AS ANTICIPATED, YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD RAISES COUNTY PRIMARY PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 5% AT TUESDAY’S MEETING

Vote was 4-1 with only public opposition coming from four residents from the Verde Valley; Verde Valley Third District Representative joins West County in approving the measure

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board raised the County primary property tax rate by 5% at its meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Despite the proposed tax increase, public interest in the meeting was minimal, with only four residents from the Verde Valley expressing concerns.

The only Board member dissenting from the increase was Mr. Chris Kuknyo, the Board Secretary, and District 4 representative. He did not explain his vote at the time of the vote but said he would do so later.

Board members essentially justified their vote for the increase by citing inflation and the fact that the property tax rate had not been raised by the Community College for the past four years. Their rationale primarily revolved around these factors.

Unlike school districts, community colleges in Arizona possess a distinctive authority granted by state law to independently raise the property tax rate through the District Governing Board without requiring public election approval. It takes only a majority of the five member Board to approve an increase.