Board approves $8,000 contingency transfer after debate over constable travel reimbursements

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 1 approved an $8,000 transfer from general fund contingency to the constable travel budget after staff flagged a sharp year‑over‑year increase in mileage reimbursements for a precinct constable.

Finance director Luke (speaker 10) told the board travel spending for a particular constable had roughly tripled year‑to‑date compared with the prior fiscal year and that some cases showed 10–20 attempts to serve a single document. The constable (Carmen) explained logistical challenges — a very large patrol area, problems logging into the AZPOINT court system that required courts to print orders for service, and increased work on pre‑warrant summonses — and said he had met with the presiding judge, who permitted taped postings in some circumstances that should reduce multiple trips.

Supervisors debated the time value of subpoenas and whether multiple attempts were necessary; several said a 3–5 attempt norm discussed by limited‑jurisdiction judges would be reasonable and asked for a written policy. Finance recommended a smaller transfer ($8,000) rather than the requested $16,000 while asking the constable to implement process changes and return with a status update. The board approved the $8,000 transfer and asked the constable to return in Feb.–Mar. with an update and a draft service policy.

Director Morinan (finance) and the presiding justice of the peace indicated there is room for efficiencies; the board encouraged standardizing service‑attempt practices across precincts and noted the constable covers a very large district (thousands of square miles).