Jennifer
Schuldt of the Arizona Tax Research Association, asked a
variety of questions about La Paz County's finances at
the annual interview with the Board of Supervisors.
ATRA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization which
analyzes each Arizona county's financial picture and tax
rate.
Schuldt, who serves as vice president of ATRA has come
to La Paz several times prior; and informed the
supervisors La Paz County was her final county stop, at
the Aug. 1 meeting.
Schuldt's first query was about employee costs, such as
cost of living allowances and merit increases.
County Finance Director Ava Alcaida told her the total
cost could be estimated, but no firm number was in place
because of the current situation.
District 1 Supervisor Gene Fisher told Schuldt that the
COLA is still under discussion and it is between 1 3/4
to 2 percent. And the county is looking specifically at
law enforcement increases -- dispatch, detention and
deputies. This does not include clerical employees,
nurses or cooks.
It was noted the county's salaries for law enforcement
positions are still low compared to some counties.
Beginning salary for detention officers would be $29,000
and dispatchers would be at $26,500. Beginning salaries
for certified deputies would be at $39,000.
Supervisor Mary Scott said it takes about $50,000 to
train an officer, and officers often leave for better
pay.
Schuldt told the board the issue is happening statewide.
It's an issue with all counties, she said.
Board Chairman Cliff Edey said, "We don't want to be the
highest paying county. That only continues the spiral
upward."
By adopting the $39,000 base pay for deputies, nine
counties will be have higher salaries; and five counties
will have lower salaries, Fisher added.
Schuldt asked where they received the information about
statewide salary numbers and was told the Sheriff's
Office supplied the information, which was accurate.
Regarding the law enforcement increases, Edey said, "We
do our homework. We have the money, but what happens
next year and the following year? We just don't want to
paint ourselves into a corner."
Next, Schuldt asked about step increases and COLA
numbers. How do the supervisors determine them.
Step increases happen on the employee's anniversary date
of hire. The increases are 2.3 to 2.8 percent. The
percentage is determined by how long the employee has
been with the county.
Department heads' and chief deputies' increases are at
the discretion of the board of supervisors, starting at
2.5 percent. Last year's increase was 2.5 percent; and
this year's increase will be 2.6 percent.
Other information about the county employee work force
included a turnover rate of 18.3 percent. The county
covers an employee's health care 100 percent; and pays
for 50 percent for dependents.
The county had a increase in premium costs of
approximately 7 percent. The cost to cover an employee
is $24.49; and the premium for dependents is $32.92.
Schuldt asked about county capital expenditure projects.
Fisher said the county Public Works facility was nearly
completed. Fencing was going up and curbing and chipseal
were being completed. The project cost $2.6 million and
was paid in cash.
Fisher said the project was held up by 148 days because
the Town of Parker didn't have their water lines in
place. Due to that delay, there will be an increase in
cost by a few thousand dollars.
Schuldt asked about why the county needed to build a
public works facility. Supervisors Fisher and Edey
explained maintenance operations were in a building
owned by Arizona Western College. At one point in time
AWC wanted to sell the building to La Paz County.
The county hired an appraiser and gave AWC a price.
"We had a verbal agreement on the price and then they
changed their minds," recalled Edey.
Other county projects include construction of the Salome
community center. Another project is the Brenda Helipad.
Supervisor Scott said the helipad was a much needed
service for the remote community and surrounding
residents. She said private contributions were at
$20,000. The county's contribution will be $4,300.
Another project was moving the modular building which
used to house the county child support department, to
Salome and be used as Justice of the Peace Court
offices.
Schuldt asked if the county had development impact fees.
The supervisors said no, but they recently had an
analysis done on proposed fees. They estimate it will
take six to 12 months to get the fees in place.
Regarding the county Jail District, Schuldt asked if
there was a juvenile detention facility. The supervisors
said Yuma County houses the juveniles.
Discussion of the jail expansion included the upgrading
of 911 equipment, which the county received a grant to
do. Also, the addition to the detention center will have
a pod for women.
Each pod in the jail has 40 beds. As it stands now, one
pod would is used to house women, with only 12 to 16
beds being used. The detention center's rent-a-bed
policy would be utilized better.
The county has the lowest inmate bed cost of $44 per
day. The number of beds available are 228 to 230. They
average a 89 percent occupancy rate. The average number
of county residents in the jail was at any time is 76.
Renting the beds are the Department of Corrections, U.S.
Border Patrol, U.S. Marshal's Office, Yuma and San Diego
Counties; U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Immigration &
Naturalization Service; and prisoner transport services.
Schuldt asked if the jail had heavy medical costs,
noting some counties are finding their costs soaring.
Edey said there was one inmate with possible TB
infection, which was resolved. There was also an inmate
with bad teeth and another with a heart condition.
Fisher said the jail was built in 1994 and has had
excellent maintenance and good management.
Schuldt asked what was the average value increase on
existing commercial and residential property. The
supervisors told her 13.5 percent overall.
She informed the supervisors there two propositions have
been filed with the Secretary of State's office and
230,000 signatures will have to be obtained for each.
She said they are valuation initiatives and ATRA is not
in support of either.
