General: County supervisors provide regional leadership over critical policy areas, including policies necessary to ensure safe communities, protect public health, promote economic development, and plan and manage land use for sustainable development. County supervisors also provide important oversight of county operations, including overseeing strategies to promote sound fiscal management and to develop a high-quality county government workforce.1
The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors is responsible for the financing and administration of County government, has final approval over County department budgets, governs tax rates, and calculates all other tax rates.
The Board also has final approval for all zoning and use permits in the unincorporated areas of the County.
The Board consists of five members elected to four-year terms representing the five supervisor districts. The Board members conduct business during public meetings which are held the first and third Wednesday of every month. A schedule for the Board meetings is available to the public on the Yavapai County Meetings website. The agendas are made available by Thursday of the week prior to the meeting at both the Cottonwood and Prescott Board of Supervisors offices and on the official Yavapai County Government website here.
If a special Board meeting is called, a public notice is posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and an agenda is made available to the public. (For more information see Public Meetings)
The Board of Supervisors also acts as the board of directors for certain special districts within the County such as the Seligman and Granite Gardens Sanitary Districts; the Ash Fork, Seligman, and Yarnell Street Lighting Improvement Districts; the Yavapai County Free Library District; Yavapai County Flood Control District; and for County Road Improvement districts.
As part of its administrative duties, the Board is responsible for appointing members of County boards and commissions dealing with planning and zoning, building codes, health, employees and employee benefits, private industry, and agriculture. (For a complete list of specific boards and commissions see Boards and Commissions).
In addition, the Board is responsible for appointing the directors of the County departments.
The Board also works with other governmental bodies such as the towns and cities within Yavapai County, the United States Forest Service, and other state and federal governmental agencies.2
What do County Supervisors do?
The County Board of Supervisors are elected to four-year terms and provide direction to the County Administrator and several other county departments. The board is like the City Council, except its jurisdiction covers all the county and unincorporated areas.
Board members decide the county tax rate and approve the county budget. The County Board of Supervisors oversees health, road, parks, libraries, law enforcement, and other municipal services.
The Board also has the power to fill vacancies in the county and legislative offices, other boards and commissions, pass resolutions, and enact ordinances and regulations as authorized by state law.
The Board has the authority to make decisions on a variety of issues, such as zoning changes, resolutions, and ordinances.
Additionally, the board of supervisors has the power to remove and replace election precincts, appoint election inspectors, and judges as well as canvass election returns, declare election results, and issue certificates.
