Supervisors approve salary items for chief deputies amid public objections linking pay to library safeguards

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved agenda items 105 through 114 by unanimous vote after public commenters raised objections tying pay actions for senior deputies to the county's handling of library collections.

What the board approved Agenda items 105'114 included county attorney settlements and human-resources requests for chief-deputy salaries. The vice chair moved the group of items and Supervisor Stewart seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

Public comment and concerns Multiple speakers used the public-comment period to say they had documented sexually explicit material available to minors in county libraries and to call for enforcement and accountability. Speakers asked the board not to reward leadership positions while they alleged criminal exposure for children. Commenters cited Arizona statutes and demanded fuller minutes and stronger action.

County attorney response County Attorney Tom Liddy responded to some public claims during the meeting and pushed back on specific factual allegations, saying in one exchange: "If you would write those things down and put them in the library, I assure you they would be in the fiction section." That remark came during the public comment period when callers repeatedly invoked statutes and asked for accountability.

Distinguishing discussion from decision Speakers presented allegations and called for investigations (discussion). The board acted on the grouped agenda items and approved them after the public-comment period (decision). The formal vote covered the listed settlements and HR items as a block.

Next steps and oversight The approved HR items will be carried out by the respective elected officials and departments. Public commenters said they will continue to submit documentation to law enforcement and to the county if they believe criminal statutes have been violated.

Ending Supervisors noted they had received multiple public forms and testimony on the items and urged residents to follow the county's published complaint channels for further evidence and inquiries.