By Sergio Arellano-Oros
The Pima County Board of Supervisors rejected an opportunity to increase transparency in the County’s budgeting process.
Miller expressed surprise at her fellow Board members’ denial of the simple request. She said she “very disappointed in my fellow board members not approving study sessions for reviewing the $1.26 billion budget,” Miller noted that she has received, “a half dozen calls already from taxpayers all over Pima County asking Why they won’t support transparency? That is a good question.”
Supervisor Ally Miller first reported that proposal for two public study sessions lost on a vote of 4-1 and meeting attendees confirmed her claim, but according to Ray Carroll and the clerk, the vote was 3-2 with Carroll supporting the proposal.
Miller’s proposal read: “Due to the size and scope of the County Administrator’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2013/2014, which is in excess of $1.2 billion dollars, I am requesting two 4-hour study sessions. These study sessions will allow Department Directors to answer any questions and will further assist the Supervisors in developing a clear understanding of where our tax dollars are going. Study sessions are a best practice conducted by all municipalities to ensure transparency and accountability to the citizens we represent. The citizens of this County deserve the opportunity to hear and be heard during this process and I am advocating the Pima County Board of Supervisors adopt these sessions on behalf of the citizens of Pima County.”
Miller proposed Wednesday, May 15, for the first Study Session and Wednesday, June 5, for the second Study Session.
Miller offered reassurances to taxpayers, “My team will review this budget and we will give the public an update on where we believe cuts can be made.”
Pima County residents were not as surprised as Miller by the vote; over the years they have grown accustomed to the lack of transparency by the County. Miller is the new addition to the Board having replaced retiring Supervisor Ann Day.
At one point, Supervisor Ray Carroll appeared to meeting attendees to be bragging when he said that the Board had not had a budget study session since he took office in 1997.
In a bizarre twist Carroll called into a local radio show Wednesday morning that was featuring Miller. He corrected Miller about the vote but said that he wasn’t happy with the dates offered in Miller’s proposal. Miller rebutted that he could have picked any day if he was not happy.
Steve Marquez, a member of the Southern Arizona Hispanic Republicans, said of the vote, “This should a warning sign to Pima County that they can expect more of the same from their elected supervisors. It is disgraceful that they would vote against transparency in reviewing a 1.26 Billion dollar budget.”
Caleb Rhodes, who characterized himself as a concerned student in Pima County, said, “Our roads are falling apart, the county is asking for more bonds, and our elected officials won’t even take the time to fully examine the budget.”
Pima County resident David King expressed his disappointment with the missed opportunity, “Clearly, the long-time members of The Pima County Board Supervisors can’t be bothered to look out for the concerns of the residents they serve, they squandered a prime opportunity to identify wasteful spending and streamline county operations”. If the County Supervisors aren’t careful, they’ll be as bad as The Tucson City Council.”
Nick Flores, a Political Science Major at the U of A said, “The disappointing vote against the two proposed study sessions shows that they do not wish to use that time to answer questions that their fellow citizens have. These study sessions will serve as a good time to explain and review where the spending takes place, and exactly where the taxpayers’ money goes. Anybody who votes against transparency does not have my vote. As an elected official, you are responsible and should be held accountable. There should be no reason to want to hide anything.”
Pima County businessman and SAHR Board member, Dominic Escamilla spoke for many Pima County residents when he offered praise to Miller and concluded, “It’s sobering that the majority of our board of supervisors basically want to work in secret. They don’t seem to grasp that they are public servants. They serve they don’t rule. The unmitigated gall! Keep up the good work Ally.”
To date, they have been successful in advancing that agenda. One County resident said of the board, “They are scoundrels, the whole lot. If it weren’t for Miller, we might not have even known they were even going to vote on a budget. Their PR team can’t make these dirty dogs look good.”
Speaking of dogs, in other County news provided by the crack PR team, the public was informed that the residents of Pima County have selected from a “field of five worthy and adorable finalists,” Oliver “the new face of responsible pet ownership for Pima Animal Care Center. A bit of a ham already, the ever-exuberant Oliver will be on posters in the community, encouraging owners to license their dogs.”
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