The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this morning to refer Republican Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller’s office to the Arizona Attorney General for investigation over alleged misuse of public funds and a failure to retain public records.

The decision came during a special meeting in which supervisors also approved retroactive compensation for two employees hired by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office without required authorization.

Supervisors said the referral was required after potential violations surfaced during a review of hiring practices within the office.

“These are issues that are handled by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office,” Joseph Kanefield, an attorney with Snell & Wilmer serving as outside counsel to the board, told supervisors. “This would be a referral by the board for the attorney general to review these allegations and determine whether any action is appropriate.”

According to the board, two employees were hired early in Miller’s tenure outside the county’s established hiring process. These two began working without approval from the board or proper authorization. The employees later performed county work and were deemed entitled to compensation for the period in question.

Supervisors approved payments covering the time between when the employees began working and when they became officially authorized county employees.

No amount was discussed in the open meeting today.

“I can’t say the amount, because we don’t know if other issues will arise,” said Supervisor Rich Vitiello (R-Maricopa) after the meeting. 

Board members emphasized that elected officials, including the county attorney, must receive board approval before adding staff or setting compensation.

“I can’t just hire six more employees and pay them what I want,” said board Vice Chairman Jeff Serdy. “All elected offices have to follow the same rules.”

“We’re following federal, state and county policy for employment,” added Vitiello. “You have to go through [human resources] to hire someone. That’s why we’re in this predicament.” 

The unauthorized hiring led to broader concerns, including allegations of public monies and other county resources being spent without approval. The board also alleges that required public records were not properly retained.

Kanefield said once the board became aware of the alleged issues, it had an obligation to act.

“If we don’t report this now that we know about it, it could fall on us as well,” noted Serdy.

Kanefield confirmed.

The board voted unanimously to approve the referral to the office of Democrat Kris Mayes, even as the Arizona House of Representatives passed a resolution yesterday that calls for her resignation. No timeline was provided for the investigation, and supervisors said they would not comment further while the matter is under review.

“Since my election, my office has worked with the county every step of the way. It’s unfortunate — but not surprising — that the Board continues to choose lawfare,” said Miller in a statement to InMaricopa this afternoon. “Our response in the employment case will be filed next week. We will address this where it belongs: in the proper legal venue, not through soundbites or social media.”

While no one would confirm the former employee who made the complaint, the allegations closely align with a notice of claim filed by former aide Beth Goulden. In that claim, she and another employee accuse Miller and his chief of staff of sex discrimination, retaliation and fostering a hostile work environment. The claim alleges Goulden was hired early in Miller’s tenure, promised a six-figure salary that never materialized and later forced to resign after raising concerns about office practices, including the use of encrypted messaging applications to avoid public records requirements. Miller’s office has denied the allegations, calling them baseless. Goulden’s claim asks for $554,000 in back pay and damages.

Goulden declined to comment for InMaricopa.

“I cannot comment at this time based on legal advice,” she said today.

Miller was not present at Friday’s meeting. This week, he is in Washington, D.C., attending the National District Attorneys Association’s 2026 Prosecutor Advocacy Conference. On Tuesday, he met with federal officials regarding his office’s ability to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the federal 287(g) program.

“Yesterday, myself and members of my executive team met with Keith Pearson,” said Miller in a statement on Wednesday. Pearson is a senior counselor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and acts a go-between for federal agencies and local law enforcement. “He confirmed what we already know as to be true: Our Arizona POST-certified investigators working for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office are able to partner with federal law enforcement.”

The Board of Supervisors disagrees. Last week, the board unanimously authorized outside counsel to launch legal action against Miller’s office for joining the agreement without board approval. 

Miller said his office would continue working to partner with federal agencies and to “keep Pinal County safe.”

“We achieve better results when we collaborate, when we share information and when we work as part of a team,” said Miller. “This is what we’re fighting for: to share intelligence and to share information with our federal partners, but most importantly, to keep violent criminals off our streets.”

The meeting on Friday was held at the Pinal County Administrative Complex in Florence.