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Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 9:30 AM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Maricopa County, Arizona (and the Boards of Directors of the Flood Control District, Library District, Stadium District, Improvement Districts and/or Board of Deposit) "The mission of Maricopa County is to provide regional leadership and fiscally responsible, necessary public services to its residents so they can enjoy living in healthy and safe communities” Board Members Thomas Galvin, Chairman, District 2 Kate Brophy McGee, Vice Chair, District 3 Mark Stewart, District 1 Debbie Lesko, District 4 Steve Gallardo, District 5 County Manager Jen Pokorski Clerk of the Board Juanita Garza Meeting Location Supervisors’ Conference Room 301 W Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 Chairman Galvin opened the meeting and asked the Clerk to call the roll. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Board of Supervisors of Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona, convened in an Informal Session at 9:30 AM on Monday, August 18, 2025, in the Supervisors’ Conference Room 301 W Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003, with the following members present: Thomas Galvin, Chairman, District 2; Kate Brophy McGee, Vice Chair, District 3; Mark Stewart, Supervisor, District 1; Steve Gallardo, Supervisor, District 5. Absent: Debbie Lesko, Supervisor, District 4. Also present: Juanita Garza, Clerk; Mia Vargas, Minutes Coordinator; Jen Pokorski, County Manager; Brooke Worcester, Legal Counsel. PRESENTATION 1. ECONOMIC FORECAST PRESENTATION Presentation regarding the Economic Forecast. Jim Rounds, Rounds Consulting Group (C-18-26-007-X-00) Chairman Galvin introduced Jim Rounds, Rounds Consulting Group, who would be giving a presentation regarding the Economic Forecast. Mr. Rounds said the presentation would include an economic overview to help the Board with decision making. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 2 of 18 Mr. Rounds said he will briefly cover what is going to happen in the next couple of years. Mr. Rounds used the slide above to clarify what Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is and how it is measured. Mr. Rounds explained the changes throughout the quarters on the U.S. Real GDP graph above. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 3 of 18 Vice Chair Brophy McGee asked about the drop in government spending in the economic stimulator. Mr. Rounds talked about how government spending initially stimulated spending in the rest of the economy. He said this was not sustainable and we see the drop on the slide above. Mr. Rounds explained what indicators are measured on the Defining a Recession slide above. He highlighted that there is no fixed rule, so there is flexibility in identifying when we go into a recession and come out of it. Chairman Galvin asked if we are currently in a recession, since the odds are greater than 50 percent that we will have a recession this year. Mr. Round said he does not believe we are in a recession right now. He mentioned the potential for a recession in the next calendar year, but noted when a budget is properly prepared, the impact is not as severe. Chairman Galvin referenced a Wall Street Journal article about the stock market's positive indicators despite the greater than 50% likelihood of a recession. Jim Rounds explained the importance of looking at individual data points and not relying solely on stock market performance. He discussed the impact of federal government policies on quarterly economic data and the long-term effects of the Great Recession. Vice Chair Brophy McGee commented on the politicization of the term recession and the need to depoliticize economic analyses. Mr. Rounds emphasized the importance of actual tax revenue collections for budgeting purposes rather than theoretical economic indicators. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 4 of 18 In the slide above, Mr. Rounds reviewed the data points on the U.S. Employment Percent Change. Vice Chair Brophy McGee briefly commented on how the national employment data is reported and that the private sector provides the current information. She asked if that is where the data is being used to track national employment changes. Mr. Rounds stressed the need for accurate, multi-method data collection from the private sector, while discouraging outdated practices like faxing. He highlighted concerns about a declining response rate, which could lead to errors despite still being somewhat sufficient. He noted better communication from agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is needed to encourage smaller businesses to participate and improve data accuracy. Mr. Rounds briefly commented on the U.S. Employment Rate slide above. He said it was still very solid. