The Pima County Board of Supervisors has ushered in a change in leadership and given a nod to fiscal alterations within its administrative structure. In a recent Board meeting held on January 7, Supervisor Rex Scott was tapped to take over as the new Board Chair, with Supervisor Adelita Grijalva stepping into the role of Vice Chair. The transition of roles saw a unanimous 4-0 vote, while a separate vote extended County Administrator Jan Lesher's contract through 2027 with a raise in her compensation, as reported by Pima County's official news release.
The Board settled on a 3-1 vote to extend Lesher's contract. Supervisor Matt Heinz abstained, citing a preference for a heftier salary increase for Lesher. District 2 Supervisor Scott and Grijalva, along with Heinz, are embarking on their second terms after their November re-elections, with Supervisor Steve Christy beginning his third. The Board meeting also marked the occasion for over a dozen County officials who were sworn into their respective offices, including Jennifer Allen, the new face for District 3.
Lesher, who stepped in as interim County Administrator following her predecessor's retirement due to a serious bike accident in 2021, was formally hired in 2022. Her new salary, set at $330,000 a year including benefits, reflects adjustments aimed to parallel those of executives from large neighboring governments like the City of Tucson and Pima Community College, where leaders earn over $325,000 annually. Supervisors Scott and Grijalva have attested that the figure aligns with recommendations from a County consultant's overhaul of the job classification and compensation system.
This contractual increment also includes an annual $6,600 vehicle allowance and $31,000 in deferred compensation, with the two-year contract offering two one-year renewal options. According to the Pima County news release, the Board justified these financial upgrades citing Lesher's extensive experience across city, state, and federal government strata. Nonetheless, the details surrounding the contract were a product of confidential executive session discussions and, as such, remain undisclosed beyond the approved salary provisions and benefits outlined.
