40 AUGUST 2024 I n a world where governments raise taxes and state legislatures struggle to finalize their budget, Maricopa County has achieved the balance between cutting costs and maintaining excellent customer service. The Board governs the County and allocates funding to its departments and elected offices. In June, the Board approved a budget for FY 2025, which was keenly focused on a conservative fiscal policy and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. We have cut property tax rates for the fourth year in a row. LOWERING TAXES WHILE MAINTAINING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE Despite lowering taxes, we are still funding critical and mandatory services. Nearly half the budget goes toward public safety so that law enforcement, jails, probation, courts, criminal prosecution and defense can meet staffing needs and keep residents safe. We have invested in heat relief efforts and are partnering with local municipalities to establish cooling centers across the Valley. A few weeks ago, I visited a heat relief center to help distribute water bowls and dog shoes for pet owners escaping triple-digit temperatures. Also, Maricopa County recently launched Permit Center, a new online permitting system that makes doing business with the County easier, faster and more efficient. RELIEVING FINANCIAL BURDENS ON TAXPAYERS The Board decreased the overall budget by 11 percent this year and property tax rates have decreased by 18 percent over the last four years. Compared to other similarly sized counties, Maricopa County boasts a leaner effective workforce. Our staff-to- population ratio is one of the lowest in the country. Maricopa oversees a balanced budget, and I am proud to say that our tax levy is $257 million below the state- mandated ceiling, proving our fiscal discipline. RESPONSIBLE PLANNING FOR FUTURE BUDGETS Economic conditions can change rapidly, so we must be prepared for every possible outcome. Maricopa County has zero general obligation debt. For the past two years, we have made significant contributions toward paying down unfunded pension liabilities for retiring public safety employees. This approach saves taxpayer money in the long run. The Board’s mission is simple. We pay for our obligations in a timely manner, minimize our debt, keep ample money in reserve and never spend more than we have. That’s why we are the most fiscally conservative large government jurisdiction in the country. Maricopa County’s taxpayers can be assured that their county government’s fiscal condition is in good hands. I serve as Vice Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and represent Supervisorial District 2, which includes east Phoenix. I’m a proud resident of the Arcadia area where my wife and I raise our young son. Maricopa County sets example for conservative fiscal policy By Mark Hays Four years ago, Ian O’ Riley was in need of a hobby. He had his studies and – like the rest of us – was eager to find an activity to take him away from what was happening in the world. He decided to join Brophy Prep’s Big Brothers Program, where Ian was mentored by an older student on the school’s rowing team. He decided to give the sport a shot. That fateful decision led the graduate to a string of top-five wins in national rowing competitions, the most recent being first place at the US Rowing Youth National Championship in Florida in June. “I didn’t like rowing at first, but I stuck with it,” Ian said. “It was just nice to have a group of friends to relate to, and after a couple of months, I fell in love with the sport.” Ian rowed single scull (where a rower is alone in the boat with two oars) for Brophy’s team. After a year in the program, he competed in his first national-level event. Riding high on the championship win, Ian headed to the National Team Trials in New Jersey, where he secured a spot representing the United States at the 2024 U19, U23, and Senior World Rowing Championships. “My first nationals happened my sophomore year, and I got second in the U17 category,” he said. “That was the switch for me. I’d raced locally and messed around in some boats, but it was always recreational at that point. Once I got to Nationals and did way better than I thought I would, I realized I had a real shot at it.” In his junior year, Ian placed third at Nationals in the U19 age group, competing against rowers years older than him. “It showed I can learn and adjust on the fly, and that convinced me to set my sights on first in the 2024 competition,” he said. “It’s been a process of improving my form, making the necessary corrections, and going to early workouts. No changes are made in one day – especially for rowing.” “Ian rowed a textbook race. Not only did he win, he was