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 5 of 18 Mr. Rounds describes the U.S. Consumer Confidence from the slide above as fair. He noted a slight decline driven by concerns over tariffs and negative economic stories. However, he emphasized that the stock market has a greater influence on consumer sentiment, as people react more strongly to changes in their financial portfolios. Mr. Rounds reviewed the slide above on Share of Homes Affordable to a Median Income Family. He talked about the low percentage of homes affordable to median-income families, calling it a serious issue despite reports framing high housing prices as a sign of a strong Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 6 of 18 market. Mr. Rounds noted prices are artificially high due to inefficiencies that began after the Great Recession, not because of genuine economic strength. He commented that some policymakers are exploring solutions, and that there has been limited interest from states, particularly in non-cost recommendations, except during election years. Chairman Galvin raised the issue of affordability, particularly for first-time homebuyers, and its impact on younger generations. He discussed the challenges of finding affordable housing and the role of political demagogues in exploiting the issue. Mr. Rounds suggested that state-level policies need to address affordability, such as converting old strip malls into housing units. Chairman Galvin addressed concerns that are causing frustration among developers in their interactions with permit inspectors. Vice Chair Brophy McGee shares an example of converting school buildings into affordable housing units. Mr. Rounds discussed the potential for innovative solutions, such as converting classrooms into daycare centers, to address housing shortages were also mentioned. Vice Chair Brophy McGee commented on the zoning task force, expressing enthusiasm for making regulations, that make planning and zoning more user-friendly. Supervisor Stewart highlighted the importance of home ownership for generational wealth and the challenges faced by younger generations. He discussed the impact of the Great Recession on the number of builders and the current challenges in the housing market. Mr. Rounds noted that in all their projects, none in the City of Chandler were unexpectedly denied, unlike experiences in other communities. He shared an example where a project was rejected based on vibe rather than data. Supervisor Gallardo emphasized the long-standing issue of housing affordability and the need for state-level advocacy. Mr. Rounds reviewed the Inefficient Changes in Interest Rates slide above. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 7 of 18 Mr. Rounds reviewed the National Debt: Far too much borrowing slide above. He emphasized that much depends on the government’s ability to support the private sector in operating efficiently. In the slide above, Mr. Rounds discussed the bullet points from the Recession Discussion: What’s Next? Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 8 of 18 Mr. Rounds talked about the Housing a.k.a Hermit Crab Economics slide above. He used a Hermit Crab analogy to illustrate how changing rates are affecting people's willingness to move up. Mr. Rounds compared the different rates and results on the Golden Handcuffs in Housing Math slide above. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 9 of 18 Vice Chair Brophy McGee noted that if interest rates decrease, it creates an opportunity to refinance debt at a lower cost. She referenced the Treasury Secretary’s short-term refinancing strategy, aimed at reducing taxpayer burden once rates decline. Mr. Rounds reviewed the Tariffs and Economic Growth slide above. He expressed concern that although inflation has dropped from its peak above 10% in Maricopa County to more normal levels, prices remain high and a true return to normal would require deflation, which usually signals economic problems. Mr. Rounds noted given the unusual current conditions, traditional economic rules may not apply, and finding the most efficient path back to normalcy is key to stabilizing the economy. Mr. Rounds explained the Consumer Price Index slide above. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 10 of 18 Mr. Rounds explained the Greater Phoenix v. US Inflation on the slide above. He compared the stabilization status of other states to that of Arizona. Mr. Rounds reviewed each bullet point on the Medicaid Cuts? slide above. He provided recommendations to help the state strategically address Medicaid cuts, which would contribute to strengthening the economy. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 11 of 18 Vice Chair Brophy McGee asked Mr. Rounds for his opinion on how the safety net for hospitals, both rural and those in the valley, will be affected by Medicaid reconfiguration and reductions over the next 10 years, and what impact this will have. Mr. Rounds expressed concern for rural areas of the state, emphasizing the need for improved care. He discussed ideas that, with adequate state funding, could address these healthcare challenges and better support rural communities. Mr. Rounds briefly reviewed the Current state budget concerns slide above. He noted that determining whether a recession will occur remains a significant challenge. Mr. Rounds reviewed the AZ v US Employment Growth Index slide above. