by Cameron Arcand
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $130,000 in taxpayer dollars through the county’s “community solutions” fund for a variety of purposes in the East Valley on Wednesday.
One hundred thousand dollars will head toward the International Dark Sky Discovery Center for childhood education uses and admission costs, $10,000 will be used for “sign improvements” along the Hawes Trail System near Mesa within the Tonto National Forest, and $8,000 to assist the East Valley Institute of Technology’s program for small children, the board touted in a news release on Wednesday. Other funds went toward “heat relief” uses.
“Over the past several years, the East Valley has undergone a significant period of growth and development that isn’t slowing down anytime soon,” Vice Chairman Thomas Galvin said in a statement. “To aid this continued expansion, Maricopa County is intentionally investing in projects that enable residents and their families to learn about our natural world, enjoy outdoor spaces, pursue an education, bolster their careers, and live healthy and fulfilling lives.”
When it comes to heat relief, the funds are being used for people with disabilities as well as seniors, specifically for “medical equipment” and “portable evaporative coolers.” However, those who would benefit would need to be a part of the county’s Human Services Department’s Senior & Adult Services program, according to the news release. Three thousand will also be used for pet-related supplies for cooling centers.
“More and more residents over the age of 50 are being disproportionately impacted by the relentless summer heat,” said Jayson Matthews, Interim Director of Maricopa County’s Human Services Department, said in a statement. “Many of them live on fixed incomes and are unable to afford the costs of maintaining, fixing, or replacing their air conditioning units. These supplies will play a vital role in keeping seniors and folks with disabilities cool and safe in the case of an HVAC emergency.”
As triple-digit high temperatures are expected to continue nearly daily in the Valley for weeks to come, it often results in an outpouring of public dollars and action. The Center Square reported on Wednesday that Attorney General Kris Mayes is demanding a property management company fix a widespread air conditioning issue at an apartment complex by Friday.
As for the other public funding, the aforementioned discovery center in Fountain Hills plans to use the money for a camp and exhibits.
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Cameron Arcand is a staff reporter for The Center Square covering Arizona. A contributor since 2022, Arcand previously worked for Salem Media Group and The Western Journal.
Photo “International Dark Sky Discovery Center” by International Dark Sky Discovery Center.
