Maricopa County, Arizona
From Sunshine Review
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Its population as of 2006 is estimated to be 3,768,123.[1]
[edit] Website evaluation
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[edit] The good
- Budget is published.[2]
- Board of supervisors are listed with contact info.[3]
- Board meetings are listed[4], along with meeting agendas.[5]
- Local tax rates are listed[6], as is other local tax information.[7]
- Information to make a public records request is provided.[8]
- Annual financial reports are available[9], along with internal audits.[10]
- Building permits and zoning information is available.[11]
- Has a function on the front page to personalize the page based on your address.
[edit] The bad
- County contracts are not online.
- Does not disclose if belongs to taxpayer-funded lobbying associations.
[edit] Lobbying
In 2008, Maricopa County reported $100,000 spent on lobbying. [12]
[edit] Public records
The Maricopa County board of supervisors instituted a new open records policy in January of 2009. The new policy requires that county employees must follow a specific method to request county documents than what the law provides for any other citizen. Under the new policy, county officials would be required to demonstrate how the records being requested are related to their job duties. [13] "The action is in response to a series of requests from the county attorney's office, which last month announced the indictment of Supervisor Don Stapley on 118 criminal counts alleging he did not disclose business deals and income on financial reports he is required to file." [14]
According to special assistant county attorney Barnett Lotstein, the board's action is illegal and will be challenged. The county maintains that the "intent is not to circumvent state records laws, but rather to save the county time and money in dealing with cumbersome internal requests for documents". [14]
Sheriff Joe Arpaio filed a lawsuit in April 2009 challenging the new law. The county says it is protecting itself financially against the costs it says it is incurring to respond to Arpaio's requests.[15]
[edit] External links
- Maricopa County website
- Maricopa county on E-Reference
- The Judicial Branch on Arizona, Maricopa County
- Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
- Arpaio files 2nd suit against supervisors, Arizona Republic, May 2, 2009
[edit] References
- ↑ Quick facts from the U.S. Census bureau
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Board of Supervisors
- ↑ Meetings
- ↑ Meeting Agendas
- ↑ Tax Rates
- ↑ Tax Guide
- ↑ Records Request
- ↑ Financial Reports
- ↑ Internal Audits
- ↑ Planning
- ↑ Maricopa County - Open Secrets
- ↑ Supervisors to change records request policy, The Arizona Republic, January 21, 2009
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Board curbs Thomas access to public records, East Valley Tribune, January 21, 2009
- ↑ Phoenix New Times, "Arpaio Files Lawsuit Vs. County on Public Records Issue; County Says Sheriff's Request Costs $911,000", April 22, 2009
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