Senate panel supports proposal to add more county supervisors

One state lawmaker argues Maricopa County would be better off, or at least better represented, if the board overseeing the government of this sprawling county of millions included at least a few more members.

The Senate Government Committee on Monday unanimously backed a proposal to expand the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to nine members from five.

Senate Bill 1498 would also increase the size of the Pima County Board of Supervisors to seven members from five.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, argued that it is only sensible to increase the number of board members as Maricopa County has grown, ballooning the number of people each board member represents.

“Representation of a certain number of people is just really difficult. It’s good to spread it out,” he said. “In the case of Maricopa County, we have 900,000 people apiece. That’s more than a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and obviously we’re going to continue to grow.”

The bill would take effect when voters elect supervisors again in 2024.

The change would not require the approval of voters in the county.

The proposal found a receptive audience even in a state Senate where many lawmakers pride themselves on small government and where Republicans recently voted to hold the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in contempt.

Committee members on Monday cited the sheer size of Maricopa County’s supervisor districts.

Supervisor Steve Gallardo said earlier Monday that he believes the topic is worthy of discussion.

One of the main reasons he sees for increasing the number of supervisors is because they currently represent such large areas.

Gallardo’s district

Buckeye to Guadalupe.

“Every community is different, the needs are different, and you’re having to juggle all the different municipalities in the district,” he said.

Gallardo said he would want to have a full discussion on the matter before the Legislature acts because there is a lot to think about, including what the right number of supervisors might be.

The County Supervisors Association of Arizona already opposes the measure, arguing it would amount to a costly mandate.

County supervisors in larger counties receive a salary of $76,600. Legislation wending through the Capitol would raise that salary to $96,600.

As for representation, the association has pointed out that county residents already elect leaders to several posts — not just supervisors but also a

stretches

from sheriff, assessor, county attorney, treasurer and others.

And Maricopa County’s governing structure is not necessarily unique among similarly sized counties in Western states.

Los Angeles County has a board of five supervisors. Harris County in Texas, home to Houston, is governed by four commissioners and a county judge elected at large.

Even for lawmakers backing the bill, expanding the board is not necessarily a favorite option.

Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, said she would prefer to see Maricopa County split apart.

La Paz County split off from Yuma County in 1983, leaving the state with what are still relatively few counties.

"We only have 15 in Arizona," Townsend noted.