The lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) began nearly 15 years ago under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, following allegations of racial profiling brought by the Department of Justice and the ACLU. In 2013, the court determined that reforms were necessary to protect constitutional rights, placing MCSO under a federal monitor to oversee compliance with federal civil rights law.

Since that time, leadership at MCSO has changed, policies have been rewritten, and systems of accountability have been built from the ground up. After more than a decade of sustained reform, Maricopa County must now ask a reasonable and important question:

How long should federal oversight remain in place once its core objectives have been achieved?

In 2016, Sheriff Arpaio lost his bid for re-election. In the years since, three sheriffs from both political parties have led the agency through continued reform efforts. Over that time, MCSO has made substantial progress in strengthening training, improving transparency, and embedding constitutional policing into daily operations.

Notably, over the past five years, there has not been a single sustained claim of racial profiling. Yet federal oversight remains in place, costing Maricopa County taxpayers nearly $350 million.

Even as compliance has been achieved and maintained, Maricopa County residents continue to bear the financial burden of prolonged oversight. Hindering resources that could otherwise be invested directly into public safety, training, hiring, and community engagement.

Now is the time to recognize the undeniable success of MCSO’s reform efforts and begin transitioning away from prolonged federal oversight, so that both the department and Maricopa County residents can fully benefit from that progress.

To understand how we arrived at this point, here’s a helpful look at the progression of this case:

The Next Phase: Balancing Constitutional Safeguards with Fiscal Stewardship

Maricopa County stands at an inflection point.

Federal oversight has played a critical role in driving necessary change. It created a structured pathway for accountability, helped rebuild community trust, and established a modern framework rooted in constitutional policing. The progress is real and has been sustained through multiple administrations, changing political environments, and evolving community needs.

Today, however, the policy question has shifted.

It is no longer whether reform was needed. It is whether the current level of federal control remains appropriate given the remarkable headway that has been made.

Both the ACLU and Judge Snow have shared that the MCSO has now reached Phase One compliance with the racial profiling order. A sign of meaningful cultural change inside the department.

Meanwhile, the financial impact continues to grow. The layered structure of monitoring, reporting, and ongoing litigation obligations has created a significant and ongoing cost for taxpayers. These costs were justified during a period of necessary improvements. But as compliance has matured into standard practice, the long-term allocation of those resources deserves renewed scrutiny.

This is particularly relevant as attention turns to the next phase of work, such as resolving the backlog of internal investigations. Addressing these cases is not only about meeting compliance benchmarks but also ensuring fairness, due process, and transparency for all involved.

Every dollar dedicated to prolonged oversight is a dollar not invested in the future of public safety.

Maricopa County has an opportunity to redirect resources toward forward-looking priorities, including:

• Advanced scenario-based constitutional training

• Leadership development for supervisors and command staff

• Expanded community engagement and trust-building programs

• Modern technology that enhances transparency and accountability

• Proactive anti-bias education grounded in current research

Moving Forward

This is not an argument against reform.

This is an argument to recognize that reform has taken hold and that now is the time to complete the work responsibly by establishing a clear pathway out from under federal oversight. By doing so, the Sheriff and the community will be positioned to benefit from the progress and have a more united relationship than in recent history.

Today, the MCSO operates within a culture shaped by fifteen years of court-guided transformation. A thoughtful recalibration of remaining orders is not only appropriate, it is warranted.

It would preserve essential safeguards while recognizing measurable progress. It would signal confidence in institutional change while allowing taxpayer resources to be redirected towards strengthening public safety.

Courts are often called upon to correct past failures. They are also uniquely positioned to recognize when those corrections have taken hold.

Maricopa County has reached that point. The progress is undeniable, leadership is strong, and the time has come to move forward.

Share

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Many of my constituents have been contacting my office asking questions about the Shared Services Agreement (SSA) between the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the Recorder. I want to provide some background on what an SSA is and why it matters.

In Maricopa County, election responsibilities fall under both the Board of Supervisors and the Recorder’s office. Because state law does not spell out every operational detail of those responsibilities, the Board and Recorder enter into a Shared Services Agreement that clarifies roles and outlines how the two departments work together to administer elections.

After Recorder Heap took office last January, he requested a new SSA that aligns with his priorities and approach to election administration. Because Arizona open meeting laws limit how many Board members can negotiate an item outside of a public meeting, a subcommittee made up of the previous Chair and Vice-Chair worked with the Recorder to negotiate an agreement.

The negotiations eventually hit a stalemate, and the Recorder filed a lawsuit in June 2025 to settle the matter of election administration duties. We are continuing to work towards a resolution, and I remain hopeful that an agreement can be finalized soon.

Below is additional background on what an SSA is, why it was created, how it evolved in Maricopa County, and what may come next.

