million court-related pension liability — and may push counties toward bonding. The Board wants to prep for a future election on rebasing the limit.
State Budget Impacts and Probation Funding
A stack of annual grants funds court security radios, CASA advocates for kids in dependency cases, juvenile crime reduction work programs, and adult probation drug-court staffing. Most require little or no county match.
Tax Deed Land Auction and Over-the-Counter Sales
The county successfully auctioned off 253 tax-delinquent parcels, bringing in over $283,000 and returning the properties to the active tax rolls to support county revenue. The board also authorized offering the remaining 93 unsold properties for over-the-counter purchase.
Pomerene and San Simon Fire District Tax Rate Corrections
County officials had to fix an error in property tax rates for two local fire districts to ensure they didn't exceed legal maximums before sending them to the printer.
County Financial Demands and Budget Transfers
The board routinely approved financial demands and budget amendments to keep flood control operations running smoothly. These administrative housekeeping items ensure bills get paid and funds are properly aligned.
Election Service Fee Schedule Increases
Elections officials proposed raising IGA election fees charged to cities and school districts from 75 cents to $3.00 per registered voter to cover actual administrative costs.
County Audit Results and Purchasing Card Compliance
The Auditor General presented a clean audit for FY2025, but flagged minor compliance issues regarding purchasing cards, IT controls, and WIC documentation. The board discussed ways to clarify public purpose policies for refreshments at intergovernmental meetings.
Constable Salaries Review
The Board discussed proposed salary resolutions for precinct constables, balancing workload and pension impacts against statutory obligations.
Judicial Branch and Court Administration Budget (FY 2026-2027)
Court officials presented their upcoming budget, emphasizing that the judicial branch will operate within existing funds thanks to increased efficiency, a new call center, and streamlined processes.
State Legislation and HURF Revenue Concerns
Supervisors discussed pending state legislative proposals to alter fuel taxes, expressing concern that backfilling revenue based on past benchmarks could severely limit future funding for county road maintenance.
Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney Salary Adjustment
Supervisors discussed increasing a proposed general fund contingency transfer from $20,000 to $30,000 to raise the salary range for the vacant chief civil deputy county attorney position to remain competitive.