Coconino may be the second largest county in the country in terms of land size, but it has one of the smallest community colleges in the state.
And because of that, it, like most, often needs a helping hand.
Over the last decade, state funnding to community colleges has decreased by 64 percent — the largest percentage of any state in the country.
To help offset those losses, Coconino Community College is seeking voter approval on the Tuesday, Nov. 6, ballot for a tax override by way of Proposition 417.
Coconino Community College President Colleen Smith appeared before the Sedona City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 11, to give an update on the college and to explain Prop 417 and what it means to the college.
“It’s important to remember that is this not an increase,” she said. “At this current time, Coconino Community College has a regular tax base and then has a secondary tax that is paying off bonds for the facilities. That is paid for, in full, in 2019 and the college will be debt-free.”
She said the college’s Governing Board voted to bring forward an initiative to continue the same amount of tax as an override to be used for programs within the college’s system.
If it passes, the average cost of this tax is 12 cents on $100 of assessed value — less than $3 per month for the average household.
“We would continue to be good stewards of public money if the voters choose to do this,” she said. “Not all of Sedona would be part of this initiative — only the parts of Sedona that are in Coconino County.
“The whole proposition is designed for there not to be an increase on what they see on their [current] tax bill. It’s designed for us to do those things that are so important for a community college to do that we have not had the funding to do.”
This tax would bring in an average of $2,226,000 annually for seven years beginning in 2019, when the current tax is set to expire.
In terms of what Prop 417 means, Smith said it will provide the following:
- Assist veterans in transitioning to civilian jobs.
- Prepare students to be job ready.
- Train or retrain workers to fit employer needs.
- Develop lifelong learning programs.
- Expand educational services throughout the county.
“We’re really trying to meet the needs of the communities in our county,” Smith said. “That’s a big part of what it is community colleges do.”
Coconino may be the second largest county in the country in terms of land size, but it has one of the smallest community colleges in the state. And because of that, it, like most, often needs a helping hand.
Over the last decade, s t a t e f u n d i n g t o community colleges has decreased by 64 percent — the largest percentage of any state in the country.
To help offset those l o s s e s , Co c o n i n o Community College is seeking voter approval on the Tuesday, Nov. 6, ballot for a tax override by way of Proposition 417.
Coconino Community Co l l e g e P r e s i d e n t Colleen Smith appeared before the Sedona City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 11, to give an update on
the college and to explain Prop
417 and what it means to the
college.
“It’s important to remember
that is this not an increase,”
she said. “At this current time,
Coconino Community College
has a regular tax base and then
has a secondary tax that is paying
off bonds for the facilities. That
is paid for, in full, in 2019 and
the college will be debt-free.”
She said the college’s
Governing Board voted to bring
forward an initiative to continue
the same amount of tax as an
override to be used for programs
within the college’s system.
If it passes, the average cost
of this tax is 12 cents on $100
of assessed value — less than
$3 per month for the average
household.
“We would continue to be
good stewards of public money
if the voters choose to do this,”
she said. “Not all of Sedona
would be part of this initiative
— only the parts of Sedona that
are in Coconino County.
“The whole proposition is
designed for there not to be
an increase on what they see
on their [current] tax bill. It’s
designed for us to do those
things that are so important for a
community college to do that we
have not had the funding to do.”
This tax would bring in an
average of $2,226,000 annually
for seven years beginning in
2019, when the current tax is set
to expire.
In terms of what Prop 417
means, Smith said it will provide
the following:
n Assist veterans in transitioning
to civilian jobs.
n Prepare students to be job
ready.
n Train or retrain workers to
fit employer needs.
n Develop lifelong learning
programs.
n Expand educational services
throughout the county.
“We’re really trying to meet
the needs of the communities in
our county,” Smith said. “That’s
a big part of what it is community
colleges do.”