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 12 of 18 Mr. Rounds explained the Soft Landing in AZ? Maybe slide above. He discussed the importance of balancing state budgets to manage economic downturns and the role of the Rainy-Day Fund. Mr. Rounds explained the Maricopa County Forecast slide above. He praised the County's fiscal responsibility and the need for continued conservative budgeting practices. Mr. Rounds noted the key to navigating economic changes is maintaining flexibility. Supervisor Stewart inquired whether the County has a contingency or rainy-day fund in place in case of a mild or moderate recession came through. County Manager Jen Pokorski stated that the County has a substantial contingency fund to manage potential downturns and has paid off most pension debt, carrying no general obligation debt. She emphasized that the County is well positioned to weather an economic downturn and has been building this fund Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 13 of 18 partly due to the upcoming public safety funding on next year’s ballot. Ms. Pokorski notes that the County continues to budget conservatively to ensure sufficient reserves for maintaining mandated services. Mr. Rounds praised the County for doing a great job at the capital. Chairman Galvin highlighted Maricopa County's strong fiscal responsibility and praised its bipartisan approach, comparing it favorably to other counties. Mr. Rounds emphasized the importance of a balanced budget, praising the County’s solid and effective collaboration. He also highlighted the great opportunity this presents to make a positive impact. The Board thanked Mr. Rounds on his presentation. Presentation only. No action taken. ACTION 2. REQUEST FOR CASH DEFICIT SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY Per A.R.S. §15-991(A), the County school superintendent shall recompute the equalization assistance for education for each school district pursuant to §15-971, subsection A and compute the additional amount to be levied pursuant to §15-992, subsection B using the property values provided by the County assessor under §42-17052. Per A.R.S. §15-992(G), “At the time of levying taxes as provided in subsection E of this section, the County school superintendent shall annually validate any additional primary school district tax levy amount requests from each school district and levy the sum of the following amounts: (10) On the recommendation of the County school superintendent and on approval by the County board of supervisors before adoption of tax rates pursuant to §42-17151, a rate that would result in a levy that equals any separately stated cash deficit from the prior fiscal year resulting from an anticipated or actual deviation in the property tax roll, including resolutions or judgments pursuant to title 42, chapter 16, articles 5 and 6.” The County School Superintendent is recommending the following cash levy deficit be approved to be calculated into the school district tax rate calculations pursuant to A.R.S. §15- 991: Nadaburg Unified School District #81 - $169,369 (C-37-26-003-X-00) Dajana Zlaticanin, Chief Deputy Superintendent of Schools, came forward to give a presentation. She introduced item #2, the Request for Cash Deficit School District Levy, and explained the role of the County School Superintendent’s Office in certifying the tax levy. Chairman Galvin asked if there is a particular school district that needs discussion regarding this School District Levy. Ms. Zlaticanin said Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA) brought to their attention, late Friday afternoon, of the potential error in the Nadaburg Tax Levy. Her recommendation was for the Board to approve the tax levy to remain in statutory compliance, allow the Treasurer to move forward with their tax computations, and to not interrupt daily school district operations. Ms. Zlaticanin assured the Board that the Superintendent’s office would investigate the potential error and make any necessary adjustments at the next Board meeting. Chairman Galvin asked for clarification on how this occurred, and Ms. Zlaticanin gave an explanation and reiterated the urgency for approving this item to meet statutory requirements and suggested legal advice might be warranted. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 14 of 18 The Board raised concerns about a potential error in the levy rate and questioned why the item had not been brought forward sooner. They asked about the review process for such requests and whether corrections could be made to previously approved items if needed. They also requested steps be taken to ensure the Board has more time to review similar requests in the future. County Manager, Jen Pokorski stated her office will work closely with the School Superintendent’s Office on future items to ensure the Board is briefed in advance. Chairman Galvin then asked Assistant Deputy County Attorney, Wesley Van Cleve to address the Board and answer any questions regarding the agenda item. Mr. Van Cleve explained that the concern here is whether this levy is resulting from an anticipated deviation in the property tax rule and whether or not this would need to be corrected at a future meeting Motion to approve the Request for Cash Deficit School District Levy as presented for Nadaburg Unified School District by Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee with a request for a roll call vote, seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Mark Stewart, Steve Gallardo; Absent: Debbie Lesko Nay: Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee. Supervisor Brophy McGee provided an explanation regarding her vote, stating that her purpose for this item was to identify the cause of the problem. She noted that the motion she introduced, did not meet that objective and therefore she must respectfully vote no. Supervisor Brophy McGee further stated that it is her understanding