Arizona Budget Allocates Millions to Maricopa County Recorder Amid Supervisor Showdown

Arizona lawmakers are pushing for a significant allocation of funds to Maricopa County’s elections office amid ongoing debates over control of the election process. The proposed $4.1 million for Recorder Justin Heap’s office has been included in the fiscal 2026 budget, which the Republican-led Senate approved and sent to the House for final consideration.

Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, has until June 30 to approve or amend the budget. Although she initially collaborated with the Senate on a budget proposal, her office has yet to comment on the latest version passed on Friday.

Additionally, the Yuma County Recorder’s Office is proposed to receive $1 million for operational costs, representing the only other allocation of its kind to a recorder’s office in the state. This financial support seems to be a direct response to Heap’s contentious relationship with Maricopa County supervisors concerning the oversight of elections.

Heap, a Republican who took office earlier this year, has been embroiled in a prolonged dispute over election control. Recent legislative amendments stipulate that supervisors cannot reduce funding for Heap’s office, which is noteworthy as the supervisors had tentatively budgeted a $4.4 million reduction for Heap’s office, stemming from an agreement made by his predecessor.

Heap has rejected that agreement and initiated legal action against the supervisors, demanding control over election-related IT staff and early in-person voting oversight. In response, the supervisors filed a countersuit.

Chairman Thomas Galvin of the supervisors declined to comment, though he emphasized efforts to negotiate in good faith regarding election agreements. Following the transfer of IT staff control, partial support was offered to Heap for maintaining the voter registration system, which he turned down.

Heap’s desire to take over early in-person voting raises concerns about additional costs, estimated between $13 million and $15 million, implications that could hinder funding for essential services like public safety.

The origin of the funds for Heap is somewhat murky. Some Republican lawmakers have expressed support for Heap, but it remains uncertain who specifically proposed the budgetary line item. State Sen. Jake Hoffman tried to amend the budget to give Heap greater control, but the proposal failed.

Heap has not confirmed whether he solicited these additional funds, and a public records request regarding his communications with lawmakers produced no pertinent documentation. Republican leadership has not given an official response regarding the funding.

Several other counties are echoing the request for increased election funding. Yuma County Recorder David Lara stated he approached the Legislature for financial assistance to potentially seek outside legal counsel concerning issues with the county attorney. Other county recorders have noted that the need for resources extends beyond Maricopa and Yuma.

Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis articulated a broader need, emphasizing that all county recorders should receive adequate funding to meet state-mandated requirements for maintaining election integrity. Jen Marson, executive director for the Arizona Association of Counties, also highlighted the disparities in funding across counties, urging lawmakers to consider a more equitable approach.