Residents Press Board for Details on RICO Spending as Supervisors Approve County Attorney Items

At a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting, multiple residents asked the board for itemized details on RICO-related and litigation expenditures, saying the agenda showed only lump-sum totals. The board then voted unanimously to approve county attorney items 116 through 121, which include RICO- and litigation-related funding allocations.

The request for detail came during public comment. Citizen Leslie Shepherd said the packets showed “millions of dollars” with “no breakdown,” noting the first item listed roughly “3,000,000.” She asked how the county would “detail this so that we understand how this Rico is being distributed.”

Andrea Cummings, with the county attorney’s office, told the board the RICO expenditures were accompanied by legal analysis from outside counsel and had been discussed in executive session. “The RICO expenditures are, approved or legal analysis is provided by outside counsel on these matters,” Cummings said, and added she could not provide additional public details.

County Manager Jennifer Pekorski confirmed the expenditures fall within the county attorney’s budget and said they have been reviewed by counsel as appropriate. Supervisor Grotto told the public the process for how those funds are spent is “outlined in statute” and referenced work by a state representative aimed at clarifying the distribution process.

After discussion, the board considered the county attorney items. A motion to approve items 116 through 121 was made, a second was recorded, and the board voted unanimously to adopt the items.

Why it matters: RICO-related funds and litigation spending can involve large amounts and legal constraints on disclosure; citizens said the lack of a public breakdown limits transparency and oversight. County staff told the board that legal counsel and executive sessions were used to review the matters, which limited what could be discussed in open session.

Votes and immediate outcome: The board voted to approve items 116–121 as presented.

Public context and next steps: Speakers asked for greater transparency and for the county to provide clearer public documentation of how RICO or litigation funds are allocated. County staff and the county attorney’s office indicated legal constraints and prior executive-session review limited what could be said at the meeting. No formal board direction requiring additional public accounting was recorded in open session during this item.

Ending: The unanimous approval concluded the county attorney items on the agenda; members of the public who had asked for more detailed breakdowns were told some aspects had been handled in executive session and that legal reviews were completed.