🏢 Silicon Valley Invades the Sonoran: Data Centers Promise Jobs, Demand Infrastructure | BUCKMASTER
Corporate secrecy shrouds major economic development deals while elected officials get "read in" after decisions are made
Based on the Buckmaster Show for 5/30/25, a daily radio show in Tucson, AZ, interviewing local newsmakers. Analysis and opinions are my own.
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🏢💡 Pima County officials talked about big plans and money problems on a radio show. They want to build a computer center that will create good jobs but needs lots of 🚰 pipes. Your family's property taxes will go up a little bit – about $8 per year. 📚 The downtown library is falling apart and might move to an old bank building. The county spends money on early education for little kids, but they might run out 💸 of money in three years. Officials also talked about maybe building 🔫 and bringing back county workers to take care of people in jail 🚔 instead of paying a private company. The reporter forgot to ask some really important questions about whether there's enough money to keep programs going. 🤔
🗝️ Takeaways
🎯 Data center bringing 64 high-paying jobs requires 18 miles of new reclaimed water infrastructure
💰 Property taxes are rising 3.5 cents, but assessments are climbing regardless
📚 Downtown library needs $90 million in deferred maintenance, may relocate to former bank building
🚌 Free bus service debate continues with officials acknowledging fares won't reduce crime
🏠 PEEPS early education program lacks sustainable funding beyond three years
🔫 Hypersonic missile manufacturer potentially joining data center in Southeast Development Corridor
🚔 County considering bringing jail healthcare in-house after 20 years of privatization
🛣️ RTA transportation funding uncertain as 20-year program expires
Memorial Day Musings: Data Centers, Dollars, and Democracy in the Desert
Originally aired Friday, May 30, 2025
On this traditional Memorial Day, Bill Buckmaster donned his finest Hawaiian shirt for what he calls "re-entry week" – a fitting metaphor for both his vacation recovery and Pima County's ongoing re-entry into fiscal reality. Joining him in the Green Things Zocalo Village Studio were two sharp voices in local journalism: Joe Ferguson from the hyper-local Tucson Agenda and Jan Lesher, Pima County Administrator, who served as the Friday focus interview.
What unfolded was a fascinating peek behind the curtain of local governance, where data centers dance with democracy, budgets battle bureaucracy, and our elected officials navigate the treacherous terrain between taxpayer relief and necessary services.
Though, as we'll see, some critical questions about fiscal sustainability went unasked – a missed opportunity that speaks volumes about the cozy relationship (or fear of power) between media and government officials.
Data Centers and Development Dreams: Silicon Valley Comes to the Sonoran
The Southeast Silicon Shuffle
Lesher unveiled the county's latest economic courtship – a data center destined for the Southeast Employment Logistics Center. While NDAs shroud the specifics in corporate secrecy (because transparency is so yesterday), what we do know paints an intriguing picture of modern economic development that prioritizes corporate comfort over community clarity.
"I don't sign one. So I'm not completely read in on all of this," Lesher admitted with the casual tone of someone describing their weekend plans rather than a multi-million-dollar public investment. How reassuring that the county administrator isn't fully briefed on major economic development deals. Nothing could possibly go wrong there.
This digital temple will employ approximately 64 high-paying positions – not exactly the manufacturing renaissance some might envision, but in today's economy, we'll take quality over quantity. Though one has to wonder: high-paying compared to what? Minimum wage?
The real story lies in the infrastructure investment: 18 miles of reclaimed water delivery systems, ensuring these server farms won't compete with your morning shower for precious H2O. "No, no," Lesher emphasized when asked if they'd use drinking water, as if the very suggestion was absurd. Because in a desert experiencing unprecedented drought and climate change, the last thing we'd want is corporations competing with residents for water resources. Oh wait...
"They pay a lot of property tax," Lesher noted with the subtle satisfaction of someone who's balanced too many budgets on the backs of working families while corporations negotiate sweetheart deals. The city-county collaboration required for this venture showcases local government at its cooperative best – assuming, of course, that both sets of elected officials actually get "read in" on the details before rubber-stamping approval.
