Pima County extends $30,000 contract to Humane Borders to maintain desert water stations

The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 3–1 to amend and extend a contract with Humane Borders, Incorporated to support water distribution services in remote areas of the county.

The board approved Amendment No. 2 to allow continued operation of water stations and to extend the contract term to June 30, 2026, with a contract amount of $30,000. Chair Scott moved the item; Supervisor Allen seconded it. The motion passed with Supervisors Allen, Cano and Chair Scott voting yes and Supervisor Christie voting no.

Why it matters: Speakers and witnesses described the county’s desert as a frequent site of death by dehydration. Humane Borders places and maintains water stations to reduce those deaths; public testimonies at the meeting stressed the program’s role in public health and humanitarian relief.

At the meeting, volunteer Kirk Astrath described the group’s mission and cited the Humane Borders death map, noting over 4,300 deaths recorded in the desert area. “Humane Borders provides life-saving water at stations in the desert for everyone, not just migrants,” Astrath said. Board members and clergy attending called the work compassionate public health work that reduces deaths and medical examiner workload.

Supervisor Allen, who represents a border-area district, framed the vote as a regional responsibility and cited Pima County’s 130 miles of shared border with Mexico when urging support. “Putting out barrels of water is not enough to convince people to leave everyone that they know, their homelands, their families behind. So I support the efforts of Humane Borders,” Allen said.

Several speakers — including Humane Borders board chair Laurie Cantillo and Reverend Jessica Braxton — urged the board to renew and sustain funding. Cantillo said the group receives no federal funding and is powered largely by volunteers and private donations; Braxton called the water barrels “hope made visible” and said the program affirms human dignity.

Board direction and next steps: Administrator Lesher told the board staff would follow up with Humane Borders leadership to outline other county support over the last 25 years and report back. The board asked county staff to provide more detail on existing county support beyond the contract before future decisions.

The vote: Amendment No. 2 (Humane Borders, Inc.) — moved by Chair Scott; second by Supervisor Allen — approved 3–1. Supervisor Christie recorded the lone opposing vote.

Ending: The board’s action keeps the small, volunteer-driven program funded for the coming year while staff prepare a memo detailing broader county support and any additional needs.