Gila County approves $7,500 support for Rim Country Chamber to host governor’s rural Arizona event

The Gila County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 27 to provide $7,500 to the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce to help sponsor a governor-hosted “State of Rural Arizona” event in Payson.

Craig Swartwood, representing the chamber, told the board the event is nonpartisan, that tickets will be given away rather than sold, and that the chamber was seeking between $5,000 and $7,500 to provide meals and logistical support for the governor’s entourage and invited elected officials. "We're giving tickets away," Swartwood said during his presentation.

County staff said $5,000 could be provided from state revenue-assurance funds — described in the meeting as non-tax lottery-derived dollars — and supervisors discussed covering the remaining amount from constituent funds. A motion proposed that the county contribution include $6,000 from one supervisor’s account and $500 contributions from each remaining supervisor to reach a $7,500 total; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Board members emphasized the county should be acknowledged at the event and requested that Gila County have an opportunity to speak. County staff agreed to coordinate ticketing for elected officials and close associates and to have the county manager’s office handle logistics for distribution.

The action was taken by voice vote; supervisors then moved on to scheduled information items.