Ferguson astutely observed: "Both Rex Scott and Adelita Grijalva said that they hadn't been read in on this project yet." Apparently, elected officials are no longer required to learn about major developments affecting their constituents.
Missiles and Manufacturing: Because Peace Wasn't Profitable Enough
More mysteriously, whispers of a hypersonic missile manufacturer have surfaced, courtesy of Senator Kelly's correspondence. While negotiations are still in the early stages, the prospect of defense contractors setting up shop in our desert represents another step in Arizona's military-industrial evolution. Because nothing says "economic development" quite like building weapons designed to kill people more efficiently.
Whether this signals economic opportunity or concerns about militarization depends largely on your perspective regarding America's global weapons exports. Spoiler alert: If you're not a defense contractor or their shareholders, it's probably the latter.
Budget Blues and Taxpayer Tribulations: The Art of Fiscal Sleight-of-Hand
The Three-and-a-Half Cent Conundrum
Lesher delivered relatively good news on the county budget front: property tax increases will hover around a modest 3.5 cents. This makes Blake Morlock’s recent article in the Tucson Sentinel about county taxes not increasing seem contradictory, especially when he states that PCC’s taxes are going up by 2% when, in fact, they are not. Morlock’s been writing a lot of county apologetics lately… I digress.
However, as Ferguson astutely observed, rising property assessments mean your overall tax bill climbs regardless of rate adjustments – a mathematical reality that often escapes public discourse. "Your property taxes are probably going up no matter what," he noted with the weary wisdom of someone who's watched this shell game play out repeatedly.
The real drama emerges around Supervisor Heinz's affordable housing proposal, which would dedicate up to three cents annually for a decade to address our housing crisis. With 116,000 housing units needed countywide, this represents a serious policy addressing a serious problem. The leveraging potential – a 38-to-1 ratio on initial investments – suggests smart spending that multiplies impact.
"This will be the fourth year that Pima County has recognized and put about five million, about five million dollars, in the budget for affordable housing," Lesher explained, her words slightly tangled but her meaning clear. At least someone's trying to address the housing crisis that capitalism created.
Libraries in Limbo: When Books Become Budgetary Burdens
Perhaps most concerning was the revelation regarding the downtown Main Library: $90 million in deferred maintenance on a city-owned building that has already shed a floor's worth of staff. Ninety. Million. Dollars. In deferred maintenance. Let that sink in while you contemplate how many potholes could be filled or teachers hired with that sum.
"We have at least one floor that doesn't even have staff in it at this point," Lesher revealed with the matter-of-fact tone of someone discussing the weather rather than the systematic defunding of public institutions.
The proposed solution – relocating to the old Wells Fargo building – makes fiscal sense, but raises questions about our commitment to maintaining public infrastructure. How poetic that a public library might relocate to a former bank building. From knowledge repositories to money vaults – a perfect metaphor for our societal priorities.
As Lesher noted with characteristic pragmatism, "Is it better to spend money providing library services to the community rather than just fixing that building?" It's a reasonable question that highlights the painful choices facing local government in an era of perpetual underfunding and corporate tax avoidance.
The PEEPS Predicament: A Critical Question Unasked
Here's where Ferguson missed a golden opportunity that would make any progressive journalist weep into their fair-trade coffee. When discussing the PEEPS (Pima Early Education Program), he asked about the three-year plan but failed to probe the underlying fiscal crisis.
"That's what we're really looking at right now, Joe, is just the short period. But it is now, it's pretty well baked into the core of our budget," Lesher responded when asked about long-term sustainability.
What Ferguson should have asked – and what our reporting at Three Sonorans has revealed – is what happens in year four when the library reserves are completely exhausted. The county's own projections show PEEPS running the library fund into a $14 million deficit this fiscal year, draining the entire $38 million reserve by year three. Meanwhile, internal memos suggest not only making PEEPS permanent but expanding it.
"Unless there's a significant policy change on behalf of the board, there's a firm commitment to keep our early education program going," Lesher assured. But firm commitments and fiscal reality often collide with spectacular results, usually involving service cuts and tax increases that working families can't afford.
This represents a classic case of progressive programs being undermined by conservative fiscal structures that prioritize austerity over investment in human potential.
