Too many Pima County roads are in poor to mediocre condition. But this problem confronts every community in the state. The American Society of Engineers recently found in its 2013 report card that 52 percent of roads throughout Arizona are in poor to middling condition, sticking motorists across the state with $887 million in repair and operating costs.

Huckelberry sent letters Friday to the Tucson Metro Chamber and seven other local chambers, as well as to the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Metropolitan Pima Alliance and the Tucson Utility Contractors Association.

“This is an issue that should resonate with the business community,” Huckelberry said. “Developing real growth and a vibrant economy remains our top focus – and that is contingent on having a strong, efficient network of roads that provides accessibility and saves time and costs. Now is the time to make sure we’re making wise investments in infrastructure that will advance our economic recovery and stimulate job growth.”

The Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution May 21 that called upon the Legislature to take the following actions to address the very real gaps in road funding:

• Stop diverting tax dollars that were supposed to come to transportation departments for road improvements, and reimburse Pima County for the $38 million that has been siphoned away since 2002;
• Continue the one-cent per gallon tax that currently goes to underground storage tank remediation but, instead, direct it to road repair and maintenance;
• Increase the state gasoline tax by 10 cents per gallon to bring the state more in line with the gas tax levied in surrounding states;
• Seek other available opportunities to identify resources for roads.

Huckelberry called upon the business organizations to use their considerable clout to push state leaders for a solution. “The reality is there aren’t revenues to support the systems we have in place, let alone fund new ones that will support our needs in the future. We can’t afford to wait any longer to have this discussion.”

To read his comprehensive transportation funding report, please visit http://www.pima.gov/Administration/bd-transportation%20funding%20report.pdf

Memorial Day is a Pima County holiday, so volunteers help make sure our dogs don’t have to stay in their kennels all day without exercise and attention.

The volunteers at Pima Animal Care Center are hosting a Memorial Day Dog Walk and are asking for the community’s help. The walk begins at 8 a.m. and runs until about 10 a.m.

We haven’t had as many volunteers sign up as we typically do for our holiday walks so we would love to encourage some more folks to lace up some tennis shoes.

Not only is it a great way to reflect on the freedoms we have to participate in causes we care about, thanks to our veterans, but it’s also a good cause and a lot of fun.

If you like zippy, high-energy dogs, we’ve got ’em. If you would prefer a more leisurely pace around the scenic Silverbell Lake, we’ve got plenty of dogs to match your pace. Our volunteers will help you make the right match.

Please RSVP to volunteer Jack Neuman at jacneu@yahoo.com. Cans of dog or cat food are always appreciated, as are used blankets and towels. And if you have your own slip leads or leashes, feel free to bring them.

For those interested in becoming a more permanent volunteer, we offer ongoing open houses to provide all the information you need about participating in our Volunteer Program. The open houses run approximately 45 minutes. An open house will be held following the dog walk at 11 a.m.

For more information, or a schedule of upcoming events, please visit www.pima.gov/animalcare or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, José Ocaño, at 520-243-5920.

Similarly, the average taxpayer would pay essentially the same amount they paid last year.

Even though the adopted tentative budget anticipates a $3.71 ceiling on the primary property tax rate – which is higher than the existing $3.41 rate – the reduction in property values will offset that.

To be clear, the Pima County Board of Supervisors may not ultimately adopt the $3.71 rate when they finalize the budget on June 18. The vote was a procedural mechanism to make sure there was cushion in the budget in case Supervisors decided to further invest in key issues such as road repairs.

The average homeowner, with a property value of $155,834 in 2012, can expect in to see their assessed value drop to $144,835.

That homeowner, who saw a tax bill of $749 in 2012, would see a tax bill of $742 next year.

Even under the potential rate increase, Pima County would collect slightly less in property taxes overall next year. The entire amount of property taxes collected in the current fiscal year is $386.8 million.  The levy amount that would be collected if the tentative tax rate holds would be $386.4 million.

The adopted tentative budget is lower by 14 percent than the budget of six years ago when the recession began. In that time, budgets for General Fund departments have been cut 11.5 percent since Fiscal Year 2007/08, and the County workforce has shrunk by 12.8 percent.

