New Board of Supervisors off to glitch-filled start

The new Mohave County Board of Supervisors was off to a technically glitch-filled start during its debut general meeting Monday in Kingman when inaccurate information plagued at least two agenda item descriptions, and possibly one amended motion.

THE COURT EXPANSION

The board discussed a consent agenda item pertaining to the construction funding for an expansion project that would accommodate the newly formed division seven court room to be based in Havasu. The agenda item included $311,899 from the countys quarter-cent sales tax.

During discussions, Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Dist. 3, called on county finance director John Timko because law statutorily links the quarter-cent sales tax to new building construction, not remodels or expansions.

Timko, who apologized for the oversight, stated he wasnt aware of the laws limitations.

Im questioning the use of those funds, Johnson said during the meeting, How can you take money out of something thats not there?

Johnson, who has been opposed to the court expansion since its inception the latter part of 2012, was the sole no-vote Monday. The remaining supervisors supported the measure on its merit after noting an amendment to the $311,899 being taken from the general fund in lieu of the quarter-cent sales tax stores.

After the meeting, Johnson said the amendment will have to be amended, too, because funds cannot be taken from the general fund, but rather need to be noted as taken from the contingency fund at this point in the fiscal year, which closes June 30. The general fund expenditures are sorted during budget talks that begin in March each year, and nailed down with a favorable vote by the supervisors mid-year. The countys fiscal year officially begins July 1. Any expenditure after that is considered contingent.

BULLHEAD SENIOR CENTER

Supervisors voted 4-to-1 in favor of turning over a U.S. Bureau of Land Management lease and senior center building, at 2275 Trane Road in Bullhead City, after discussions of building repair requirements and county financial savings ensued. Johnson was opposed.

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New Board of Supervisors off to glitch-filled start