In a bid to save an estimated $1 million annually, the city of Tucson is again considering a partnership with Pima County to consolidate local court services.
The announcement, made public Tuesday, is the first overture since the city withdrew in 2012 from the then-planned, voter-backed consolidated courts complex in downtown. It was expected the city was going to occupy 54 percent of the facility.
Pima County now operates the facility independently as the County Public Service Center, 240 N. Stone Ave., which houses the county justice courts, constable, assessor and other county offices.
City Manager Mike Ortega stressed the discussions are in preliminary stages, and those talks do not include plans for the city to shut down the existing city courts facility.
However, city officials concede the municipal court facility, built in the late 1950s, has nearly reached the end of its useful life. The city recently did several million dollars in renovations at the city courthouse, 103 E. Alameda St.
Additionally, city officials believe it can save another million dollars be offering pretrial services to more defendants in city cases, diverting some deemed to be low-risk from spending time in jail.
The announcement comes as the Tucson City Council considers how to avoid an expected $8.9 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Councilman Steve Kozachik said he is still studying the proposals outlined by thecity staff during the budget presentation but sees value in partnering with the county.
โWhen weโre providing the same or similar services, to largely the same constituents, thereโs no reason we shouldnโt be able to find efficiencies in the way we deliver those services that save both the city and the county money,โ Kozachik said. โWeโre not competitors, and finally it looks like the relationship is moving ahead with that understanding.โ
County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said the county is supportive of the discussion, saying the public will be better served at a lower cost.
Other partnerships are also being explored, including allowing deputies with the Pima County Sheriffโs Department to use Tucson Police Departmentโs academy facility for additional training.
The city is also looking to save $2.5 million by consolidating its human resources, finance, and procurement department.
In documents released by the city, more than 40 positions throughout the city could be eliminated.
Ortega believes the city can avoid layoffs. โI believe I can do most of that through attrition,โ Ortega said.
