The busy legislative season is underway at the state capitol, with lawmakers introducing legislation, working on budgets, and keeping an eye on the upcoming election season. Several of Arizona’s top spots will be on the minds of voters. The ballot will likely be filled with candidates for governor, secretary of state and treasurer. State legislators for districts representing Northern Arizona will also be on the ballot, but most of them say they are focused on priorities other than the election.
Last month, state lawmakers representing Northern Arizona visited Flagstaff City Hall for a meeting with city leadership. City Manager Kevin Burke says Flagstaff is one of the few cities extending an invitation to state lawmakers. “I think it is critical for the City of Flagstaff to reach out and dialogue with representatives at the state level because we are a subdivision of the state, so there is an absolute interaction,” explained Burke. “What happens at the state affects us and it’s important to understand what you see on paper, how it translates into reality when it is implemented.”
Flagstaff resident and District Six Representative Bob Thorpe is looking to the business community for input during this legislative season. “The issue for Republican caucus is for the business community, reducing regulations and anything we can do at the state to be advocates for business,” said Thorpe, who is interested in hearing from more constituents. “If our businesses are not doing well, they’re not hiring the folks and generating the tax revenues – everything has to be focused on the business community,” he added. Thorpe has an open door policy at his state capitol office, and says letters sent through the mail are a favorite method of communication.
Chester Crandell represents District Five and was in Flagstaff talking about the current legislative session. “On top of my list is redoing the education funding formula, to follow the state constitution that says state education should be funded as uniformly as possible in the K-12 system.” Crandell says the state’s system of funding education is complicated and could be simplified in a manner similar to the funding of charter schools. Crandell serves on the education committee.
Another concern of Crandell in 2014 is working to restore health to Arizona’s forests. “I’m a real proponent of the state being able to manage the forest and take care of it and use the revenue,” he said. “Studies have been done that the federal government loses about $1.50 per acre and if the state managed it they would net $6.50 an acre, by using the timber and resources for the state coffers.” The District Five representative does not listen to naysayers because he has observed successful forest management in other states and think it is high time for Arizona to thin the forests.
Brenda Barton agrees. The fellow District Five Representative is concerned about the forest on federal lands as well as state trust lands. She believes proper stewardship of public lands will benefit Arizonans by creating cleaner, healthier and more valuable forests. Barton serves on both the Energy and Natural Resources as well as Agriculture and Water committees. “We’re going to try to make available a funding mechanism for counties and cities to get the water where they need it within their jurisdictions,” she said.
At last month’s meeting, a primary focus of Barton, her fellow lawmakers, Flagstaff City Councilmembers and staff was restoration of Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF). The funds, created by a fuel purchase taxes and other motor vehicle related fees like car registrations, are shared by the state with municipalities; state officials drastically diminished those funds during the economic downturn. Barton thinks all of Arizona’s cities need the reinstatement of those monies. “HURF funding in rural Arizona is about safety. Having good roads in rural Arizona it is a safety factor,” she said, describing her drives throughout the district on state business. “When you can’t see the dotted line and you can’t see the white line on the side. it can be pretty scary.” Barton says Northern Arizona cities need to have resources to maintain roads for aesthetics and safety, especially when the snow flies and makes travel challenging. She says restoring HURF funds is a priority for many of Arizona’s elected officials. FBN
By Theresa Bierer
Flagstaff Business News