After resistance from three members of the Governing Board (Sigafoos, McCarver, McCasland) at January 2018 meeting when 4% increase suggested, Administrators moving forward with 2% rate increase request
The Yavapai Community College formally has announced that it will seek a 2% property tax increase at the May 8, 2018 Governing Board meeting. It made the announcement in the news media April 13, 2018. (See, for example, The Verde Independent, dated Friday, April 13, 2018.) The Governing Board representatives have not held public meetings in their districts to discuss the proposed rate increase and apparently do not intend to do so.
The College will ask for a 2% increase in primary property taxes, which will produce revenue of about $896,100 annually. The College indicated in January 2018 it wanted a 4% tax rate increase to accompany a 5% tuition increase. Chair Ray Sigafoos, and Board members Deb McCarver and Deb McCasland indicated a proposed 4% property tax increase was not acceptable. However, the Board approved a 5% tuition increase at its February 2018 meeting 4 – 1 (McCasland dissenting).
The Governing Board last approved a tax rate increase in 2015 (3 – 2). There was unanimous opposition from the two Verde Valley representatives (Al Filardo, Deb McCasland) to that property tax rate increase. There was also unanimous opposition from the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee, which had representatives spread throughout the East side of the County. The opposition made no difference to West-County Board members Sigafoos, McCarver, and Steve Irwin.
A video summary of the Board reaction in January 2018 to the proposed 4% property tax increase follows.