Headline and copy used in story given to the Prescott Courier and Verde Independent contain same words and same misleading information
Those critics who were suspicious that Yavapai College was attempting to influence the outcome of the District One Governing Board election for Ray Sigafoos when it issued a press release to the Prescott Courier about a Governing Board decision to apply excess revenue to reduce bond payments obtained more evidence supporting them on Sunday, October 14, 2018. They pointed to a story appearing in the Verde Independent on that date apparently provided by the College.
The story in the Independent generated suspicion because it contained the identical headline and identical copy as the one issued to the Prescott Courier a couple days earlier. The story quoted only Ray Sigafoos, who is in a heated political campaign with Wayne Meddaugh for the Governing Board seat in that district. Sigafoos is trying to shake the fact that he has voted for tax rate increases whenever the College asked for them for more than a decade. The story provides, critics say, some cover for Sigafoos in the highly political issue of tax rate increases in the Prescott area.
The story is also inaccurate in that it says the $4.8 million is a “bond payoff.” Actually, the $4.8 million reduced the outstanding bond obligation, it did not pay of the bond entirely.
The $4.8 million is the result of a failed project undertaken by the College and Northern Arizona University at the Prescott Valley government complex. The College has never indicated why the project failed. The money is a refund of sorts related to the cost of classrooms, parking lot, etc. at the complex that was constructed and paid for by the College around 2007-08.
You may view the story released by the College in the Verde Independent by clicking here.