Wills’ seeks 6th property tax increase in the last ten years
President Penelope Wills’ is pushing hard for a property tax increase. In her most recent report to the Governing Board, she is asking for a new tax levy at 2.0% above the current year’s levy. This increase plus new construction taxes means the College will see an increase of $1,413,900 over the current year’s levy. This amounts to a 3.4% increase over the current year’s levy of $41,253,800. The primary tax rate is projected to increase from 1.8606 per $100 of net assessed property value to 1.8721 per $100 of net assessed property.
The Wills’ administration will do a lot of serious arm twisting to ensure it gets the tax increase at the Governing Board Work Session to be held next Tuesday, May 19 on the Prescott Campus in Building 32, room 119. If successful, the Board will vote to approve the property tax increase at its June meeting and taxpayers will have no recourse to challenge the decision. The meeting can also be seen and heard on the Verde Valley Campus, room G-103 (video conf).
The Committee was appointed by local and County officials to advise the District Governing Board. The District Governing Board will decide whether to raise property taxes by at least 2 percent at its June meeting.
This is a particularly important new program because it is intended to pave the path for students who express interest in college but for various reasons might never make it. The College is covering all instructional costs, which have been estimated by Verde Campus Perey at $1,500 to $2,000 per student. Students who complete the summer session will receive regular college credit for the courses they take. It is too bad that all of the slots were not filled for this program. 
Enrollment for the Fall, 2015 semester remains about flat, according to Executive Dean Dr. James Perey. There are about 15 more students enrolled than a year ago, although the exact enrollment number will not be established until July 15, when tuition payments for the semester are due. Dean Perey shared this information with the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee at its May 6 meeting.
The Yavapai College Foundation, not the College, will now prepare and submit a proposal that will include a wide range of academic, agricultural, educational, and community programs that fit the property, are consistent with the college’s mission and would serve the Verde Valley and the rest of Yavapai County.
It’s not clear whether the surprise announcement of the secret meeting to be held Wednesday at noon by the District Governing Board is a tax stunt or a serious effort to develop the Yavapai Community College in the Verde Valley. All that is known at this time is that the Board is to meet in secret at noon to discuss the purchase of some property somewhere in the Verde Valley. 
The concert was given by the Mingus Union High School Jazz band, the Yavapai College Roughriders Jazz band, and the Yavapai College Trailblazers Jazz band. Those in the audience thoroughly enjoyed the concert.