additional information and potential actions will be brought forward, and she expressed her willingness to work with the Board office and Superintendent Boggs’ office in that effort. Supervisor Stewart expressed appreciation for all participants’ input. The Supervisor noted that the tax levy in question is funding the school district needs in its budget, and that a “no” vote would delay the district’s ability to move forward with necessary initiatives. The Supervisor noted not having been part of the discussion with the outside group ATRA can be challenging to fully address those issues during the presentation but emphasized the importance of maintaining proper oversight of the school district’s budget. The Supervisor indicated support for moving forward with the current vote, with the understanding that adjustments could be made if needed in the following month. Chairman Galvin expressed frustration that important matters such as this one, often presented to the board at the last minute with pressure to vote immediately. He praised Vice Chair Brophy McGee for effectively addressing the broader issue affecting multiple school districts. Chairman Galvin emphasized that the board has the authority to revisit and change its decisions on tax levies if needed and reaffirmed the board’s commitment to avoiding unnecessary tax increases. He stressed that school districts must justify their spending and any deficits, noting that they have had sufficient time to recognize and respond to revenue shortfalls. Overall, he called for accountability and careful financial oversight. 3. REQUESTS FOR JUDGMENT AND RESOLUTION SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVIES Per A.R.S. §15-991(A), the County school superintendent shall recompute the equalization assistance for education for each school district pursuant to §15-971, subsection A and compute the additional amount to be levied pursuant to §15-992, subsection B using the property values provided by the County assessor under §42-17052. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 15 of 18 Per A.R.S. §15-992(G), “At the time of levying taxes as provided in subsection E of this section, the County school superintendent shall annually validate any additional primary school district tax levy amount requests from each school district and levy the sum of the following amounts: (10) On the recommendation of the County school superintendent and on approval by the County board of supervisors before adoption of tax rates pursuant to §42-17151, a rate that would result in a levy that equals any separately stated cash deficit from the prior fiscal year resulting from an anticipated or actual deviation in the property tax roll, including resolutions or judgments pursuant to title 42, chapter 16, articles 5 and 6.” The County School Superintendent is recommending the following judgments and resolutions be approved to be calculated into the school district tax rate calculations pursuant to A.R.S. §15-991: School District Tax Judgments or Resolutions Levy AGUA FRIA HIGH SCHOOL $478,534.44 AGUILA ELEMENTARY $5,356.04 ALHAMBRA ELEMENTARY $53,000.25 ARLINGTON ELEMENTARY $11,037.61 AVONDALE ELEMENTARY $135,104.21 BALSZ ELEMENTARY $77,077.15 BUCKEYE ELEMENTARY $55,706.66 BUCKEYE HIGH SCHOOL $97,375.87 CARTWRIGHT ELEMENTARY $125,375.73 CAVE CREEK UNIFIED $159,398.59 CHANDLER UNIFIED $370,032.19 CREIGHTON ELEMENTARY $93,044.75 DEER VALLEY UNIFIED $620,965.85 DYSART UNIFIED $118,764.16 FOUNTAIN HILLS UNIFIED $38,296.60 FOWLER ELEMENTARY $20,364.95 GILA BEND UNIFIED $78,369.39 GILBERT UNIFIED $495,204.53 GLENDALE ELEMENTARY $60,478.39 GLENDALE HIGH SCHOOL $385,572.75 HIGLEY UNIFIED $62,159.81 ISAAC ELEMENTARY $18,427.61 KYRENE ELEMENTARY $101,857.80 LAVEEN ELEMENTARY $19,796.34 LIBERTY ELEMENTARY $35,865.33 LITCHFIELD ELEMENTARY $267,139.63 LITTLETON ELEMENTARY $54,394.72 MADISON ELEMENTARY $130,806.23 MESA UNIFIED $548,943.58 MOBILE ELEMENTARY $363.33 MORRISTOWN ELEMENTARY $867.24 MURPHY ELEMENTARY $40,261.18 NADABURG UNIFIED $31,576.43 OSBORN ELEMENTARY $143,282.40 PALO VERDE ELEMENTARY $2,773.31 PALOMA ELEMENTARY $2,304.12 PARADISE VALLEY UNIFIED $787,445.03 PENDERGAST ELEMENTARY $7,593.18 PEORIA UNIFIED $280,011.88 PHOENIX ELEMENTARY $1,016,925.50 PHOENIX HIGH SCHOOL $1,869,390.56 Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 16 of 18 RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY $12,154.36 ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY $78,888.14 SADDLE MOUNTAIN UNIFIED $317,713.89 SCOTTSDALE UNIFIED $587,592.66 SENTINEL ELEMENTARY $4,099.60 TEMPE ELEMENTARY $232,868.20 TEMPE HIGH SCHOOL $331,100.11 TOLLESON ELEMENTARY $28,458.43 TOLLESON HIGH SCHOOL $119,305.29 UNION ELEMENTARY $2,769.74 WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY $358,611.89 WICKENBURG UNIFIED $50,363.98 WILSON ELEMENTARY $22,270.80 (C-37-26-005-X-00) Motion to approve by Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee, seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Steve Gallardo Absent: Debbie Lesko 4. FY 2026 PROPERTY TAX LEVY RESOLUTION Adopt the following Resolution regarding the “Maricopa County 2025 Tax Levy”: WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S.