Arizona Lawmaker Writes Bill To Bypass Pima County's Authority On Federal Grants

By Holliday Moore
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Published: Monday, December 17, 2018 - 9:07am
Updated: Monday, December 17, 2018 - 10:06am
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Mark Finchem

In anticipation of the upcoming legislative session, a southern Arizona lawmaker has drafted a bill that would force counties to accept federal grant dollars slated for law enforcement or prosecution efforts.

Rep. Mark Finchem of Oro Valley drafted it after Pima County Supervisors voted 3-1 to reject $1.4 million from President Donald Trump's Operation Stonegarden grant (OPSG).

It is designed to provide money for local law enforcement aiding at the border, including the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

A spokesman for the sheriff's department said losing the grant will impact remote areas where additional dollars pay for more patrols.

But, County Supervisor Ramon Valadez has complained it undermines public trust in local law enforcement.

Besides, he said, "the sheriff is responsible for less than 5 percent of the border Pima County has with Mexico," with the bulk of the land on the Tohono O'odham Reservation.

"This is a bipartisan thing about keeping our streets safe,'' Finchem complained on behalf of the County Sheriff's Department losing out on the federal dollars. "You don't vote against the guys that are on the job, doing the job.''

Valdez, however, said he blames both the federal and local rhetoric for ramping up fears in what he calls an "immigrant-friendly community," that could result in some people deciding not to report crimes to the sheriff's department out of fear of deportation.

Finchem filed House Bill 2001 on Friday to create a bypass on supervisors' budgetary authority.

"It's intellectually dishonest and utterly disingenuous for the Pima County Board of Supervisors to claim that they care about paved streets and safe schools," Finchem said, pointing out the county's willingness to accept federal grants for other programs, but rejection of the OPSG funds, "because they don't like who's sitting in the president's office.''