First District Representative Sigafoos lauds employees for their work; says not giving employees 3% increase will send money to contingency fund, “which is not the right thing to do”

First District Representative Ray Sigafoos

First District Yavapai Community College Governing Board representative Ray Sigafoos voted to approve the  Community College’s $92.9 million budget at the May Board meeting. The budget included a 3% across-the-board increase for faculty and staff.

In his remarks about the 3% raise, he noted his 40 years experience as a member of some educational Board in higher education and his 16 years on the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board.  He commented that the Yavapai Community College’s Board does not run the Community College.  He emphasized that this is the job of the President.

He also said that it was “convenient, and also political, to posture about the taxpayer’s money.”  However, he argued that a “good bit” of the taxpayer money was spent on employees, who are delivering the “kind of education we celebrate.”  He also argued that taxpayer money was going to support taxpayer programs themselves including continuing education and other kinds of culturally related programs.

He argued that the role of the Governing Board is to represent all of Yavapai County, not section by section. He noted that the Board has set up a contingency fund in the proposed budget without a tax rate increase or an increase in tuition and fees.  He concluded that not approving the salary increase would add those funds to the already established contingency fund, which he said was “not right.”

You may view a video clip of Mr. Sigafoos speech to the Governing Board at its May meeting below.  You may also view the entire May Governing Board proceedings by going to the Governing Board website.

Fourth  District Representative Kuknyo rejects  approving budget indicating significant concern with not awarding employee salary increases using merit

Fourth District Governing Board Member Mr. Chris Kukyno

Fourth  District Representative Chris Kuknyo  voted to reject approval of the  Community College’s $92.9 million budget at the Board’s May meeting. The budget included a 3% across the board increase for faculty and staff.  He suggested several reasons for his “no” vote on the budget with a primary one being the absence of using merit for employee salary increases.

Mr. Kuknyo indicated that while he opposed the current request for an across the board employee salary increase, he was not against increasing individual wages based on merit.

He also lauded the College for its transparency in providing the public with information and with president Lisa Rhine’s work.  However, in addition to the merit issue, he believe that the time was not right for a salary increase given the staff received one in July during the pandemic and many members of the community were still financially  struggling.

Mr. Kuknyo noted that the County primary tax rate was not increased by the Board this year and he wanted to keep it as  low as possible in the future. 

You may view a video clip below of Mr. Kuknyo’s speech to the Governing Board at its May meeting below.  You may view the entire proceedings by going to the Governing Board website.

Third District Representative Chevalier  approves budget but urges Administration and Board to address perceived vast inequities in community college development between the East and West sides of County

Third District Representative Paul Chevalier

Third District Representative Paul Chevalier voted to approve the Community College’s $92.9 million budget, which included a 3% across the board increase for faculty and staff.  However, in  prepared remarks delivered at the Governing Board  May budget meeting, he urged  the Board  and the Community College Administration to address the vast inequities in Community College development between the East and West sides of the County.

Mr. Chevalier listed the following as some of his concerns as he urged the Administration to create an aggressive Community College development plan for the East side of the County (Sedona and the Verde Valley) with a population of more than  75,000 residents:

1. Only 13% of students taught by the Community College were taught on the East side even though the East side accounts for one-third of the County population.
2. Three times as many courses are offered on the West side as on the East side. Music and  Performing Arts classes are large and expanding on the West side.  Few, or almost none, can be found on the  East side of the County.
3. In May 2021, Yavapai Community College  awarded 1,550 degrees or certificates on the West side but only 361 on the East side.
4. Serious community college development on the East side of the County will help reduce the current distrust of how resources are allocated as between residents of the East and West sides of the County.
5. Yavapai Community College has 17% of its assets tied up in arts and cultural facilities with almost all of it located on the West side of the County. It spends about 12% of its budget on community arts and culture, an estimated  $10 million, with  almost all of it spent on the West side. 
6. Between 2011 and 2018 Yavapai Community College cut in half the number of classes and teachers on the East side and eliminated almost the entire East side administrative staff as  the West side took control of running the East side remotely.
7. On West side of the County, the Community College in 2019/2020 held 39 public performing arts events and 28 public film events. On the East side it held three performing arts events.  
8. West side has 1,100 seat auditorium; East side has none.
9. The West side of the County will have seven athletic teams, gymnasium, and athletic fields. East side has none. East side taxes help pay for all of the West side’s athletic endeavors.
10. The Community College provides West side retirees with a seven-court tennis complex, an Olympic sized pool and sauna, plus a state-of-the-art Child Care Center. Nothing similar provided on East side to any of its residents.
11. And much more as outlined in his speech.

