Assessor’s PAL Sign Up Overwhelms Staff

BY SBINSIDER EXCLUSIVE REPORTING: March 15th, 2025

Pinal County Assessor Douglas Wolf brought four of his staff from across Pinal County this past Tuesday to accommodate people who wished to signup for newly introduced PAL program. Two staff were stationed at the Agate Room in HOA2 and two more in the HOA1 Vistas dinning room. From 8AM until about 2:45PM a non-stop line of SaddleBrooke residents waited patiently in line to register their homes.

In all, about 900 residents registered for the protection program. Some in line were frustrated that they did not get through the process before it ended. They will have to drive to Florence as the registration must be in person to prevent fraud. Some residents suggested a bus tour from HOA1 to Florence to assist those that did not make the event.

“We didn’t anticipate as many people as showed up, that is certain, but I want to congratulate my staff and the HOA1 and HOA2 staff who did their best to handle the process,” said Wolf. “Vivian Timian and Darren Shaw’s teams did a heck of a job.

The PAL program was conceived and designed by Assessor Wolf in response to the increasing number of attempted and successful property title thefts across and the state and in Pinal County. “The crimes started about five years ago and as they started to accelerate, our first line of defense was at the Recorder’s office. Then Recorder Virginia Ross, implemented an email alert system when a new document was recorded on a property. But we found that it was not enough to stop a determined fraudster and by putting a hold on an actual parcel number transfer, the owner should have time to intercept.

“If your property is registered with our office, we will do our best reach you to confirm you are actually selling or transferring the parcel, added Wolf. If we do not hear from in 30 days or so, we cannot legally stop it, “added Wolf.

“Our PAL program is the first in Arizona and as far as we know, the first in the US, Wolf said. Newly elected County Attorney Brad Miller has asked our office to send him the names of potential fraudsters and he will prosecute.”

It is our goal to say to criminals, we have the means in place to stop you before a fraud can occur and look elsewhere, added Wolf.

Registration is open any day from 8AM to 5PM in Florence. For more information dial 311 and you can be connected to the Assessor’s office.