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By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
Residents of the state’s two largest counties could find themselves with more people to call when something goes wrong.
But it will cost them.
On a 15-13 margin the Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to expanding the size of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors from five to nine. SB 1498 also would boost the size of the Pima board, but only to seven.
The move came over the objection of several Democrat lawmakers who said the board members in the two affected counties are opposed. Sen. Victoria Steele of Tucson said the issue for the supervisors in her county is, at least in part, cost.
They figure the cost of operating an office, including salaries and equipment, is about $500,000. So two new supervisors will increase public spending by $1 million, what she called an “unfunded mandate.”
Sen. Lela Alston, D-Phoenix, said there were similar objections from the Maricopa supervisors.
