Tuesday Workshop was intended to persuade a majority of Board to increase property taxes
College president Dr. Penelope Wills and her vice presidents were hard at work during Tuesday’s workshop in Prescott with one goal: get at least three members of the District Governing Board to approve the 2 percent tax increase she is demanding.
She already has two of the Board members in her pocket on this issue: Present Chair Pat McCarver, who never saw a tax increase for the College she couldn’t support, and former Chair, Ray Sigafoos, who has supported both tuition and tax increases during his long tenure on the Board, have lined up solidly behind Penelope. Both are well aware that filling the Community College coffers with tax revenue is a boon to the economy on the West side of the County–the areas they represent.
Deb McCasland is most outspoken in opposition to the tax increase; Al Filardo seems to be sitting on the fence, and Steve Irwin is quiet about his intentions. The Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee has unanimous said it opposes a tax increase at this time.
Citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the Penelope Wills tax increase proposal, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 11 a.m. in the Rock House. The Rock House is located on the Yavapai College Prescott Campus, 1100 East Sheldon Street in Prescott.
A vote of three members in favor of the increase puts it automatically into the County property tax collection plate. There is no citizen vote or review possible of the decision.
It is estimated that the proposed tax increase will cause Yavapai community college district’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $183.59 (total taxes that would be owed without the proposed tax increase) to $187.21 (total proposed taxes including the tax increase).
This proposed increase is exclusive of increased primary property taxes received from new construction.