The Kochise County Government Conference took place on August 14, 2025, covering several important topics such as funding for adult and juvenile probation services, updates to personnel policies, and new smoking regulations.

A significant part of the discussion focused on a $22 million funding proposal for adult probation services. The Court Management Office contributes around 56% of the funding, while Kochise County covers about 35%. It’s crucial for the county to maintain the funding level established in 2020, which is essential for supporting the national probation system. Notably, there is no matching fund requirement; the key approval needed was for the $2 million budgeted for this initiative.

Another critical issue was the revision of policies regarding political activities for appointed officers. This amendment aims to clarify what employees can do in terms of engaging with legislative bodies, particularly emphasizing that such activities should be done with the Supervisory Board’s awareness. The intent is to give employees clearer guidelines on acceptable political conduct.

The meeting also tackled the topic of smoking and vaping in workplace settings. New regulations have been proposed to enhance existing policies, extending the ban on smoking and vaping to certain areas, including county vehicles. Employees are reminded to smoke or vape at a respectful distance from building entrances and exits to reduce exposure to their coworkers.

As the meeting wrapped up, there was a brief mention of upcoming work sessions regarding county roads scheduled for August 19, 2025. These sessions will focus on road-related issues within the county and aim to gather public feedback.

Overall, the discussions reflected the county’s dedication to maintaining essential services while ensuring that clear policies are established concerning employee behavior and public health.