The approval, which came on a 3-2 vote, sets an upper “ceiling” for the budget, which caps the total budget allocation as well as the proposed property tax levy. The board can reduce the expenditures or transfer funds among agencies, as appropriate, but cannot increase the budget prior to adoption of the final budget on June 18.

The adopted tentative budget is $3.9 million higher than the budget recommended by the County Administrator in late April, but still lower by 14 percent than the budget of six years ago when the recession began. In that time, budgets for General Fund departments have been cut 11.5 percent since Fiscal Year 2007/08, and the County workforce has shrunk by 12.8 percent.

In a procedural vote, Supervisors indicated that while they may not ultimately adopt a budget at the higher amount, it will provide additional flexibility as they weigh pressing needs, such as transportation improvements as well as considering appropriate levels of compensation for public safety employees, including the Sheriff’s Department.

While the sales tax and vehicle license tax are beginning to recover, the market value of existing property in the County is anticipated to decrease 8 percent next fiscal year. That decrease in values will offset the potential increase in the primary property tax rate, ensuring a “revenue neutral” tax levy, as determined by Truth in Taxation limits.

Among key priorities, the County budget would :

• Invest $5 million to fix and maintain approximately 100 miles of County roads;
• Supplement the Sheriff’s and County Attorney’s offices by $4 million to replace declining federal and state revenues;
• Replace $4 million that would be lost to the general fund because of declining property values;
• Afford a 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment for employees at the beginning of the fiscal year, with 2 percent to follow at the start of 2014. Employees have not received an across-the-board compensation increase since Fiscal Year 2007/08, with the exception of a 1 percent adjustment related to increased retirement contributions in Fiscal Year 2011/12. 

Please review the proposed budget at http://www.pima.gov/finance/RecBdgt/2013-2014/index.html

Don’t stop now. Adopt for $12 to save 12,000

Pima Animal Care Center thanks the community for making our annual adoption event, Monsoon Muttness, such a success.

During the Saturday event, 96 pets were adopted and another 27 went home through rescue organizations, for a grand total of 123 in a single day.

It was the largest adoption event of the fiscal year ending June 30, and the third-largest in recent history, only following the initial launch of Monsoon Muttness 11 years ago and just behind last year’s 139.

We couldn’t do the work we do without our dedicated volunteers or our compassionate and devoted rescue partners – or without our customers, who know there are great pets of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages that need new homes.

For those who missed the adoption event, there are plenty of great pets still available. In fact, dozens of new animals come in every day. Plus, as an added bonus as we work to save 12,000 animals this fiscal year, we have reduced our adoption fee to $12 until June 30.

Come visit our Silverbell adoption center to see if your new family member is waiting.

Photo courtesy of Ann-Eve Cunningham

For those who would like to honor the day with community service, Pima Animal Care Center is hosting a volunteer dog walk and cat cuddle on Monday, May 27, beginning at 8 a.m. on Memorial Day. Our adoption center is closed for the holiday, so volunteers help us make sure our pets get plenty of exercise and attention.

Not a trained volunteer? No problem. Experienced volunteers will help you have a fun, safe time, especially since our pets love to explore Silverbell Lake, right behind our adoption center. Refreshments are provided.

Please RSVP to volunteer Jack Neuman at jacneu@yahoo.com. Cans of dog or cat food are always appreciated, as are used blankets and towels. And if you have your own slip leads or leashes, feel free to bring them.

For those interested in becoming a more permanent volunteer, we offer ongoing open houses to provide all the information you need about participating in our Volunteer Program. The open houses run approximately 45 minutes. An open house will be held following the dog walk at 11 a.m.

For more information, or a schedule of upcoming events, please visit www.pima.gov/animalcare or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, José Ocaño, at 520-243-5920.

The closure includes landfills in Sahuarita and Ajo, the Tangerine Landfill and the Catalina and Ryan Field Transfer Stations.

The Solid Waste Administrative Office, 5301 W. Ina Road, also will be closed on Monday.

For more information on the closures, please call the 24-hour Landfill Information Line at (520) 724-7400 or visit www.pima.gov/deq.

The Tuberculosis Clinic is open 7:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. Tuesday, and is closed on Thursdays. TB skin tests are $15 and available on a walk-in basis during clinic hours.

For more information, call the Health Department’s Tuberculosis Clinic at (520) 243-8450.