Elected officials, appointed directors, and staff of Arizona’s more-than 325 special districts, will have a central resource for governance, development, and advocacy beginning this summer.

The Arizona Special Districts Alliance, or ASDA, will launch July 1, 2024, with the mission of raising awareness of, advocating for, and strengthening all Arizona’s local special districts governments and their essential services to Arizonans across the state. ASDA’s establishment will mark a major milestone as it becomes only the ninth such organization in the nation.

Board and staff member education and networking are centerpieces of the Alliance’s concept. ASDA demonstrated that principle on May 22 when it hosted leaders of all types of special districts at the Highlands Fire District near Flagstaff – ASDA’s second mini-conference style event. Attendees heard presentations diving into financial reporting, planning for capital projects, the impact on and opportunities for artificial intelligence, facilities improvement, duties of elected and appointed district board members, and heard from the Office of U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. The first special districts also formally signed onto the Alliance.

Broadly, ASDA will continue developing opportunities for special districts’ access to compliance trainings and best practices on open meeting laws, election laws, transparent governance, understanding of financial obligations, recordkeeping, and other common reporting needs. The Alliance will also work toward collaborating with stakeholders to shepherd workable polices that strengthen transparency and accountable governance for all local government. ASDA will also work to educate the Arizona State Legislature on the importance of clear, consistent, and reasonable financial reporting requirements to enhance public confidence in the state’s special districts and use of taxpayer and ratepayer dollars.  

ASDA’s steering committee – comprised of 11 special district directors, county officials, service providers, and a representative from the Arizona Fire Districts Association – invites Arizona’s special district to join the Arizona Special Districts Alliance as founding members as they plan more education events and forums intended to unite and advance the state’s special purpose units of local government. Likewise, the committee seeks input from Arizona districts to guide the organization’s programming and benefits of importance to them.

Interested special districts may complete this Microsoft Form to submit interest of joining ASDA ahead of July 1. Annual dues for founding special districts will be $100.

For more information on ASDA, visit www.azdistrictsalliance.org or email ASDA at info.asd.alliance@gmail.com.