Story released to Prescott Courier contained quotes from Sigafoos regarding reducing taxes, an issue that Sigafoos is trying to run from because he has voted for all of the tax increases asked by the College while he was a Board member
A story from Yavapai Community College given to the Prescott Courier has raised questions about whether the College administration was once again trying to influence the outcome of the District Governing Board election. The reason for the suspicion is twofold: First, normally the College puts out a complete report about a Governing Board meeting that is written by staff and contains no quotations from any Board members. It normally does not provide information in a story about one issue discussed during a meeting.
However, the College apparently took the unusual step this time of providing information applauding a decision to use $4 million dollars it received from the failed Prescott Valley/NAU project and the sale of its classrooms at the Prescott Valley City complex to help reduce outstanding bond obligations.
Second, the College not only applauded the Governing Board decision but prominently used quotations only from Ray Sigafoos in it. Sigafoos is being challenged by Wayne Meddaugh for the District One seat on the Board. Critics immediately saw the possible political implication, which is the College linking Sigafoos by name to a reduction in taxes. The story comes on the heels of the College back-peddling from its decision to send out alleged politically tainted postcards disguised as a newsletter promoting Sigafoos.
Sigafoos’ has been under attack in his District because of the fact he has approved a tax rate increase every year it has come before the Board in the last decade. This story, along with a photo, will not doubt help him in his political effort.
It should be noted that Deb McCasland has argued for more than a year that the College should use excess revenue it receives to reduce it outstanding bond obligations. However, there was no mention of McCasland or any other Board member in the story.
Here is the story that ran in the Courier as it was presented to the Blog (without photo).
Yavapai College Board approves bond payoff, says move saves taxpayers millions
The Yavapai College District Governing Board approved the payoff of general obligation bonds owed by the college, which is says will result in a significant amount of savings for Yavapai County taxpayers.
The board voted unanimously in approval of the bond payoff at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the school’s Verde Valley campus.
The payoff is possible because of a finalized sale of YC’s Prescott Valley condominium to the town of Prescott Valley. In anticipation of the sale, the college
also has expanded its Center at Panther Path.
“Over the past few years, the college board agreed to consolidate our Prescott Valley facilities at our Panther Path center, adjacent to the high school,” said District Governing Board Chairman Ray Sigafoos. “We believe a larger consolidated facility at this location will create more opportunities for high school students as well as the rest of the community.”
Those sale proceeds can now be used to pay down general obligation bonds debt.
“This will allow the college to reduce property taxes beginning next year, to pay off the general obligation bonds two years early, and to save taxpayers $4.8 million, which is a significant amount of money,“ Sigafoos said.
Information provided by Yavapai College