Jails, Justice, and Healthcare: Privatization's Persistent Problems
The county's consideration of bringing inmate healthcare in-house rather than contracting with NaphCARE represents a fascinating study in public versus private service delivery. "Pima County ran it as employees up until, I'm going to say it's about 20 years ago that it began to transition away," Lesher explained.
Twenty years of privatization experiment, and now they're considering bringing it back in-house. Almost as if profit-driven healthcare in correctional facilities doesn't prioritize patient outcomes. Who could have predicted that?
With approximately a year needed for a proper transition, this decision will test whether direct county employment can deliver better outcomes than corporate contractors, who often view human suffering as a profit center.
"The sheriff will tell you that it is also the largest behavioral mental health facility in the community," Lesher noted – a damning indictment of our mental health infrastructure that treats jails as de facto psychiatric hospitals.
Transportation Tribulations: Roads to Nowhere?
RTA's Uncertain Future
The Regional Transportation Authority's 20-year program is set to expire soon, with RTA Next hanging in political limbo. At stake: $24 million annually for unincorporated Pima County projects, but more importantly, regional coordination on transportation infrastructure that serves our entire interconnected community.
As Ferguson noted, "County residents use roads in Marana, Oro Valley, and Tucson. And so this is a bigger hurt to the county than just $24 million at the end of the day."
County Roads: The Pay-As-You-Go Philosophy
After decades of rejected bond measures, the county has shifted to a pay-as-you-go road maintenance program, allocating $25-28 million annually. "We have not been very successful for the last decade or so, 20 years, I'd say, other than we had one successful bond issue in 2014," Lesher admitted.
Animal Welfare and Administrative Achievements: Some Good News in the Gloom
Steve Kozachik's leadership at Pima Animal Care continues to show promise, with expanded partnerships and potential satellite facilities under consideration. "We have over 500 dogs a day. What do we need to do?" Lesher quoted current statistics.
The fact that we're warehousing over 500 dogs daily reflects broader societal issues: inadequate spay/neuter programs, economic hardship forcing pet surrenders, and insufficient funding for animal welfare. But at least someone's trying to address it systematically.
Democratic Dynamics and Electoral Energy: The Grijalva Succession
Congressional Contention
Ferguson provided insight into the increasingly competitive race for Raul Grijalva's congressional seat. "Certainly, Adelita Grijalva and Daniel Hernandez are well-known names in the community, well-recognized. They've both had public years of public service under their belt," he noted, before highlighting challenger Deja Foxx as representing generational change.
The classic establishment-versus-insurgent dynamic that defined the Sanders era continues to play out in local races, with younger candidates challenging inherited political dynasties.
Meanwhile, Republican candidates Daniel Butierrez and Jorge Rivas both "gave very strong endorsements for Trump and had some fairly harsh things to say about our former Congressman" in their Phoenix debate. Because nothing honors a deceased public servant quite like posthumous character assassination.
Municipal Matters and Mayoral Movements
City Budget Balancing
Tucson faces its own fiscal challenges with an $18 million budget shortfall requiring careful cuts and difficult choices. The $14 million investment in public safety reflects post-Proposition 411 priorities, though hiring and retention challenges persist in law enforcement.
"Hiring police officers is a very complicated issue. So you get 20 young men and women into the program, 15 might actually get through the program, and so 10 might only last a year," Ferguson explained. Perhaps the problem isn't recruitment but retention – and maybe that has something to do with systemic issues within policing that money alone can't fix.
The free bus fare debate continues dividing the community, with Ferguson noting: "I think that the buses have always been used by criminals. I think that that's the reality of it. And I'm not entirely sure that if we raise bus fares to a dollar that that necessarily changes anything."
Finally, someone with the courage to state the obvious: charging poor people more for public transportation won't solve crime. Revolutionary thinking in an era of punitive policy-making.
Wrapping Up: Democracy in the Details
This edition reminded us that democracy happens in the details – budget line items, infrastructure investments, and service delivery decisions that rarely make headlines but profoundly impact daily life. From data centers to detention facilities, and library relocations to law enforcement hiring, local governments grapple with complex challenges that require nuanced solutions.
