After public appeals, Pima County supervisors direct administrator to meet with IDA board over mortgage-assistance funds

The Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously directed the county administrator on May 21 to meet with the five current members of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) board, the chief executives of three affiliate nonprofit organizations, and legal counsel to review governance and fiscal responsibility related to approximately $45 million in mortgage-assistance funds.

Action followed lively public comment: IDA members and counsel urged the supervisors to delay any wholesale removal of the authority’s board and to engage in discussion. Max Larnard, general counsel for the IDA, warned that abruptly removing the entire board would “create significant disruption” and urged a collaborative approach while the IDA implements reforms such as new conflict-of-interest policies and contract renegotiations.

Why it matters: the IDA oversees conduit financing and supports several housing-related nonprofit affiliates. The board’s direction does not itself remove directors; rather, it instructs county staff to follow up, gather information, and report back in time for any action related to availability of the mortgage-assistance funds before the end of the month.

Representative evidence and outcome
- Motion: supervisors moved and passed a directive directing the county administrator to meet with IDA leadership and affiliate counsel to ensure fiscal responsibility and access to ~$45 million in mortgage-assistance funding; roll call vote recorded and motion passed 5-0.
- Public comments: IDA board members described reforms in progress, including hiring new counsel and establishing stricter professional conduct guidelines for board members; they requested the board engage with them before taking removal action.

Representative quote
“The proposed action to remove all current directors is a wholesale approach to issues that are better addressed thoughtfully and collaboratively,” Max Larnard, general counsel for the IDA, told the board.

Next steps: the county administrator will meet with the IDA board, affiliate CEOs and legal counsel and will report back to the Board of Supervisors in time for any action the board wishes to take before the end of the month.