Wilson praises gov, rips Legislature over budget

Maricopa County Supervisor Max Wilson has praised Gov. Jan Brewer's budget plan as fairer to local governments but criticized the $8.2 billion legislative spending proposal as "devastating to the most essential function of county government, justice and law enforcement."

Wilson, chairman of the five-member board, appeared at a "stakeholder meeting" Tuesday at the Capitol.

"The era of arbitrary cost shifts by the state to other levels of government must end," Wilson said. "This is double taxation. We cannot continue to piece the state budget together with tape and glue, gimmicks and shifts."

Wilson noted the current recession has forced Maricopa County government to cut its own budget by $341 million over the past two years. "We are suffering from the same economic downturn."

Wilson, who replaced Brewer on the county board, represents several West Valley communities including the Sun Cities, Surprise, Peoria, Litchfield Park and Wickenburg.