one of the few rowers who managed to beat the stringent time standards for making the National Team. He beat everyone by nine seconds and earned a spot to represent the United States at the World Rowing Championships in Ontario,” Brophy Rowing Coach Pete Cannia said. “I am so proud of Ian, his hard work and dedication, and our rowing program at Brophy for the inspiration and winning culture they bring daily to practice. Without them, Ian’s achievement would not be possible.” To perform this high-intensity sport, Ian said he usually rows around 100 miles a week, on the water and with a rowing machine. Lifting, meditation and yoga – along with practices – help him prepare for competitions. This year, Ian finished the race in seven minutes and 14 seconds, cementing his first-place win. “I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness,” he said. “It’s hard to put it into words, but I’ve known the guys I raced against for years. I know the teams, and I’ve raced them before. Having my family and friends there and having friends as competitors was a wonderful way to finish my high school rowing career.” “Ian’s performance was nothing short of incredible. He took control of the race early and could hold off two of the country’s fastest rowers and control the race from the front,” Coach Cannia said. “His move at 1000 meters to go astonished everyone in the crowd and solidified his National Championship win, beating the closest competitor by five seconds.” Ian will head to Canada in August for the 2024 U19, U23, and Senior World Rowing Championships – and after that? He plans on rowing for Harvard and majoring in either physics or applied mathematics. Brophy graduate rows his way to Nationals Thomas Galvin, Vice Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 2 602-506-7431 district2@maricopa.gov maricopa.gov/235/ District-2 THOMAS GALVIN Ian won first place at the 2024 National Championship Men’s Youth Single Scull. Ian and Brophy Rowing Coach Peter Cannia. PHOTOS COURTESY OF IAN O’ RILEY

41 AUGUST 2024 By Rachael Bouley Football fans are in for an exciting few months, with high school teams ready to hit the field at the end of August. Coaches at Arcadia High, Brophy Prep and Veritas Prep are also looking forward to the 2024 season and getting the players – who have been hard at work practicing – back into their spots in the playoffs and state championships. ARCADIA The Titans finished first in the 4A Desert Sky section last year, going undefeated through 12 games before running out of steam in the third round of playoffs against Yuma. With their sights set on going even further this fall, Arcadia opens the season at Glendale on August 30. “I am looking forward to another winning season,” wide receiver Zach Smith said. “We have a great team this year and are ready to keep our heads down, work hard and build on last year’s successes.” One of the most memorable moments of those successes is when the Titans bested Thunderbird High in the quarterfinals with a game-winning field goal. “It was a great season and it was even more special because I was playing with teammates that I’ve been playing with since I was five years old,” 2024 graduate Jeremy Smith said. In their section, the Titans will take on Desert Sunrise, Mesquite, Combs, Vista Grande and Arizona College Prep. Braylen Rooney will take over as senior quarterback from recent grad Brady Forst after a team-high of 21 touchdown passes in 2023. Pablo Javalera led the Titans with an average of 8.9 tackles per game last year, while Owen Bowers recorded five sacks. Now in their senior year, these running backs and line backers join a deep roster of upperclassmen eager to make the most of their final year on the high school field. BROPHY The Broncos finished first in Section 6A Central last year before losing by one point in overtime in the third round of the playoffs against Red Mountain. Coach Jason Jewell said he believes they are close to being an elite team. “We went 10-3 last year and two of those losses were on the last play of the game. If we can find ways to finish, we could be dangerous,” Jewell said. “We have one goal: make The Open.” With a tough-love coaching style and fast-paced, organized training similar to college practice, the team is ready for the competition. “Our strength is the offensive line. We are also very talented in the secondary and at wide receiver,” Jewell added. “We lost most of our defensive line, our quarterback and kicker/punter, so we need to work on those areas.” Athletes report to training camp at the start of August and practice Monday through Saturday ahead of the first game on August 30 against Williams Field. They will also play Regis Jesuit (Colorado), Centennial, Notre Dame, Perry, Basha, Desert