CCC President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein speaks with community members at the CCC Open House in Page on Oct. 22. Courtesy photo
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College will hold its final Open House from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 to provide information on the upcoming tax override vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The meeting, to be held at Coconino High School, Room 204, is designed to answer questions about the college’s finances.
“The Open House is an opportunity for community members to learn more about the college’s finances and how we are proposing resolving projected budget shortfall of the near future,” CCC President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein stated in a media release.
Open house sessions were held in Tuba City, and at Flagstaff High School, the Page Public Library and the Williams High School Annex.
While the student population at the college has grown to 10,000 since it was founded in 1991, the rate of property taxes to support the college has remained at its 1991 level. In fact, Coconino County maintains the lowest property-tax to college-funding ratio in the state; $40 per every $100,000 of taxable property value goes to the college, college officials reported.
Following recommendations by a Citizens’ Review Panel, the District Governing Board voted unanimously on June 25 to seek a seven-year temporary property tax override. If approved by voters on Nov. 5, the $4.5 million per year property-tax increase would cost $29 per year for a home valued at $100,000 and $50 per year for a home valued at $170,000.
College officials said the institution’s three core missions are: 1. Provide arts and science courses for transfer and transition, including successful transition programs such as High School to CCC and CCC2NAU transition program; 2. Provide career and technical education; 3. Provide workforce training that assists in keeping jobs in Coconino County through business and employee training, customized curricula and partnerships. Visit http://www.coconino.edu for more information.