EFFORT FOR A LOCAL BOARD (HB2067)

For the last few years, there has a move afoot to change how the White Mountain Lakes County Recreation Improvement District (WMLCRID) operates.

COUNTY AS WMLCRID BOARD

Currently, the Navajo County Board of Supervisors serves as the Governing Board for the WMLCRID. This arrangement is due to the Arizona State Statute (Title 48) that defines how Recreation Districts in the State are created, and how they will operate. Since it was created in 1993, the WMLCRID has operated in this manner, with the County BOS as its Board.

LOCAL CITIZENS AS WMLCRID BOARD

However, there is a strong desire by Members of the District to transition control of the District from the County BOS to an Elected Board made up of Local Community Members. In the current arrangement, of the 5 Board of Supervisors only 1 of them is elected by the WML community. By changing to a Local Board, all 5 (or 3) members of the board would not only be elected by the WML community, but they would live in the community and be available to the community for input. In making this change, the District will have a board where all of the directors are passionate and focused specifically on issues concerning the lake.

THE EFFORT TO MAKE THE CHANGE

In an effort to meet the community’s desire for local control of the District, Navajo County Staff along with Supervisor Jason Whiting have spearheaded the effort to change the Arizona State Statute. They have put together all the information needed for the legislative item; and they have worked with all the other Arizona Counties to garner their support as well. The County and Supervisor Whiting began the effort with this item for the 2021 AZ Legislative Session (Jan-Jun), but it met with some last minute resistance from ATRA (AZ Tax Research Association) who did not fully comprehend the purpose of the bill, and so it did not make it out of committee that year. To his credit, Supervisor Whiting did not give up after the 2021 session, and has persisted in pushing this bill forward for the 2022 AZ Legislative Session. He has worked with the ATRA and has gained their support. He has also maintained contact with each of the other AZ counties to continue their support for this effort.

2022 AZ LEGILATIVE SESSION: BILL HB2067

Once the 2022 AZ Legislative Session started its session, the bill (HB2067) was placed in the hands of Representative Walt Blackman, who was excited to move this effort forward. Towards this end, Rep. Blackman sponsord a bill that would allow the District to elect their own board of directors rather than the County Board of Supervisors serving as the Board of Directors. It is called:

HB2067 – County Improvement Districts; Recreation; Governance.

THE PUSH FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT

At the start of the 2022 Legislative Session, Rep Blackman requested to receive letters from the WML Community, expressing their support of the bill.  The community responded with a bunch of letters of support, enough to get it through the committees in both houses. 

CURRENT STATUS OF HB2067

On March 30, 2022, HB2067 was signed by the Governor, after passing through both the House and the Senate of the AZ Legistlature.  The enactment (Starting Date) for this law will take place 90 days after the close of the AZ Legislature.  The AZ Legislature should conclude in late June, or early July.

COMMUNICATING WITH REPRESENTATIVE BLACKMAN

Now that the bill has passed and is signed by the Governor, the community is requested to send letters of thanks and gratitude. Constiuents should address their letters to:

The Honorable Walter “Walt” Blackman

State Representative
1700 W Washington Street – House

Room 345
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Re: HB2067 – County Improvement Districts; Recreation; Governance

Dear Representative Blackman,

All Letters should be sure to include the writers name, address, and signature. SEND TO Representative Blackmans office:  wblackman@azleg.gov

WHAT HAPPENS NOW THAT HB2067 HAS PASSED?

Now that the bill has passed, the county will continue to support the district AS they are currently doing, up until the new board is first appointed and then elected. 

The enactment (Starting Date) for this law will take place 90 days after the close of the AZ Legislature.  The AZ Legislature should conclude in late June, or early July.

The county will assist with the elections, and daily operations of the district until the new board and staff are ready to take over. Once the local board is operating independently, the county will continue to collect the tax assessment and then pass those funds onto the district.