Assuming reported claims about the meeting are correct, at least $28.8 million of Sedona/Verde Valley taxes have been shipped over Mingus Mountain to Prescott for use in their development projects during the last dozen years, which is considered by Prescott administrators as “equitable”

According to various sources, Yavapai Community College claimed at the private meeting held with local politicos March 22 that on average it annually on average receives around $15.3 million in cash from Sedona/Verde Valley. Of that amount, and according to the sources, on average over a 12 year period the College claims  it spends about  $12.9 million annually in Sedona/Verde Valley.

Assuming that these College figures are relatively accurate, they show that at least $2.4 million of Sedona/Verde funds are  being shipped to the Prescott side of Mingus Mountain each year where they are invested in projects primarily for use over there.

Moreover, if this data is correct, over the past 12 years Sedona and the Verde Valley taxpayers have contributed $28.8 million in cash to the Prescott Community College executives that has been used for  investments on that side of the Mingus.

The Community College administrators apparently believe that this is “equitable.”

The Blog notes that various documents supporting the  alleged equity claim were floated by the College among the local politicians at the private Sedona meeting. Curiously, the College had an opportunity to openly introduce these documents to the general public during the regular Board meeting  on Tuesday preceding the private meeting because the preliminary capital budget was an agenda item along with  consulting reports on the 8-10 year future development plan.  However, the College did not choose to do so. Why not?

The Blog also notes that meetings such as the private one held March 22 with local officials raise serious accountability issues associated with public officials whose salaries are paid by taxpayers. One cannot help but be somewhat curious where taxpayer paid officials hold  meetings  outside a legally announced executive session where the public is barred, no minutes are taken, and no audio or video record is provided. Moreover, such meetings make a mockery of claims by public officials that  they are open and transparent about how public funds are being used.

Development plan adopted 4-1 by Governing Board in December 2013 with phases one and two shown below unequivocally anticipates the sale of the Sedona Center and leasing property in Sedona

When the Governing Board began a brief discussion at the March 22, 2022 Governing Board meeting about efficiency, too much space, closing campuses, centers, etc.,  it is no wonder that the Sedona/Verde Valley representative Paul Chevalier was immediately moved to react strongly. 

After all, it was only eight years ago that the same Governing Board (with only one member from the 2014 Board still on it) that voted to sell the Sedona Center.

For proof, one need only look at the charts prepared for the Governing Board back in 2013-14  showing the sale. They are reproduced below.

You might note  the enormous amount of money the Governing Board was prepared to use on the Prescott area improvements when compared to Sedona/Verde Valley.  The charts are the clearest evidence of the mindset of the Governing Board at the time of where and how money was to be allocated.  The east side of the County was not seriously considered.