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Voters Say ‘No’ To
School Budget Override
 School district to lose $2.6 million in
funding over next three years - City
voters pick Serdy for final council seat
By Sarah Owen
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- Residents
of the Apache Junction Unified
School District voted against a
school budget override last week
with 829 voting against and 708
voting in favor of the override.
Voters initially approved the budget
override in 1999 and renewed it
in 2003. The school district was
asking for another renewal this year,
but on Tuesday, May 15, the voters
said “no” by an 8% edge.
The district now faces a $2.6 million
reduction in funding, beginning
in 2009, when the current override
starts phasing out.
While an approval of the override
would not have created a tax increase,
the disapproving vote may
lead to program cuts, according to
district spokeswoman Carol Shepherd.
The district began using money
from the override in 1999 to hire
teachers, counselors and librarians.
It also funded technological and
physical education programs for
grades K-12, as well as tutoring and
after-school sports programs.
See
A-1
(See profiles of the new
council
members on page
A-3)
Fire District Cuts ‘08
Budget
 Property tax rate cut by 14 cents,
budget reduced by $3 million
By Sarah Owen
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The
Apache Junction Fire District Governing
Board tentatively adopted
the 2007-2008 revenue and expenditure
budget at the May 16 fire
board meeting. The board accepted
a new fiscal year budget of $20.4
million, a drop of more than $3 million
from last year’s budget.
"We tightened our belts," Fire
Marshal David Montgomery said.
"There's no fluff, if you will, in the
budget."
Montgomery said no new programs
were added this year and
existing programs were scrutinized.
Employees’ compensation and
benefits packages were also
checked. The board awarded a minimal
2 percent cost-of-living allowance
to employees for the 2007-2008
fiscal year.
The board also cut the new-hire
allocation in half. They approved
the hire of three new firefighters
this year instead of the six the
district
had hoped for.
See
A-1
and see Fire
Budget,
A-5
County Making Policy
Changes InWake Of Official’s Conviction
 In
process of implementing 12 of 22
recommended changes
By Jill Jones
The News
FLORENCE- As a result of a prosecution
and investigation into the
public corruption case of former
Pinal County Manager Stan Griffis,
former Maricopa County Attorney
and specially appointed Deputy
Pinal County Attorney Richard
Romley has provided the county
with a list of twenty-two recommended
policy changes to be
implemented.
Griffis pleaded guilty to six counts
of felony theft and fraud and on
May 10, 2007, was sentenced to
serve 3-1/2 years in prison and is
to repay over $600,000 in restitution
to both the county and the
state in fraudulently obtained
funds.
In addition to conducting the
investigation,
the county board of
supervisors and current Pinal
County Manager Terry Doolittle requested
that Romley take the investigation
a step further and look
at the county’s structure and operation.
In light of his findings, Romley
has recommended 22 changes to
correct administrative and
organizational
shortcomings. Among
those changes is that the county
hire an internal auditor who could
conduct random audits and would
report directly to the Board of
Supervisors.
Additionally, it was recommended
an ombudsman should
be provided so employees could
openly and anonymously report
suspicions of abuse.
See
A-1
and see Pinal
County Changes,
page
A-5
Robinson Runner-up In
‘State’ Shot Put
 McCullen runs 4th in 200 meters; AJHS
boys 4x800 also finishes 4th; Crespo 5th
in discus; 4x100 boys place 5th
By Chuck Baker
The News
Despite breaking her own
school record for the second
time in two weeks, Lady Prospector
junior Diamin Robinson
had to settle for a runner-up finish
in the girls shot put event at
the 4A-II State Track and Field
Championships held May 12 at
Mesa Community College.
Robinson, who earlier this season
threw the shot put 32-07 to
break the school record of 32-
04 set thirteen years ago by
Patricia Desmarias, came up
with a throw of 35-00.25 at the
East Sky Region Meet held May
4 on her way to being crowned
a region champion. At the State
Championships, Robinson
threw the shot put 35-01 but had
to settle for second place as
Marika Lemmons from Notre
Dame Prep posted a winning
toss of 35-04, far better than
her previous best this season of
33-03.
Also on the second and final
day of the State Track and Field
Championships on May 12,
sophomore Shane McCullen ran
fourth in the finals of the 200
meters with his time of 22:93
and then anchored the AJHS
boys 4x100 meter relay team
which posted a fifth place finish
with their combined time of
43:91. Joining McCullen on the
relay squad were junior Josh
Morgan, senior Brandon
Dopkant and sophomore Rusty
Fernando.
See
C-1
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