Money could but won’t be used for educational programming, paying down existing bonds, or scholarships
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board voted 4-1 to move $2 million from the General Fund to the Capital Accumulation Fund at its September meeting. The money will be applied to capital improvement plans and deferred maintenance over the next five years.
Representative Deb McCasland asked whether the money could have been used for other purposes such as scholarships and paying down the bond. She noted that when the Board voted 3-2 to raise taxes in May 2018 the College claimed it needed the increase to provide a little over $900,000 annually in new funding. McCasland wanted to know whether the two million could also have been used to meet those expenditures?
Vice President Clint Ewell admitted that the two million dollars could be used for educational and other projects. However, he noted that the Board had approved various capital improvement projects in the spring 2018 and the College needed this money to support those projects. Ms. McCasland had voted against the budget containing a long list of capital projects in the Spring 2018.
Ewell also said the two million dollars would cover only the next two years and that the College needed the tax rate increase to fund ongoing projects.
The process used by the College to transfer the money from the General Fund to the Capital Accumulation Fund allows it to avoid certain spending limitations placed on community colleges several years ago.
An edited clip of the conversation at the Board meeting follows below. You may view the entire discussion by clicking here and going to the College Governing Board web site where the entire meeting appears on videotape.
Accountant and local realtor Robb Witt says the 73,000 residents of East Yavapai County may be short-changed $12 million a year by Yavapai Community College. He arrived at his conclusion with the help of Tax Assessor Judd Simmons and budgetary material posted by the College.
Clarkdale resident Kerry Olson expressed concern with Yavapai Community College raising taxes and providing “less services” in a letter to editor of the Verde Independent June 28, 2018 (online). She also asked about how the revenue from the sale of wine was being used.
Second District Yavapai Community College representative Deb McCasland listed her concerns with the actions of the Governing Board at the May meeting in the Verde Independent newspaper “My Turn” column May 15. Among the many concerns was the majority on the Board essentially snubbing the public who spoke, all of whom opposed the increase. She wrote that it was difficult for her to understand “how the other board members can disregard the numerous comments from concerned citizens.” 
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.
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.