MONDAY, JUNE 24,  2019      AACo Bulletin    Advancing Arizona's Counties since 1968
In This Issue
Summer Publication Schedule
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The AACo Bulletin will publish every two weeks throughout the summer. Staff will continue to keep members updated on necessary items via email. We will resume our weekly publication in the fall.
AACo President Goes to Washington

AACo President and Yuma County Recorder Robyn Pouquette was one of only 20 county leaders from around the country that were selected by the National Association of Counties (NACo) to participate in the 16 th  Annual County Leadership Institute (CLI). Robyn joined her colleagues in Washington DC June 9-13 for this intensive 4-day training in adaptive leadership led by Cambridge Leadership Associates. 

The partnership between NACo and Cambridge Leadership Associates aims to enhance the capability of county officials to identify and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges facing county government. Attendees learn how to effectively address the demands of personal leadership in a new era of government. This era is characterized as a "permanent crisis" by CLI Program Developer and Cambridge Leadership co-founder Marty Linsky.

 



NACo High Performance Leadership Academy
The 
National Association of Counties (NACo) High Performance Leadership Academy is an online 12-week program that empowers frontline county government professionals with fundamental, practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and residents.

With a curriculum developed by General Colin Powell and hundreds of public and private sector leaders, participants use an online, interactive learning platform to engage in video sessions and breakout group discussions, it focuses on five essential skills:
  • LEAD: Engage teams and stakeholders to foster positive climates and exceed common expectations
  • ORGANIZE: Plan, lead and execute organizational change more effectively and consistently
  • COLLABORATE: Establish alignment and strong partnerships through building stronger relationships
  • COMMUNICATE: Create clarity, confidence and community
  • DELIVER: Measure projects and processes to deliver results aligned with county and community priorities
A world-class faculty of prominent public, private and university sector leaders will deliver each course. All module content is guided by an expert moderator.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
The program is designed for county professionals  - specifically entry- to mid-level county staff.  Each participant remains accountable for their training and progress through the direct involvement of their supervisor at the county. Supervisors are encouraged to meet with participants and review the program content as related to individual development plans. Supervisors also receive regular dashboard reports that outline the learning progress of the program participant.

Click here for more information about the academy.
Registration for the course beginning in August is now open at www.naco.org/Skills .
Interior Disperses $514.7 Million in Funding for Local Communities
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that more than 1,900 local governments around the country will receive $514.7 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2019.

"Payments in lieu of taxes are made to local governments to help offset their inability to tax federal property," said Secretary Bernhardt. "These payments are one example of the United States striving to be a good neighbor to local communities. This year's distribution of $514 million to more than 1,900 counties will help small towns pay for critical needs like emergency response, public safety, public schools, housing, social services, and infrastructure."

"I was pleased to hear that 2019 PILT payments are going out today and appreciate Secretary Bernhardt's support of the program," said Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04). "Many counties in the West have over 90% of their land area owned by the federal government, meaning rural communities are deprived of desperately needed tax revenue from those lands. Thankfully, PILT compensates counties for some of this lost revenue and allow local governments to provide critical health, education, road maintenance, and emergency services to their residents and federal lands visitors. Since coming to Congress I have always fought to fully-fund PILT."

PILT payments help local governments carry out such vital services as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. The payments are made annually for tax-exempt federal lands administered by U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and for federal water projects and some military installations.

A full list of funding by state and county is available at www.doi.gov/pilt.
2020 Legislation Requests
AACo is accepting legislative proposals for inclusion in the 2020 County Government Platform, due August 1st

To send your legislative proposal or for questions about the 2020 County Government Platform, please contact AACo's Executive Director Jen Marson or Senior Legislative Associate  Megan Kintner .
AACo on the Move
Each fall staff at the Arizona Association of Counties travels to each of the state's counties to share the work of the Association, learn about challenges in each county and share cost saving solutions for the county and for county residents. AACo works with our county representatives to coordinate meeting dates and format. For more information please contact Jen Marson.