§ 42-17105 on June 23, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted the FY 2026 budget which included a budgeted property tax levy of $703,857,878; and WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. §48-252, on June 23, 2025, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County Board of Directors adopted the FY 2026 Budget which included a budgeted property tax levy of $80,760,291; and WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. §48-252 on June 23, 2025, the Library District Board of Directors adopted the FY 2026 Library District budget which included a budgeted property tax levy of $28,054,727; and WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. §48-954 on June 23, 2025, the Boards of Directors of the County Improvement Districts adopted the FY 2026 Budgets; each Budget indicating a corresponding budgeted property tax levy as detailed in the budget schedules adopted that day; and WHEREAS, pursuant to A.R.S. §42-17151 the Board of Supervisors is directed to “fix, levy and assess the amount to be raised from primary property taxation and secondary property taxation;” and “fix and determine a primary property tax rate and a secondary property tax rate;” NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1. Pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 42-17151, 48-955, 48-3620 and 48-3903, and based on the budget duly adopted for Maricopa County, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, the Maricopa County Library District, and the Maricopa County Improvement Districts, the Board of Supervisors determines and fixes tax rates as follows: • Fiscal Year 2026 (Tax Year 2025) Maricopa County Primary Tax Rate at $1.1591 per $100 of net assessed valuation with a levy of $703,857,878. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 17 of 18 • Fiscal Year 2026 (Tax Year 2025) Flood Control District of Maricopa County Secondary Tax Rate at $0.1428 per $100 of net assessed valuation with a levy of $80,760,291. • Fiscal Year 2026 (Tax Year 2025) Maricopa County Library District Secondary Tax Rate at $0.0462 per $100 of net assessed valuation with a levy of $28,054,727. • Fiscal Year 2026 (Tax Year 2025) for each of the assessable properties within County Improvement Districts the tax levy and/or tax rate as set forth in the “Maricopa County 2025 Tax Levy” compiled by the Department of Finance. 2. Based on the amount of taxes to be raised by property taxation determined by each governmental entity set forth in the “Maricopa County 2025 Tax Levy,” the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has calculated the numerical tax rates necessary to raise the requested revenues, and pursuant to the direction of each such government entity, levies the amounts of taxes and sets the resulting tax rates, all as set forth in the “Maricopa County 2025 Tax Levy.” The tax levy for desegregation expenses for school districts was included in the primary tax pursuant to the Arizona Tax Court's ruling in Pima County, et al. v. State of Arizona, et al., TX2018-000737 where the Court found the Arizona Legislature’s inclusion of the desegregation expense in the secondary tax pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-910 (L) (2018) (as amended by Arizona Senate Bill 1529 (2018)) was inconsistent with the Arizona Constitution. 3. Pursuant to A.R.S. §42-18003, the Maricopa County Treasurer is directed to collect taxes as required by law from the persons listed on the tax roll. The County Treasurer is now therefore responsible for collecting the totals of all taxes levied on the roll. (C-18-26-004-X-00) Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee made a motion to adopt the FY 2026 Property Tax Levy Resolution as printed in the Agenda, which sets the Fiscal year 2026 (Tax Year 2025) Primary and/or Secondary tax rates for: -Maricopa County -The Flood Control District of Maricopa County -Maricopa County Library District and -The County Improvement Districts Pursuant to the direction of each government entity, levy the amounts of taxes and set the resulting tax rates for each as set forth in item #2 of the Maricopa County Fiscal Year 2026 (Tax Year 2025) Tax Levy Resolution. In addition, direct the Treasurer to collect the taxes as detailed in item #3 of this Agenda. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Steve Gallardo Absent: Debbie Lesko 5. ADOPTION OF FULL CASH VALUE FOR BOND CALCULATION Adopt 2025 Full Cash Value for Maricopa County as set forth in Attachment for the purpose of calculating bond limits of cities, towns and school districts. Under A.R.S. §42-17151(A). (C-12- 26-002-X-00) Motion to approve by Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee, seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Steve Gallardo Absent: Debbie Lesko Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, August 18, 2025 Page 18 of 18 6. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vote to convene in Executive Session to consider the items on the Executive Agenda dated Monday, August 18, 2025, for Board of Supervisors and relevant Special Districts pursuant to the statutory authority listed for each item. Motion to approve by Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee, seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Steve Gallardo Absent: Debbie Lesko MEETING ADJOURNED After discussion of the items listed on the Executive Session agenda and there being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. _______________________________ Thomas Galvin, Chairman of the Board ATTEST: ___________________________ Juanita Garza, Clerk of the Board