CAAG Break-Up Considered But Tabled

The Payson Roundup reports that the Central Arizona Association of Governments has tabled a proposal to form a committee to study the idea of splitting up the organization which represents Pinal and Gila County.

Pinal County Supervisor Bryan Martyn says his county’s rapid growth may have outdated the regional council’s model. Gila County Supervisor Shirley Dawson says the split would harm rural communities.

Pinal County’s population is now estimated at more than 320,000, compared to 52,000 in Gila County.

The Council includes elected officials from both counties and towns within those counties. The executive order that created Arizona’s six regional planning groups has no process for amending the boundaries.

The Council discussed a list of 3 “pros’ and 13 “cons” at its meeting last week. Pros include less travel, no more shared funding and agenda items would be more tailored to the county. Cons include the question of where Gila County would go, and the threat of the two urban regional councils swallowing Pinal County.