Mr. Chevalier’s prepared remarks follow.  A video of his presentation to the Governing Board follows the remarks. You may view the entire video of the May Governing Board meeting at the District Governing Board web site. 

MAY BUDGET 

I am going to comment about the inequities between the east side and the west side of the mountain that this budget is funding.

The total number of students taught in classes on the West side in the last pre-pandemic year 2019/2020 were 1,517 versus 229 taught in classes on the east side. That is a ratio of 6.6 to 1. In 2019/2020 only 13% of the students taught in classes were taught on the east side even though the population of the East side is between 30 and 33% of the total county. This month, May 2021, the college awarded a total of 1,550 degrees or certificates on the west side and 361 on the East side. That is a ratio of 4.3 to 1. And yet the total population of the West side is only 2 to 1 that of the East side. The West side CTEC by itself had more students taught in classes than on the entire East side. 

One important reason for this is that over three times as many different courses are offered on the west side as on the East side. As a result, East siders’ have far fewer course choices. Less choice equals fewer students taking classes.

Before the second decade of the 21st century the student population on the East side reached 26% of the total college population. After that it plummeted significantly to just 13% now. 

Between 2011 and 2018 the college cut in half the number of classes and teachers on the east side and eliminated almost the entire east side staff and the West side took control of running the east side remotely. These cuts and staff eliminations made available for west side use millions of dollars of tax money paid by East side taxpayers’.

As a result of these actions relationships between the West side college administration and East siders’ soured. The rift has never mended.

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Chair McCasland lauds faculty and staff for outstanding work during pandemic; argues inflation, among other factors, supports 3% wage increase

Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland

Yavapai Community College Governing Board chair Deb McCasland was a strong, enthusiastic proponent of approving the 2021-22 budget and the 3% across the board increase for faculty and staff.   She indicated she was proud of the fact the $92.9 million budget did not increase student tuition,  increase the County Property Tax rate, and was balanced.

She also pointed out that the budget allowed for the 3% wage increase and still placed several million into the Community College’s cash reserves. 

She said that Prescott Price Index was up 3.3 percent. Other costs including the following were listed by here as increasing and supporting the 3% increase:  Petroleum costs up 49%; Lumber products up over 300%; Car and truck prices up 21%; and new  Government spending was into the trillions. 

Furthermore, she said that  the cost of living in Yavapai County was 4% above national average, which is being driven by the  skyrocketing price of housing.

She emphasized that Community College staff had faced financial challenges over the past year and faithfully and effectively served the students while under enormous stress.  She believed the Community College was now “stronger than ever.” 

You may listen to all of Chair McCasland’ s speech at the May 18 Governing Board meeting below.  Or, you may view it and the entire meeting by going to the Community College web site and clicking on its video. https://yavapai.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=faf8f10c-192d-4a2f-9113-ad2d0006ad04.

(Part 1 of a 5 part series to be presented over the next few weeks of the budgetary views of the Governing Board.) 

No Increase in Property Tax Levy or Tuition; Representative Chris Kuknyo only dissenting vote

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board (DGB) approved the College’s $92.9 million  budget for 2021-2022 at its  May meeting. The vote was  4-to-1 with Mr. Chris Kuknyo dissenting.

 The budget does not include an increase in the property tax levy for Yavapai County residents, which according to the Community College, effectively lowers  the total property tax in Yavapai County for the third consecutive year.

The approved budget also does  not increase tuition costs for students.  This makes the Community College a great value to County residents.  The Community College’s s base tuition rate (there are tiers of rates)  remains at $95 per credit hour for part-time students. Full-time students receive a discount and only pay $1,140 for a 15-credit semester (they get three credits free if they take 15 credits per semester).

The Community College reports in its press release on the budget meeting that its  tuition “is the second-lowest-cost for full-time students in the state and roughly 80% lower than Arizona public universities.”

The Community College also reports that the “approved fiscal year 2021-22 budget totals $92.9 million and is 12.4% more than the current fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. The increase is due primarily to $9.8M in additional grants to be spent in Yavapai County.”

Increased competition, 9% drop in fall 2020 enrollment, no increase authorized by Board accounts for expected loss; College nevertheless will make its $85 million dollar 2021-2022  budget balance

Dr. Clint Ewell

The Yavapai Community College Administration explained to the District Governing Board while discussing the budget that it anticipated a one million dollar drop in student tuition and fees in the 2021-2122 academic year.  Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services,  explained some of the reasons for the drop in a letter to the District Governing Board and the citizens of Yavapai County. 

