Chair McCasland lauds faculty and staff for outstanding work during pandemic; argues inflation, among other factors, supports 3% wage increase
Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland
Yavapai Community College Governing Board chair Deb McCasland was a strong, enthusiastic proponent of approving the 2021-22 budget and the 3% across the board increase for faculty and staff. She indicated she was proud of the fact the $92.9 million budget did not increase student tuition, increase the County Property Tax rate, and was balanced.
She also pointed out that the budget allowed for the 3% wage increase and still placed several million into the Community College’s cash reserves.
She said that Prescott Price Index was up 3.3 percent. Other costs including the following were listed by here as increasing and supporting the 3% increase: Petroleum costs up 49%; Lumber products up over 300%; Car and truck prices up 21%; and new Government spending was into the trillions.
Furthermore, she said that the cost of living in Yavapai County was 4% above national average, which is being driven by the skyrocketing price of housing.
She emphasized that Community College staff had faced financial challenges over the past year and faithfully and effectively served the students while under enormous stress. She believed the Community College was now “stronger than ever.”
You may listen to all of Chair McCasland’ s speech at the May 18 Governing Board meeting below. Or, you may view it and the entire meeting by going to the Community College web site and clicking on its video. https://yavapai.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=faf8f10c-192d-4a2f-9113-ad2d0006ad04.
(Part 1 of a 5 part series to be presented over the next few weeks of the budgetary views of the Governing Board.)