Tells Clarkdale Council that East side of County should bond for it in their JTED District; completely ignores how CTEC was built on west side of County using primary tax money that remains available for east side development
Will Yavapai Community College President Penelope Wills’ view of how revenue for constructing a small Career and Technical Education facility on the east side of Yavapai County influence the Governing Board? Many believe it will. The Blog obtained a recording of her address to the Clarkdale Town Council on April 26, 2016 where this issue was raised. It was discouraging.
According to Wills, the Valley Academy for Career Technical Education should seek a General Obligation Bond to construct a small CTE in its district. “They can bond and it is just within the Verde Valley,” she said.
When she made this statement, Wills ignored the fact that an estimated $15 million in primary tax revenue obtained from County property taxes was used to construct the Career and Technical Education Center on the West side of the County. She also ignored the fact that the College has available to it annually from $6 to $8 million to spend on capital projects. This revenue is generated using County primary property tax revenue. Some of it could easily be used to construct a CTE on the east side of the County were Wills’ and the Governing Board to decide to do so.
Wills was not, of course, speaking for the Governing Board when she addressed the Clarkdale Town Council. One fears, however, that her view will influence the Board and prevent it from using the available capital revenue to construct a small CTE facility on the East side of the County. Or, at least keep any effort at developing such a facility at a minimalist level.
One can hope, of course, that the Governing Board would actually make an independent decision on this important educational issue separate from the harsh and some might say “selfish” views of Wills.
You may listen below to a clip of Wills’ speech to the Clarkdale Town Council where this issue was addressed.