GOVERNING BOARD PREPARED TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 2% IN MAY

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 20th, 2018

Although enrollment flat, College to receive $896,100 in new tax revenue and $608,500 in new tuition revenue ($1,504,600) –– Total tax revenue going to the College next year is $50,628,300; total tuition is $11,355,000; $4 million windfall to be banked

After surveying the Yavapai Community College Governing Board members at the April 2018 meeting, the College Administration has enough votes to increase the County property tax rate by at least 2%.  In February 2018 the Board had voted 4-1 (McCasland dissenting) to increased tuition by 5%. The increases will generate at least $1,504,600 in new revenue flowing to the College. 

The increases will be approved despite the fact that the College received a windfall of $4 million from the sale of its teaching facilities at the Prescott library.  It was once hoped that Yavapai College and Northern Arizona University would jointly operate the three-year experimental degree program at the library.  However, those plans evaporated when NAU hired a new president.  Per an agreement with the town of Prescott Valley the $4 million investment by the College in the town library is being returned.

Categories : Budget, Taxes

IS YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE $87 PER CREDIT FEE A FALLACY? ALL V’ACTE COURSES RECEIVING COLLEGE CREDIT TO CHARGE $110 PER CREDIT HOUR ($23 MORE)

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, April 15th, 2018

Fee agreement to be approved at April Governing Board meeting

A new fee agreement between Yavapai Community College and the Valley Academy for Career and Technical Education (V’ACTE) will be approved at the April Governing Board meeting setting all fees for V’ACTE courses  operated in conjunction with the College at the Tier 3 level.  This means that with one exception, the widely advertised rate of $87 per credit hour for Community College courses set for next year will not apply.  Instead, students will be paying the maximum of $110 per credit hour.  This gives the College an extra $23 per credit hour for each student the signs up.

The fee chart released by the College to the Governing Board showing the fee agreement follows below.

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Categories : Career and Technical Education, Verde Campus

COLLEGE RECEIVES $21,000 GRANT TO PAY FOR INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, April 15th, 2018

CTEC Appears to be Major Benefactor

The Yavapai Community College has received a $21,000 education grant from the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation.  According to CTEC Dean John Morgan, “this grant will help students work in a paid internship while they are taking college classes, ultimately leading to better opportunities for gainful employment in high-wage, high-demand jobs upon degree or certificate completion.”

The College says it will use the grant to expand its advanced manufacturing internship program to students pursuing electronics, 3-D printing, welding, diesel technician, and automotive technician certifications.  The College indicated its industry partners include: RISA Wearables, Inc. (Prescott), Toro manufacturing, Bent River Machine (Clarkdale), and Branchman’s Paint and Body.

The goal of the project is to build long-term partnerships with businesses and industry partners that hire into middle skills positions in the region.

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Categories : Career and Technical Education, CTEC, Grants

DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 17 AT 1 PM

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, April 14th, 2018

Meeting to be held at Career and Technical Education Center at the Prescott airport

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, April 17 at 1 PM.  The meeting will be held at the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), 220 Ruger Rd., Prescott, AZ.  CTEC is located at the Prescott airport.

The meeting is open to the public and the public is encouraged to speak to the Board during Open Call.  Open Call allows a citizen to address the board for a total of three minutes on any subject.  Open Call normally occurs during the first 15 minutes of a board meeting.

 

Categories : Meeting Notice

YAVAPAI COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION SEEKS 2% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AT MAY 8 MEETING

By R. Oliphant
Friday, April 13th, 2018

After resistance from three members of the Governing Board (Sigafoos, McCarver, McCasland) at January 2018 meeting when 4% increase suggested, Administrators moving forward with 2% rate increase request

The Yavapai Community College formally has announced that it will seek a 2% property tax increase at the May 8, 2018 Governing Board meeting.  It made the announcement in the news media April 13, 2018.  (See, for example, The Verde Independent, dated Friday, April 13, 2018.)  The Governing Board representatives have not held public meetings in their districts to discuss the proposed rate increase and apparently do not intend to do so.

The College will ask for a 2% increase in primary property taxes, which will produce revenue of about $896,100 annually.  The College indicated in January 2018 it wanted a 4% tax rate increase to accompany a 5% tuition increase.  Chair Ray Sigafoos, and Board members Deb McCarver and Deb McCasland indicated a proposed 4% property tax increase was not acceptable.  However, the Board approved a 5% tuition increase at its February 2018 meeting 4 – 1 (McCasland dissenting). 

The Governing Board last approved a tax rate increase in 2015 (3 – 2).  There was unanimous opposition from the two Verde Valley representatives (Al Filardo, Deb McCasland) to that property tax rate increase.  There was also unanimous opposition from the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee, which had representatives spread throughout the East side of the County.  The opposition made no difference to West-County Board members Sigafoos, McCarver, and Steve Irwin.

A video summary of the Board reaction in January 2018 to the proposed 4% property tax increase follows.

Categories : Budget

COLLEGE CANCELS PRIVATE, INVITATION ONLY POLITICAL GATHERING OF MAYORS AND OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF COLLEGE

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, April 12th, 2018

Claims lack of attendance required canceling and rescheduling for future date

Yavapai Community College canceled the invitation only private political gatherings of mayors and other political figures scheduled for April 12 in Prescott and April 13 at the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale.  The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the future of the Community College in Yavapai County.  The Chair of the Governing Board indicated it was necessary to cancel the meetings because of expected sparse attendance.

