Due to an unbelievably egregious lack of ethics and even less desire for public input and scrutiny, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate the Ethics and Budget Review committees during Tuesday’s regular meeting. The measure to dissolve the committees passed 3-2.
Before the vote, both Supervisors Ally Miller and Ray Carroll stated their objections. Miller objected strenuously to the dissolution of the Budget Review Committee. Since its inception, the Budget Review Committee was unable to take any action due to a lack of a quorum. Supervisors Richard Elias and Ramon Valadez never filled their spots on the Committee, and Supervisor Sharon Bronson only filled one of the two spots allocated to each supervisor.
As the newest member of the Board, Miller had no trouble filling her two spots with volunteers almost immediately upon taking office. In light of the fact that the public has been very interested in the County’s budget, Miller held a budget review for the public last spring. At Tuesday’s meeting, Miller said that while it was still difficult for the public to fully understand the budget, residents still appreciated an opportunity to ask questions of Miller and County staff.
Carroll and Miller objected to the dissolution of the Ethics Committee. Carroll said that while it was unlikely the Committee would be necessary in the future, it would be possible that it could be necessary. He emphasized the fact that the purpose of the Ethics Committee was to primarily address a situation in which a supervisor would impugn a fellow supervisor or a member of their staff.
County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said that the Ethics Committee created only one report in 1989. According to Huckelberry, County rules and state law would cover any issues which might arise before the Committee.
Miller said that despite the fact that the Committee had done little, she believed an independent body would add value.
Many in Pima County saw the dissolution of the two committees as a rare honest move not seen in the County in a long time. One resident said after the vote that the pretense of the County caring about ethics or the public’s input on the budget was insulting.