cheatham/huey v. Diciccio/phoenix Law Enforcement Association

CHIEF JUSTICE BALES,

opinion of the Court:

¶ 1 The Gift Clause of Arizona’s Constitution bars cities and other public entities from “mak[ing] any donation or grant, by subsidy or otherwise, to any individual, association, or corporation.” Ariz. Const, art. 9, § 7. For decades, the City of Phoenix has contracted in collective bargaining agreements with police officers to allow “release time,” that is, to pay officers for certain time spent on behalf of their authorized representative (a police union) rather than regular police duties. We hold that the release time provisions at issue here do not…