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Board votes to terminate Queen Creek court services IGA after judges cite scope and staffing concerns
Summary
Maricopa County judges and staff told the board they will terminate an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for court services with the Town of Queen Creek because the IGA was being used beyond its intended scope and lacks adequate reimbursement; the board approved early termination 4–1. Queen Creek asked for more time to negotiate.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted on May 6 to approve early termination of a court‑services intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Queen Creek, after county judges and court administrators said the IGA had expanded beyond the narrow municipal code responsibilities it was intended to cover and that the town had not reimbursed the county for related staffing costs.
Presiding justice and court administrators told the board they reviewed the IGA beginning last summer and identified jurisdictional and workload issues: citations from Pinal County portions of Queen Creek had been routed to Maricopa County courts, juvenile citations had shifted to superior court, and the IGA’s scope had been interpreted to include matters beyond minor municipal code cases. The county asked Queen Creek to cover the estimated cost of one full‑time clerk (approximately $65,000 fully burdened) as part of a revised operating approach; the town declined that offer, according to county judges.
Town Manager Bruce Gardner asked the board to hold action and allow more time for the town council and staff to meet with the court to negotiate transitional arrangements. He said Queen Creek is rapidly growing, is in the final stages of adopting its annual budget, has been building its police department and has a longer timetable to stand up a municipal court (a previous planning document projected a court in about 2032). Gardner said the town would continue to work with the presiding judge and explore alternatives, including continued use of Gilbert’s IGA for code cases.
Board discussion and vote: Vice Chair Lesko and several supervisors said judges and staff had engaged with the town for months and that the county needs a clear baseline of services and reimbursement. Supervisor Stewart sought a continuance to allow behind‑the‑scenes resolution and said he supported collaborative negotiation; he voted against termination. The motion to terminate passed 4–1.
What terminates and next steps: the board authorized the chair to execute early termination with a 30‑day notice (certified mail or personal delivery). Judges and county staff said the 30‑day window can be managed to allow negotiation of a transition plan; the presiding judge and town manager agreed they could continue to meet to pursue a longer, negotiated extension if that is workable for both parties. County administrators noted that the IGA currently covers a small share of Queen Creek cases and that broader case‑routing issues would require additional planning.
Quote: "We are respectfully requesting you hold action on item 75 today," Town Manager Bruce Gardner told the board. Presiding judges said the county had attempted negotiation and proposed a staffing reimbursement that Queen Creek rejected.
The board recorded the vote on May 6; staff and the town committed to continued discussions about operational transition and reimbursement while the termination timeline is executed.
