Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Maricopa County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
18 issues in public safety
2026 Heat Season Preparedness and Public Health Response
Maricopa County is gearing up for another dangerous summer after recording 427 heat-related deaths in 2025. Public health officials are expanding cooling and respite networks, adding family-specific sites, and partnering with 2-1-1 and local organizations to protect vulnerable residents.
Domestic Violence Awareness Proclamation
The board proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with members sharing personal survivor stories and highlighting local support networks and county programs available to victims.
Medical Examiner Autopsy Image Disclosure and Educational Research
County officials are seeking a statutory tweak to allow anonymized minor autopsy images to be used for medical research and professional education, navigating a balance between privacy rights and public health training.
Police Accountability Program
Maricopa County is expanding a popular high school program that brings teens, police officers, and city officials together to talk about police accountability and community advocacy. It's all about building trust and open communication between youth and local law enforcement before tensions flare.
Public Safety Sales Tax Renewal
Maricopa County is putting a 20-year extension of its one-fifth cent jail excise tax on the November ballot to prevent a massive funding cliff for jails, correctional health, and probation. Without this sales tax, the county would face severe budget disruptions that property taxes alone cannot cover.
Mental Health Treatment and Court-Ordered Renewal Funding
Mental health advocates and family members testified on the challenges of securing care for individuals with severe mental illness, highlighting funding gaps for court-ordered treatment renewals.
Prohibition of Personal Profit from Non-Public Information
The county adopted a resolution preventing employees and staff from wagering on elections or government actions using confidential information, setting a new ethical standard.
Information Technology Security and Risk Management Findings
State auditors identified two ongoing IT findings regarding risk management policies, data inventory, access controls, and change management procedures, prompting county remediation efforts.
Eviction Prevention and Mental Health Pilot Programs
The county is launching an eviction prevention pilot program and expanding court-ordered mental health treatment to help vulnerable residents stay housed and get care.
Public Urination and Defecation Prohibition Ordinance
The county adopted a new public health ordinance making public urination and defecation illegal in unincorporated areas, aiming to help communities like Sun City deal with homeless encampment impacts.
Termination of Court Services Agreement with Town of Queen Creek
The board and presiding judges discussed terminating an intergovernmental agreement for court services with the Town of Queen Creek due to rising caseloads, jurisdictional mismatches, and inadequate reimbursement. Town officials requested more time to negotiate an equitable solution and establish future municipal court infrastructure.
Statecraft PLLC Legal Procurement and Election Litigation
Supervisors approved a $250,000 sole-source legal contract for outside counsel to handle election-related litigation involving the county recorder, sparking public debate over transparency and board spending.
Animal Shelter Overpopulation and Rescue Partnerships
The county continues to partner with local rescue organizations through New Hope agreements to place shelter animals and reduce overcrowding.
Explosion of Digital Evidence and Prosecution Backlogs
The County Attorney's Office is requesting major funding increases for specialized software like Cellebrite and Axon Justice Premier to process thousands of hours of body camera and cell phone video evidence.
Sheriff's Office Overtime and Vacancy Rate Adjustments
The Sheriff's Office reported high overtime costs and requested a budget adjustment to reset budgeted vacancy rates downward as civilian hiring improves while sworn deputy vacancies remain high.
Constable Deputy Salary Adjustments
Constables requested salary range increases for deputy constables to match MCAO investigators to combat high turnover and retain senior law enforcement officers.
Jail Facilities Excise Tax Renewal (Proposition 413)
Maricopa County is asking voters to renew a one-fifth cent sales tax that funds half of the county's jail and detention operations. Because the existing tax expires in March 2027, putting Proposition 413 on the November 2026 ballot ensures public safety agencies and the jail system maintain stable funding without increasing tax rates.
Emergency Declaration
Maricopa County declared a local emergency for Tempe to unlock state and federal disaster funds for an ongoing crisis. We're still waiting on details about what happened and how it might affect your day-to-day city services.