The Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved an $8,000 transfer from general-fund contingency to the Surbat constable travel budget on Dec. 1 after staff presented data showing the constable's travel reimbursements had tripled year to date.

Director Mornean explained that the constable's travel reimbursements rose sharply in the first four months of the fiscal year, largely driven by a subset of cases with many service attempts, including orders of protection and pre-warrant summons. Director Mornean told the board that about one-third of the high-mileage cases were orders of protection and that the county lacks a written standard on the number of service attempts, though justice-of-the-peace judges generally discussed a 3–4 attempt norm.

Constable Carmen told the board his district covers roughly 4,200 square miles and that he often consolidates multiple service attempts on a single route; he said recent direction from the presiding judge now allows posting for many documents to reduce repeated trips. Carmen agreed to scale back repeated attempts where permitted.

Given that November's reimbursements were already high, Director Mornean recommended a partial transfer of $8,000 rather than the $16,000 initially requested. Supervisor Lettman moved to transfer $8,000 and requested the constable return with an update in February or March and a draft policy on service attempts. The board approved the motion.

Next steps: Board directed the constable and county staff to draft a written service-attempt policy, return with an updated travel expense report in February-March, and identify administrative efficiencies to limit future budget spikes.