MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021   AACo Bulletin  Advancing Arizona's Counties since 1968
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2021 Summit Awards - Deadline Extended
DEADLINE EXTENDED 5:00 PM SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
The Arizona Association of Counties and the AACo Foundation invite you to enter the 2021 County Summit Awards competition!

These unique awards recognize the innovative and creative spirit of Arizona county governments as they find new and effective ways of providing services to their citizens.

Consider entering your county's most innovative programs and/or projects to win one or more of these awards. Winners will be honored at the 2021 Annual Conference on November 12, 2021 and presented their awards during the Summit Awards Breakfast. 

Check out the Call for Applications and download your entry form today! For more information please contact Gideon Wagner.
2021 Western State Association Staff Meet Up
This past week, staff from County Associations from across the Western US met in Santa Fe, New Mexico to discuss best practices, responses to COVID19, and legislative policy that had been worked in their states.
 
From our own association, Megan Kintner and Ryan Boyd attended the meeting which had representatives from Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, and California. This is the fourth time that the meeting has happened in person, previously occurring in Idaho, Oregon, and then Washington.
 
The meeting is traditionally split into three “tracks” of sessions: Administration & Finance, Communications & Member Services and Legislative & Policy. Attendees can mix and match sessions or attend all along one track.
 
Administration & Finance discussions centered around the hard internal work of running associations. This included sharing programs that added value to members and revenue to associations, systems to manage administrative services and how to best communicate information to the Board of Directors so they can maintain effective oversight.
 
For Communications & Member Services, the discussions focused a lot on the technical side. Creating webinars to brief members on the latest changes coming from NACo on guidance about American Rescue Plan funding, working with affiliate associations (something AACo has a lot of expertise in), and sharing reports as models for inspiration on how to get the message across to internal and external stakeholders.
 
Last but not least, Legislative & Policy sessions dived deep into specific legislative battles across the west. We talked about criminal justice as states like Washington deal with the intense administrative work of State v. Blake decriminalizing the possession of all drugs. New Mexico also was a laboratory for police reform, many ideas that are being pushed by groups in Arizona. States also discussed the major pushes for PILT and SRS. Idaho and New Mexico noted their associations fielding many questions about how federal funds can be utilized and New Mexico even initiating an interesting partnership with BLM to do a 5-year assistance agreement that took unused funds to help with illegal dumping cleanup. We debated the merits of long sessions like Arizona’s 171 day one and New Mexico’s 30 nonstop days including Sunday night 10:00 PM hearings. And we ultimately traded tips and tricks for lobbying in various stages of remoteness as legislatures across the West shut down access for the public.
 
Next year, the meeting will be held by California, and it has been asked if Arizona will host in 2023. These staff meetings bring newer staff up to speed and keep us in touch with colleagues who share their approaches, research and fact sheets on critical issues that come to the forefront in our work for counties.
Capital Times Select 2021 Leaders of the Year
Jen Sweeney
AACo is proud to announce that our own Executive Director Jen Marson has been selected as one of the top leaders of 2021 by the Capital Times! She has been a fierce advocate for AACo since 2002 and at the helm since 2013!

Each year, the Arizona Capitol Times recognizes men, women, and organizations that have contributed greatly to the growth of our state. These are the people and groups that hunker down each day to find ways to improve the quality of life of Arizona’s citizens. The awardees will be recognized in an awards night at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28. They will also be profiled in a special edition of the Arizona Capitol Times. View the full list of leaders here.
AZ Finishes Fiscal Year with Historic Tax Revenue Spike
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC)’s July 2021 fiscal highlights report revealed “extraordinary growth” in the state of Arizona in Fiscal Year 2021.

Based on preliminary revenue data, JLBC determined that the FY 2021 percentage growth rate beat the modern record, growing by 28.8% overall and resulting in total general fund collections of $14.17 billion.

At the end of FY 2021 on June 30, General Fund revenues were $487 million above the recently enacted budget forecast. Now, the cash balance is projected to be $929 million rather than the original $442 million forecast.

FY 2021 held a 66% increase in taxable corporate gains, 18% growth in individual income tax liability (excluding deferred funds), and a 16% increase in sales tax collections. JLBC estimated that such growth was caused by the 13% increase in Arizona personal income caused by the $32 billion of federal pandemic given to the state, a shift in consumer spending to more taxable goods which boosted sales tax collections, a 16% gain in the stock market and 20% gain in home prices which likely boosted capital gains that are subject to income tax.

FY 2021 individual income tax revenues were $2 billion higher than those of FY 2020. Additionally, June 2021 revenues were 30.4% higher than they were last June due to high growth rates in sales tax, individual income tax, corporate income tax, and insurance premium tax.

In the first 3 quarters of FY 2021, Arizona personal income grew by 12.7%, signifying the largest gain since 1985.

This is the first JLBC report since the 2021 legislative session concluded, after which Gov. Doug Ducey signed the largest tax cut in Arizona history, beginning the state’s transition from a five-bracket tax system to a 2.5% flat tax regardless of income.

The governor’s office said in a press release that the report demonstrates Arizona’s resilience.

“It paints a picture of a state economy that has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic not only in great shape, but poised to achieve even greater accomplishments in the years ahead,” the press release said. “The ‘extraordinary growth’ Arizona saw in Fiscal Year 2021 is positive news for every Arizonan. We are leading the way in the nation's economic recovery.”

Ducey’s income tax changes are uncertain, as opponents are gathering signatures to put a veto initiative on the 2022 ballot. If successful, the tax rates would remain the same. View the full article online.
Register for the 2021 Annual Conference
The 2021 Annual Conference will be held November 9-12, 2021 at the Sheraton Crescent in Phoenix, join us to have your voice heard on county issues!

This event provides an opportunity for all county leaders and staff to learn, network and guide the direction of the Arizona Association of Counties. This opportunity is not only for county leaders but anyone who is interested in county government, whether you are a staff member or any interested party.

All information can be found on the conference website including sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, or by contacting Gideon Wagner our Communication & Education Manager.