There are approximately 55 special taxing districts within the boundaries of Pinal County.
What is a special district?
They are political subdivisions that provide a specific service to area residents. That service could be anything from flood control to fire service.
“Special taxing districts are started by the petition process,” said Pinal County Special Districts Administrator Gary Medina. “These districts are run by a board of volunteers, who are elected by the people they serve.”
Over 40 people representing 21 entities were on hand for the 13th annual Pinal County Special Districts Meeting held at the Property Conference Center in Casa Grande.
Chairman of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors David Snider delivered the welcome to the guests. He thanked them for the job they do and the service they provide.
“They represent a special form of government,” Chairman Snider said following his opening remarks. “They are the most common building block of local government. These districts are formed at the request of affected parties for some specific purpose. The people who serve on the boards put in countless hours planning for services, budgeting, setting the tax rate for their service and ultimately provide the service. My hat is off to them for the work they do.”
This year’s agenda was filled with a myriad of topics that ranged from rural development programs and grants to the roles and responsibilities of board members.
“Special districts have unique needs,” said Pinal County Treasurer Dodie Doolittle. “We try to deliver the information they need on an annual basis. Each year the law changes and we try to keep them up to date on what they can do as a board. We also try to update the boards on programs and available grants that they may not know about.”
Treasurer Doolittle said her office works closely with special districts & county staff to decide what will be on the program each year. Treasurer Doolittle was the host for this annual meeting.
“Building each year’s agenda can be a challenge,” Doolittle says. “You may think you have talked about a topic each year and beat it to death. But we always keep in mind that there are new members that are on the boards and they may not know such things as the open meeting law.”
County Attorney James P. Walsh talked to the districts about the finer points of the open meeting law. He provided examples of what could be an illegal meeting or decision made by a governing body.
“The public policy behind the open meeting laws is to let people know what their government is doing and to give them the information to participate,” Walsh said. “These boards are subject to the law and they need training to avoid unintended violations.”
Some of the members in attendance were first timers to the special districts meeting, while others were veterans of the annual gathering.
“I’ve been to about 10 of these meetings,” said Steven Whites, Director of the Midway Flood Control District. “I find it helpful because I pick up something new from one year to the next.”