Note: This article is intended as a high-level overview of the Shared Services Agreement (SSA) and the events surrounding it. Election administration in Maricopa County involves complex statutes, legal interpretations, and ongoing developments. For clarity and brevity, some details have been simplified or summarized, and this overview is not intended to cover every document, conversation, or interpretation.

Before diving deeper into the history, here is a quick timeline of the major developments surrounding the SSA in Maricopa County.

Quick Timeline of the SSA in Maricopa County

• 1955 — County charter allows the Recorder to administer most election operations on behalf of the Board.

• 2018 — Election day setup issues at 62 voting locations create hours-long lines affecting roughly 11,000 voters.

• 2019 — The Board and Recorder enter into an Elections Operations Agreement, the precursor to the modern Shared Services Agreement (SSA).

• 2020–2024 — Updated SSAs are negotiated between the Board and Recorder.

• October 2024 — Outgoing officials approve a new SSA.

• January 2025 — Recorder Heap terminates the 2024 SSA and requests negotiations on a new agreement.

• June 2025 — The Recorder files a lawsuit seeking clarity on election administration duties.

• Present — Negotiations and legal proceedings continue while the Board adopts interim policy guidance.

What is an SSA?

A Shared Services Agreement (SSA) is a formal agreement between two or more parties that specifies how each party will share or divide responsibilities. These agreements are commonly used in government to outline how departments collaborate on functions such as IT, finance, procurement, or other administrative services.

An SSA clearly explains what each office is responsible for and how they work together.

The SSA in Maricopa County between the Recorder and the Board is relatively new. Up until 2019, there was no formal SSA. Instead, a 1955 Charter that allowed the Recorder to carry out most election administration responsibilities on behalf of the Board.

Under the charter, the Recorder had primary responsibility for administering elections.

Why an SSA was Created —

Following the 2018 election day setup issue at 62 election sites that created hours-long lines affecting approximately 11,000 voters, the then Board voted to take a more active role in election duties.

This would have been the second time within approximately two years that voters were affected on election day, although for different reasons and under different Recorders.

In response, the following year the Board and Recorder entered into an SSA. The new agreement restructured the county’s elections department, hiring an Elections Director who reports to the Board, expanding elections staff, and heavily investing in upgrading technology.

The History —

In October of 2019, Recorder Fontes and the Board agreed to enter into an Elections Operations Agreement, which served as the precursor to what would become the SSA.

At the time, the agreement stated it would:

“…outline specific ways the Board of Supervisors and Recorder’s Office will share responsibilities for planning and executing elections in the nation’s fastest-growing county. The agreement amends a 65-year-old charter that provided the Recorder nearly all county elections responsibilities.”1

When Recorder Richer took office in January 2020, he worked with the Board to negotiate updated agreements, using the 2019 Elections Operating Agreement as a starting point. The Board and Recorder signed SSAs in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

After losing re-election during the 2024 primary election, Recorder Richer and a Board majority of outgoing members approved a new SSA late in October 2024. The new agreement did not take effect until December 10, 2024, only a few weeks before the newly elected Recorder Heap and three newly elected Board members (including me) took office.

Once Recorder Heap took office in January 2025, he terminated the 2024 SSA, citing Arizona law and legal interpretations that a voluntary agreement entered into by prior officeholders does not automatically bind newly elected officials without their consent.

Recorder Heap then requested that we negotiate a new SSA with the new Board, which led us to today.

What Comes Next —

While negotiations for a 2026 SSA are ongoing and the courts are still considering the matter of election administration duties, the Board recently held a special public meeting.

During that meeting, the Board unanimously approved a resolution establishing policy guidance for election administration between the Board and the Recorder while a new SSA is being negotiated.

This meeting was a step in a positive direction. I was pleased this matter was discussed publicly, something I have been advocating for since I took office in January 2025.

Final Thoughts —

My hope is that this matter with the SSA will be resolved soon so we can deliver best-in-class elections in the second-largest voting jurisdiction in the nation.

I will continue to work in good faith as a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to ensure our voters can trust that our elections are fair, transparent, and secure.

If you have additional questions about the SSA or election administration in Maricopa County, please feel free to contact my office. My goal is to keep constituents informed and ensure transparency in how our elections are administered.

Today, during the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Formal Meeting, I voted in favor of requesting Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap to submit reports pursuant to A.R.S. §11-253(a). This statute allows the Board to ask any county officer to provide reports on matters related to their duties, including the budget.

There are ongoing questions from the public, the Board of Supervisors, and the Recorder’s Office regarding the Board’s and the Recorder’s Office’s responsibilities. This forum offers a great opportunity to clarify questions about the Shared Service Agreement (SSA), the mention of disenfranchisement, and budget requests. This is a GOOD thing.

Using this forum, we can ensure that questions are addressed, and statements are explained in a clear and transparent manner. Most importantly, I want the public to be able to watch. This is something I have been advocating for since day one.

