What’s new in your industry?
As Pima County enters the 21st century faced with a challenging economic climate, we are focusing our efforts on sustainable governance. This is evidenced by our fiscally conservative management and budgeting practices, our continuing support of economic development, and our embracing of new industrial technologies – notably solar energy and biotechnology.
What is the economic forecast for your industry?
Property values, and hence county primary property-tax revenues, have fallen 7.65 percent since Fiscal Year 2009-10. Assessed value has dropped to $8.3 billion and is not expected to begin a slow recovery until Fiscal Year 2014-15. Revenues will continue to decline through Fiscal Year 2013-14. Attempting to balance its own budget, the State of Arizona has threatened our fiscal stability through cost shifting of state responsibilities to our local level and this trend will continue.
What is your company/industry doing to make Tucson a better place to live?
We continue striving to improve the infrastructure that is essential to regional economic development. We are managing public resources conservatively, while maintaining public services and facilities to the best of our ability under challenging economic conditions. After voters recently approved revenue and
general obligations bonds, we are delivering on our obligation by constructing public recreation and infrastructure facilities to serve constituents in all jurisdictions in the region.
What are key issues this region needs to address and how can they be supported?
Pima County is viewed historically as a low-wage community and suffered serious job losses in the recession. Our region must recover those jobs lost, without sacrificing the movement toward newer-technology industries that offer better paid, higher-skilled employment. The aerospace industry remains our largest private employer and we can support this industry with appropriate zoning and providing infrastructure necessary for their expansion. We should continue to expand our sustainability efforts and build on our natural advantages of solar energy, climate, educational opportunity, and desert/ mountain lifestyle.
How do you envision Tucson 10 years from now?
We live in a 21st-century global economy with all its interconnectedness. Often elected officials fail to recognize that economic development, transportation corridors, airsheds, watersheds, and the “common good” don’t stop at jurisdictional boundaries. Perhaps over the next decade we should consider transitioning to a regional form of governance.