West County Voting-Bloc unanimous in support; East County representatives oppose; McCaslin explains reasons; Harris mum on reason for opposition
As expected, the West County Voting-bloc approved a 2% primary property tax increase at the Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, May 8. The two representatives from the east side of the County, Deb McCasland, and Connie Harris, opposed the tax increase. McCasland argued the tax rate increase would support unnecessary construction and ignored the $4.4 million the Community College just received from the sale of property to the Town of Prescott Valley. The College decided to raise the tax rate rather than use any of the $4.4 million to pay for capital projects in this year’s budget. Connie Harris, the third District representative, did not explain the reasons for her opposition to the tax.
McCaslin said that it was impossible for her to tell voters and college donors that the money was needed by the Community College.
This was the fifth primary tax rate increase approved by the Governing Board the last 10 years. The last increase was approved by the West County Voting-Bloc in 2015. At that time, both East County representatives voted against the tax increase.
All of the citizens who spoke at the public meeting called to discuss the tax increase opposed it in some form.
The Yavapai Community College Governing Board will hold a series of tax and budget hearings beginning at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The meetings will be held in building 19 – 147, which is a change from the normal location of meetings on the Prescott Campus.
After surveying the Yavapai Community College Governing Board members at the April 2018 meeting, the College Administration has enough votes to increase the County property tax rate by at least 2%. In February 2018 the Board had voted 4-1 (McCasland dissenting) to increased tuition by 5%. The increases will generate at least $1,504,600 in new revenue flowing to the College. 
It is of interest that when Yavapai Community College released its press report explaining what took place at the January 16, 2018 Governing Board meeting there was no mention of Wills’ request for a 4% tax rate hike (or 5% tuition increase). But for the Blog and the videotape of the meeting, Yavapai residents would be completely in the dark about her tax rate request. As of this date, there have been no local newspaper accounts of the tax rate request and the Governing Board reaction to it.
The Wills’ administration, in preliminary talks about the 2018-19 budget at the Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, January 16, sought large increases in revenue flowing to the College. The Administration suggested a four percent increase in the Yavapai County Property Tax rate. It also suggested a five percent student tuition increase for 2018-19.