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Categories : Politics

NEW FINANCIAL ESTIMATE SUGGESTS VERDE VALLEY (INCLUDING SEDONA) TAXPAYERS AS COLLEGE EQUITY OWNERS SHOULD RECEIVE UP TO $24 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS

By R. Oliphant
Sunday, April 8th, 2018

Unfortunately, College spends only $7.5 million — not $24 million — in the Verde Valley leaving millions on the table for West County use

A new in-depth financial estimate conducted by accountant and realtor Mr. Rob Witt suggests that the Verde Valley (including Sedona) as equity owners of the College should receive about $24 million annually for development, maintenance, and operations of the Verde Campus in Clarkdale and the Sedona Center. He says that the Blog report showing that the Verde Valley property taxpayers provide $14.7 million in property taxes is correct. However, he argues that this figure is far below what the Valley taxpayers should receive as equity owners in the College. He puts that figure at $24 million. 

Recall that the College annually collects $14.7 million in property taxes in the Verde Valley and there is general agreement the College spends only $7.5 million of that money in the Verde Valley. This leaves $7.2 million left over in property taxes alone.  (Note that over a two-year period 2016-17 the College invested about $2.5 to $3 million in capital improvements in each of those two years to renovate the Sedona Center.) Mr. Witt points out that there are millions of dollars in non-property tax revenue flowing to the College that are generated by Verde Valley students and families such as tuition, state aid, federal aid, grants and gifts.

Here is Mr. Witt’s equity argument: “When you summarize the property tax estimate from the East Valley, the Blog’s percentage is correct, however, by leaving off the East Valley’s percent of other revenue sources the Blog is significantly undervaluing the East Valley contribution. From an accounting standpoint, I look at the College budget like equity ownership. East County taxes fund 30% of the College Special District. This equates to 30% of the revenues and 30% of the expenses. The budget revenue is $82 million so the East County’s return should be 30% of that figure or $24 million.”

Mr. Witt has written to the College asking for a response to his detailed analysis with a spreadsheet in support of it. His spreadsheet is not included in this Blog. So far, he has not heard from the College.

Categories : Budget, Politics

“DEMOCRACY DIES IN THE DARK” AS COLLEGE BARS PUBLIC AND PRESS FROM POLITICAL GATHERING ABOUT FUTURE OF THE COLLEGE

By R. Oliphant
Saturday, April 7th, 2018

April 13 invitation only forum at the Community Room, Verde Valley Campus, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. intended to hide views of politicos from public so College can later spin its views on the gathering

Commentary

Yavapai Community College has remained committed to baring the press and public from observing a gathering of local political figures about the future of the College that will be held April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the Verde Valley Campus. It has gone so far as to put together a secret list of invitees it will share with no one. It includes mayors and other elected officials from the East County. 

The College, which will control the agenda and the information supplied to the politicos, is frightened that observers and the press may challenge the accuracy and/or truthfulness of the  information it hands out during the meeting after it is closed out.  Therefore, the gathering must be protected from public and press scrutiny.

Third District Governing Board member, Connie Harris, thinks keeping the meeting hidden from the public and the press is a good idea. She said during a Board meeting that such a forum provides a place for “safe with anonymous feedback.”

Running these types of meetings reveals just how little President Wills actually believes in her claim that the College must be transparent.

Categories : Politics

FREE CATTYWAMPUS LIVE CONCERT AT MABERY PAVILION GREAT; ATTENDANCE PALTRY

By R. Oliphant
Thursday, April 5th, 2018

Events on Verde Valley campus need enhanced advertising if they are to be successful

The musical Cattywampus group performed Wednesday evening,  April 4 at the Mabery Pavilion as a part of the Verde Valley Campus spring events open to the public.  The event, which was free, attracted a small but enthusiastic audience of from two to three dozen persons.  The event was not well advertised.

Cattywampus has been described as an innovative musical collaboration consisting of Christy Fisher (keyboard/ukulele/vocals), Tina Reichow (percussion/melodica/vocals), Tanya Sulatyski (sound effects/guitar/vocals), and Keith Smith (lead ukulele). Christy, Tina, and Keith all met as members of the Jerome Ukulele Orchestra. Tanya is a visual artist in the Sedona area. Known for their “twisted covers and originals”, their music ranges from Aretha Franklin to Led Zeppelin and all points in between.

Categories : Event, Verde campus events

PRESCOTT OPENS REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER COLLEGE FOR KIDS PROGRAM MARCH 20; VERDE CAMPUS BEGINS REGISTRATION MAY 1

By R. Oliphant
Wednesday, April 4th, 2018

Prescott offers 34 courses; Verde has 13 listed so far but more expected; scholarships available and should be applied for before May 10

The enormously successful College for Kids program held in the summer on the Yavapai Community College Verde Campus will open registration May 1.  Registration has already opened on the Prescott side of Mingus Mountain for the Prescott Campus College for Kids summer program.

Significant numbers of scholarships based on financial need are available for the Verde College for Kids classes! Applications to complete when applying for scholarship will be available April 15, 2018 and must be filed by May 10, 2018 for full consideration.  Please go to the Verde Valley  Yavapai Community College Campus College for Kids website by clicking on the following link  to obtain more information and an application form.

Recall that President Penelope Wills was  surprised by the huge enrollment on the Verde Campus for last year’s College for Kids summer program of nearly “1,000” students.  By comparison, there were only 354 students enrolled on the Prescott side where there is double the population.

It is anticipated that more courses will be added to the curriculum by May 1 on the Verde Campus.

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Categories : College for Kids
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