What do the all of the following properties have in common: the former Bank of America Plaza, the green-tiled former Home Federal Savings tower, the recently-former Southern New Hampshire University building, the former Wells Fargo downtown headquarters, the recently-vacated Respite/Welcoming Center, the former Golden Pins Bowling Alley, the Aerospace Research Campus, numerous working ranches, and thousands of acres of vacant land?
The common thread is they all are owned and operated by Pima County Government.
I recently spoke with a former longtime Pima County official who said that a number of years ago, his agency was looking for a facility to house its operations. He told me that he found it astonishing how much property Pima County owns and controls, and that the public has no idea of the vastness of Pima County’s land and buildings portfolio.
Some time ago, our office requested an inventory of Pima County owned properties and the list was staggering. Why does Pima County feel the need to own so much in raw acreage and facilities? Granted, one reason is the County needs space to house operations and its seven thousand-plus employees, particularly the downtown County Attorney and Public Defender’s Offices.
Another reason is that the County feels the need to locate many of its departments in neighborhoods in order to serve specific communities, such as the Pima County Health Department’s operations at the new Northwest Service Center. Add to the mix several county administration buildings that are currently undergoing major maintenance repairs and renovations, and displaced employees need offices to work. Plus, Pima County’s Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan policies have gobbled up thousands of acres.
Some of the County’s property ownership has justification, for sure, and that may be the topic of a future column. And yet, Pima County recently purchased the Wells Fargo Bank headquarters building to relocate the decrepit and under-utilized Joel D. Valdez Downtown Library, as well a 300-acre ranch with N. Oracle Road frontage for conservation.
When we have the sword of federal grant funding clawbacks hanging over our necks, perennial department budget shortfalls and rising property taxes, wouldn’t it make sense to liquidate unnecessary properties to raise cash, and reduce overhead and maintenance? Selling numerous county owned properties to the private sector for residential and commercial development would place these valuable locations on the property tax rolls (mitigating increases paid by homeowners, perhaps?) rather than just have them providing no revenue or purpose. An offering announcement of county-owned properties would not only attract attention to our region, it could stimulate economic development, jobs, growth and vitality – all desperately needed in Pima County.
Over the past 30 years, property ownership by Pima County has become embedded in its DNA and culture. Simply stated, property ownership means control and dictates, and I don’t believe those are positive or proper attributes for government to wield over its populace. Owning a swath of properties also temps the County to enter into land deals with investors or developers as an active partner in an enterprise. We have seen the dangers of public/private partnerships. Do World View, Vector Launch, and TuSimple ring a bell?
I will continue to vote against Pima County buying up marketable properties and urge County Administrators to review the county’s portfolio, with an eye to selling them back to the private sector, rather than its current policy of perpetual acquisition. Just like many of its activities, Pima County should not be in the commercial or residential real estate business and should not be in joint ventures with private capital.
My only hesitation is that if Pima County began liquidating its many holdings, my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors would find new irresponsible ways to spend the proceeds, rather than “just fix the roads”!
Pima County Supervisor Steve Christy, District 4
33 N. Stone Avenue, Floor 11
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-724-8094
district4@pima.gov