Vista, Corona, Mountain Pointe and Salpointe. The team will be led by a strong and determined group of starting seniors who have already committed to colleges, including offensive tackle Logan Powell, offensive lineman Anderson Kopp, cornerback Cree Thomas and safety Dom Mitchell. “Other players that have Division I offers include offensive tackle Jorden Cunningham, wide receivers Christian Camarata, Daylen Sharper and Devin Fitzgerald, wide receiver/cornerback Ryder Noche, linebacker Bastian Vanden Bosch, quarterback Case Vanden Bosch, safety James Pike, and wide receiver Donovan McNabb,” Jewell said. VERITAS The Falcons are coming off a 7-4 season where they finished second in their section with a 5-1 record. They ended the year with a close loss to San Tan Charter in the first round of the playoffs and will get the chance for a rematch in September. Playing in the 2A Verde section, Veritas will face Shadow Mountain, Scottsdale Prep, Scottsdale Christian, Madison Highland Prep, Valley Lutheran and Coronado. Their first four games of the season are non-section, starting with Camp Verde on August 23. Senior tailback/outside linebacker Tico Lentz had 10 touchdowns and averaged 65.3 rushing yards per game last season. Christian Dominguez led with five interceptions and will step up in his final year as a strong safety/wide receiver. There are 10 seniors on the roster, with 13 juniors and 12 sophomores preparing to carry the Falcons into the future for the next few years. 2024 high school football preview By Mark Hays The grass is green, the flags are set, and Arcadia, Brophy and Veritas’ golf squads are ready to play their best. Arcadia News caught up with our area high school teams to see what they’re looking forward to with the 2024-25 season. ARCADIA The Titans upcoming schedule will see them facing teams at Chaparral, Coronado, Cactus Shadows, Pinnacle and Notre Dame Prep. The first match happens on August 22 at Arcadia High. “Our strengths are the overall golf knowledge – these guys really know the game and how to play the right way,” Coach Stephen Danford said. “They are a very dedicated group. Our one weakness – as of right now – is a lack of experience but as the season goes on, the match play will be a valuable tool in prep for the state tournament.” Practices focus on adapting to unfavorable situations and repeated training on golf fundamentals. They are structured and work on different aspects – short game, chipping, putting, situational play and how to handle adversity on the course. “This also includes poor shots and bad lies, which is where a ball is situated in such a way that adds difficulty to a shot,” Danford said. “We play a lot of holes and nothing beats putting time on the course and the putting green.” AHS is in a transition period with a lot of younger players and only one or two seniors this year, so the goal is to qualify for state – and hopefully finish in the top five, according to Coach Danford. BROPHY Many of Brophy’s golfers graduated in 2024, so this year’s team will be relatively young, according to Athletic Director Steve Shaff. “Seniors Tyler Spielman (who is attending Auburn U) and Henry Dall (who is now at San Diego) graduated after leading the Broncos to the championship in 2022 with three runner-up finishes in their four-year careers,” Shaff said. “The golf team is now entering a new era.” Brophy finished the season second behind Chandler’s Hamilton High in the 2023 Division I State Championships. The team will have a few returning golfers who saw success in previous seasons. “Senior Dylan Boenning is returning to lead the team after earning All-Premier Region second-team honors in 2023,” Shaff said. “As a junior, he finished 14th at the State Championships.” These returning golfers aim to build on last season’s successes to propel Brophy to what the school hopes is another championship win. “Sophomores Asher Nelson and Nathan Ash were All- Premier Region honorable mention selections in their first season and look to show improvement,” Shaff said. “Head Coach Jon Shores could have as many as eight returning letter winners looking to make the lineup this fall.” VERITAS Due to the ‘small school’ nature, Veritas golfers will likely be spending the fall months participating in other athletics and programs at VPA, according to Athletic Director Chase Beebe. “Our golfers will be working on their golf game and preparing for the spring as we look to improve on last year’s successes,” Beebe said. High school boys golf teams ready to play the course The Titans finished first in 4A Desert Sky last year with a record of 12 wins, one loss. PHOTO: AUDREA WALSHIRE Senior Dylan Boenning will lead the Broncos golf team this fall. PHOTO COURTESY OF BROPHY PREP