(Photo courtesy of the city of Jean Bishop)

Mohave County Supervisor Jean Bishop

The recent departure of a member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors could kill a plan to raise property taxes this year.

Among other things, the tax hike would help pay for ongoing death penalty cases, and pump cash into the Sheriff’s Office for much-needed raises.

Former Supervisor Steve Moss backed the increase as part of the tentative budget passed in June. But Moss recently resigned because he was appointed to be a superior court judge.

Now the Board appears evenly split, and several ties on an upcoming final budget vote could kill the plan to raise property taxes.

The Sheriff’s Office has been plagued by attrition for years, as droves of senior deputies have fled for higher-paying jobs.

Raises funded by a property tax increase would bolster morale for sergeants and lieutenants, said Supervisor Jean Bishop, who supports the plan.

“If you’re supervising 10 deputies that are making more money than you, it doesn’t feel good.” Bishop said. “And it’s not right.”

The board could tap internal funds for raises, and to also cover costs associated with capital murder cases, Bishop said. But if that happens, libraries or the health department could end up on the chopping block.

“There’s areas that we provide services to the public that we’re not mandated by state law,” Bishop said. “And those would be looked at in the realm of making cuts or even eliminating.”

The board is scheduled to vote on the final budget on Aug. 7.