As we've seen, however, some of the most critical questions – such as the fiscal sustainability of beloved programs – often go unasked by journalists who should know better. That's where independent media like Three Sonorans comes in, asking the uncomfortable questions that need answering.
The interplay between county and city operations showcased throughout this program illustrates how regional challenges require regional cooperation. Whether addressing housing shortages, transportation needs, or animal welfare, our interconnected community benefits from coordinated approaches that transcend municipal boundaries.
However, coordination requires honesty about fiscal realities, not wishful thinking that programs will magically fund themselves indefinitely.
Hope and Action: The Path Forward
Despite the fiscal shenanigans and missed journalistic opportunities, genuine hope emerges from dedicated public servants working within flawed systems to serve their communities. When programs like PEEPS face sustainability crises, the solution isn't abandonment, but rather an honest assessment and creative funding solutions that prioritize human needs over corporate profits.
Real change happens when informed citizens engage with local democracy, ask tough questions, and support independent journalism that holds power accountable. Every budget hearing, every council meeting, every editorial board session represents an opportunity to demand better.
Support independent journalism that asks the hard questions others won't. Subscribe to Three Sonorans to keep this critical analysis coming, because democracy dies in darkness – and sometimes in the cozy relationships between reporters and the officials they're supposed to scrutinize.
What Do You Think?
The fiscal sustainability of programs like PEEPS raises critical questions about the balance between long-term planning and immediate needs. Should counties gamble on future revenue growth to fund current programs, or demand sustainable funding before expansion?
How do we strike a balance between corporate incentives for economic development and genuine community benefits? When data centers promise jobs but require massive infrastructure investments, who really wins?
Share your thoughts below – local democracy thrives when engaged citizens demand accountability from both their officials and their media.
Quotes:
"I don't sign one. So I'm not completely read in on all of this." - Jan Lesher, admitting she's not fully briefed on major economic development deals despite being County Administrator
"We have at least one floor that doesn't even have staff in it at this point." - Jan Lesher, describing the deteriorating state of downtown library operations
"Your property taxes are probably going up no matter what." - Joe Ferguson, cutting through political spin about tax rates vs. assessments
"Both Rex Scott and Adelie Grijalva said that they hadn't been read in on this project yet." - Joe Ferguson, revealing how elected officials learn about major developments affecting constituents
"The sheriff will tell you that it is also the largest behavioral mental health facility in the community." - Jan Lesher, describing the county jail's role as de facto psychiatric hospital
"I think that the buses have always been used by criminals." - Joe Ferguson, acknowledging reality about public transportation and crime
People Mentioned:
Bill Buckmaster - Radio host, 15th year on radio, wearing Hawaiian shirt for "re-entry week"
Joe Ferguson - Former Arizona Daily Star reporter, now with Tucson Agenda newsletter
Jan Lesher - Pima County Administrator
Brendan Kraft - Radio show engineer/producer
Rex Scott & Adelita Grijalva - County supervisors not briefed on data center project
Matt Heinz - County supervisor proposing affordable housing funding
Steve Kozachik - Former Tucson city councilman, now heads Pima Animal Care
Amber Mathewson - Retiring library director being replaced
Senator Kelly - Wrote a letter about a hypersonic missile manufacturer
Adelita Grijalva - Congressional candidate, daughter of late Rep. Raul Grijalva
Daniel Hernandez - Congressional candidate with a public service background
Deja Foxx - Young congressional candidate representing "fresh face" politics
Daniel Butierrez & Jorge Rivas - Republican congressional candidates who gave "strong endorsements for Trump"
Mayor Romero - Tucson mayor who recently traveled to Qatar
Kristin Barney - New Humane Society director, former PACC director
Matthew - Caller asking about homeless funding and jail repairs
Have a scoop or a story you want us to follow up on? Send us a message!
😮
This mess is what we get when the senior administrator isn't "into budgets" and the elected County Supervisors and City Councilors aren't either.
So there are no priorities and the money gets spent on whatever until the money runs out!
We need to start electing people who have basic arithmetic skills and enough interest to set priorities for the budget, pay attention and ask questions