He wrote, in part: 

Community college enrollments have declined since the depth of the Great Recession of 2011. Typically, as the unemployment rises, displaced workers seek out community colleges to upskill, causing an increase in enrollments. Recently, this trend has begun to be compounded by a shrinking demographic of traditional 18-22 year old, due to a decline in birthrates during the Great Recession. The pandemic displaced many workers, but it also forced colleges to move to online delivery of courses. Not all students were willing or able to make this transition. So even though we hit record highs in unemployment, Fall enrollments declined by 9%.

In Arizona, the decline in enrollments reduces how much public money (eg. property taxes) the College is allowed to spend according to Arizona Constitutional Expenditure Limits.

With the advent of the approved vaccines this Spring, YC believes enrollments will rebound this Fall; however, the College has begun making plans should further reductions in spending become necessary.

In Arizona, the decline in enrollments reduces how much public money (eg. property taxes) the College is allowed to spend according to Arizona Constitutional Expenditure Limits.

With the advent of the approved vaccines this Spring, YC believes enrollments will rebound this Fall; however, the College has begun making plans should further reductions in spending become necessary.

A second challenge has to do with increasing competition. The advent of technology has created more online competitors, both non-profit and for-profit. The pandemic forced virtually all colleges and universities online this past year, further accelerating this trend.

Finally, our Strategic Planning process identified several ways in which student and employer needs and wants have been changing. The College is creating new initiatives needed to address these changes and allow YC to remain relevant in the education marketplace.

Only new expenditure is $200,000 for hiring experts to draft new Campus Master Plan; remaining funds are directed at  projects previously approved

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board approved the Capital Improvement Plan projects budget submitted by the College Administration at it March meeting.  Six of the projects had been approved in previous years for expenditure in this year.  The only new expenditure on the list of approved projects was $200,000 for hiring consultants to develop a new Master Plan for the College.

The Plan was approved unanimously by the Governing Board at the meeting.  There was extensive discussion by the Governing Board led by Mr. Mitch Padilla about developing a Master Plan, which will be  posted next week.

The video clip below contains detailed explanations about the projects, which were the result of careful questioning by Board Chair Deb McCasland of Dr. Clint Ewell who presented the proposal to the Board.

Chair and Board Attorney say that all Community College President need do is meet minimum requirements set by  state statute when making fiscal report; this minimum standard, they say,  is adopted Board policy; Chevalier says more could be provided

Written comments at the January 12 Board meeting by Third District Representative Paul Chevalier, in his response to what is called an “Executive Limitation” report, drew a somewhat fiery response from Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland whose views were  generally supported by the Governing Board Attorney.  Chevalier wrote in part in response to the report that “The College, while not required by the Board to do so, could provide a detailed transparent budget as [do] all the major public entities in our county.” He said because the Community College does not do this, “I am in the dark, so is the public,” about how the College allocates resources.

Chair Deb McCasland argued that Chevalier’s comments were not appropriate because  “we have addressed as a Board the budget format,” which was passed by a majority of the Board, and “we move forward with one voice.”  She also said she was reminding Chavlier “of [his] responsibility as a Board member.”

Chevalier said that the Governing Board policy regarding a financial data report “didn’t prohibit the College president from doing more” than required by the state statute.  He said his comments were an attempt to encourage the president “to do more” when sending the Governing Board a budget.

The Governing Board attorney, Ms. Lynn Adams, said Mr. Chevalier could make a suggestion but not a direction.  Chevalier said he was not making a direction.  Ms. Adams also said that she interpreted Mr. Chevalier’s remarks as meaning the College president did not meet the minimum requirements as set down by the Governing Board for this report. Finally, it appeared that from her perspective,  Mr. Chevalier had a criteria different from that of the Board policy for assessing this report and technically, if she was correct, he should not be using it. 

From the Blog’s perspective, the conversation seemed more about wordsmithing than anything else.  For example, had Mr. Chevalier said in his comments that the President met the state statutory requirements as set out by Governing Board policy, but he would have preferred more information, it would be difficult to challenge because he still has a right to state his own view on the issue. At the same time he is recognizing that the Community College president met the existing Governing Board policy.

In the end, the report was unanimously approved by the Governing Board.  You may view the eight minute back and forth on the issue of providing greater transparency on the College budget in the video clip below.