Arizona's redrawn congressional and legislative districts are costing taxpayers plenty as legal bills for challenges to the redistricting commission's work add up.
The Arizona Republic reports that records indicate the costs so far total $1.4 million, including $1.3 million paid by the commission for itself or its appointed members.
Several Republican-backed lawsuits seeking to overturn the maps drawn by the commission are still being contested in court, so more costs will be incurred. Those lawsuits center on various disputed claims, including that the commission favored Democrats and gave short shrift to constitutionally mandated redistricting criteria.
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission was created by voters in 2000 to take redistricting out of the hands of the Legislature and the governor.
Arizona added a ninth congressional district based on the 2010 census, and its 30 legislative districts also were redrawn because of population shifts.
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