FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino Community College District Governing Board voted to move forward with an election to reset the primary property tax rate for the community college district.The issue was voted on by the board members during the board’s Dec. 8 meeting.
The special election is scheduled for May 17, 2022. The election was made possible by the Arizona Legislature in 2018 with the amended Arizona Revised Statute 42-17056 to permit CCC to resubmit a proposed property tax levy for approval by the voters in an amount less than or equal to two times the otherwise authorized levy amount.
“This legislation was designed by Senator Sylvia Allen after she attended our Commencement and was amazed by the stories of our students and the challenges they overcame to earn their education. She let me know that she was aware that the tax rate to support CCC was below all of the other community colleges in the state of Arizona and that she believed something should be done about that,” said CCC President Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D. “She was successful in taking her idea forward and it was then signed into law by the governor. If the voters approve, the tax rate will still be below all of the other community colleges; however, it will provide an opportunity to meet many of the demands for career and technical programs and short-term training requested by business and industry throughout Coconino County.”
“Local pressure is ever increasing for new areas of workforce training and advanced general education,” said DGB Chair Nathaniel White, Ph.D. “The basic funding source for Coconino Community College is through the county primary tax dedicated to the college and initially set when the taxing district was formed 30 years ago. Our tax rate is the lowest in the state by nearly three times. Balancing fiscal responsibility with the need and opportunities for serving Coconino County, the DGB has elected to provide the citizens a chance to reset the primary tax rate. The new rate would still remain the lowest in the state and yet provide dependable funding to fulfill the college’s mission.”
White added that a political action committee, “Supporters for a Thriving CCC,” has retained the consulting services of Strategies 360 to assist the PAC in the election effort.
The board resolution seeks to reset the primary property tax levy in an amount of $14,715,587 beginning in tax year 2022. According to the resolution, the funding is intended for, but is not limited to, the following programs:
- Initiate new career, technical education, and training programs that prepare Coconino County residents for jobs in Coconino County.
- Develop new programs to support veterans’ training for civilian jobs.
- Develop new programs to train and re-train Coconino County workers, in collaboration with Coconino County employers and expand current job training programs.
- Continue and expand career and technical education programs established with one-time funding:
- Automotive Technology
- CDL (Truck Driving)
- Early Childhood Education Certificate (Preschool Teachers)
- Assisted Living Caregiver Certificate
- Google IT Support Professional Certificate
- Amazon Web Services Certificate
- Cyber Security Associate of Applied Science
- Increased Number of Students in Nursing Program
- Marine Maintenance Technician
- Welding Certification
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
- Expand career and technical training degree and certificate programs:
- Additional Healthcare Programs
- Ultrasound/Sonography Technician
- Surgical Technician
- Respiratory Therapist
- Anesthesia Technician
- Electric Car and Charging Station Technician
- Manufacturing Technology
- Police Academy
- Paramedic
- Expand the scholarship program.
- Enhance educational services throughout Coconino County, including communities such as Page, Tuba City, and Williams.
Additional rationale for the tax reset is also spelled out in the resolution, which includes a drop in state aid and a current property tax rate levy of 0.43 per $100 in assessed valuation that is the lowest in the state and a fraction of the primary tax rate for other similar-sized community college districts in Arizona.
For more information about Coconino Community College, visit www.coconino.edu.
About Coconino Community College
CCC has served residents across 18,000 square miles of Coconino County since 1991. The College has the goal of improving the lives of our residents through workforce development and higher education.
CCC provides affordable tuition and offers certificate programs and two-year associate degrees in academic and career fields. CCC also has programs that ease student transition to any of the three state universities, including the award-winning CCC2NAU.
CCC reaches out to the more rural portions of the County and Tribal Lands. Instructional sites offer classes through online, in-person and Zoom video conferencing classes to meet the needs of students in rural and remote areas. On average, 20 percent of CCC’s students are Native American learners.