Sheriff, Treasurer balk on budget priorities
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Treasurer Charles Hoskins are balking at a county Board of Supervisors request for suggestions on how they could cut their departmental budgets by up to 20 percent.

Of the two, Hoskins has the flimiest reasoning. According to the Arizona Republic, he sent supervisors an brief e-mail saying "until I have a better feel for how the current investigation of the Board and its employees might go" he won't submit anything.

What's he talking about? The Stapley charges? Supervisors' alleged pushback at Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas? Hoskins' remark smacks of a political end-run in the style of Arpaio. Hoskins, who has zero public recognition, needs to seek election if he wants to continue serving as Treasurer. Aligning himself with Arpaio's bravado could be his path. But, as Treasurer, he should be in the thick of finding ways to bridge the county's budget crisis. Instead he's playing politics.

Arpaio has an easier case to make, in theory. Law enforcement and jail supervision should be among the county services cut least. Unfortunately, Arpaio has a very public record on wasting manpower and money on his publicity crusades. He's not immune to belt-tightening. A 20 percent cut would almost certainly impact public safety. But supervisors aren't asking for a 20 percent cut; they're asking for priorities with a mind toward worst case scenarios.

Every county department head should already have been doing that. If Arpaio and Hoskins can't identify ways they could cut budgets while minimizing impact, they're guilty of dereliction of duty.