For example, recent statements have claimed that the Board and Recorder’s office, past and present, may have disenfranchised voters. My job is to fully understand these claims. If even one eligible voter were prevented from casting a lawful ballot, the Recorder and the Board need to implement an immediate corrective action plan. Hence, my vote to discuss this in public with the Recorder.

Bottom line, this is a great opportunity for the public to see what’s going on and for the Board and Recorder to work together to create solutions for you.

ICYMI

It’s Budget Season at Maricopa County!

Last week, we kicked off what I like to call Maricopa County’s Budget Season. This key time frame is moment for when our elected offices and department leaders present their priorities and budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.

Over the course of two days, we heard from a wide variety of offices and officials, including:

• Sheriff

• Attorney

• Recorder

• Treasurer

• Assessor

• Constable

• School Superintendent

• Courts

• County Manager

• Assistant County Managers representing our 50+ departments

Each office stood before the Board of Supervisors to lay out their visions for the next year, articulate their needs, and explain how additional funding could help them better serve our residents.

The process is a stark reminder that budgeting isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet or the bottom line. It’s a series of intense decisions about priorities, public safety, services, amenities, and long-term planning that will affect everything from our courts and criminal justice system to election administration, public health, and community services.

What Happens During Budget Presentations

During these presentations, each office outlines:

• Current accomplishments

• Challenges

• Funding gaps/pressures

• Planned initiatives/enhancements

• How they are being good stewards of YOUR tax dollars

The goal is to help the Board better understand where resources should be directed — whether for maintaining critical services, improving operations, or investing in the future.

For example, in previous budget cycles, we have:

• Made significant investments in public safety and compensation for deputies and detention staff to improve our retention and employee rate

• Held our overall property tax rate below the statutory maximum

• Pursues efficiencies like office space optimization to save taxpayer dollars

• Invested in major capital projects like a state-of-the-art elections center, animal shelters, affordable housing, park enhancements, and libraries

Budget presentations provide the public and officials alike with transparency around funding requests and priorities before the budget is finalized later this spring.

What’s Next?

Following these presentations:

1. The Board, our staff, and the budget team will review all requests

2. A tentative budget will be prepared based on the County’s priorities and fiscal realities

3. Public hearings and opportunities for public comments

4. Adoption of the final budget

This structured process helps ensure that our county’s financial planning is responsive, balanced, and community-focused

Why This Matters

Budget season isn’t just an internal county affair — it’s about creating safer communities, increasing access to our justice systems for all demographics and economic status, enhancing our elections administration and preparedness, improving infrastructure and capital investments, expanding human services and community programs, and maintaining responsible tax policy.

Every resident benefits when county government is transparent about how limited resources are allocated to meet growing needs.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share

What’s a County Supervisor, and How Do We Affect Your Daily Life?

Ever wonder who runs elections, decides how your roads are maintained, builds parks, or funds public safety? It’s your county supervisors, and there is a lot more to the job than voting in meetings.

Maricopa County is governed by five elected officials who represent different areas throughout the county. I represent the southeast valley, which includes Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, and parts of Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix.

District 1 Map:

As a county supervisor, my role is about providing customer service between county services and our residents. We are here to make the government work for our community.

Here’s a breakdown of what we do:

1. Budget — We approve a yearly budget that funds everything from public safety, roads, parks, libraries, health services, and infrastructure.

   

2. Property Taxes — Each year, we vote to set the property tax rate. For nine consecutive years, the board has voted to lower the tax rate. Your property taxes help fund schools, libraries, fire districts, and other public services.

   

3. Elections — Maricopa County is the second-largest voting jurisdiction in the entire country! The board oversees the day of operations, tabulation, ballot processing, vote centers, candidate filing, campaign finance reporting, canvassing, and the certification of election results.

4. Policy and Oversight — With over 50 departments and 15,000 employees, we set policies that guide our staff on how services need to be delivered, which programs get funded, and how to improve efficiency.

5. Community Engagement — We listen to our residents and constantly communicate with them to understand their needs. This drives our priorities and shapes the overall framework plan for the county. We also handle constituent service requests and serve as the customer service department. Here are a few examples of what we help with:

   

6. Regional Coordination — We work closely with cities, towns, state, and federal agencies to tackle issues that cross borders, such as transportation, housing, and public safety.

Why It Matters to You

Decisions we make touch nearly every aspect of your daily life. Understanding how county governments works keeps your elected county officials in check. Requiring us the remain focused on what matters most: serving you. I challenge you to engage, ask questions, and make your voices heard.

I’m looking forward to using this space to share what happens behind the scenes in county leadership, offer insights into how decisions are made, and provide updates on current decisions.

Next week, I’ll dive into how we fund county priorities and why your input matters in shaping those decisions.

Subscribe to stay updated! You can always email me at District1@maricopa.gov if you would like to discuss any topics further.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share