Grand Canyon School override election passes

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Voters approved Grand Canyon School's (GCS) override in the Nov. 5 consolidated election.

The school will continue to receive override funds from property taxes. Out of 188 voters, 75 percent approved the override, while 25 percent voted against the measure.

Every Arizona school has the opportunity to ask for as much as a 15 percent override election, meaning an increase of 15 percent to the maintenance and operation budget.

GCS was looking for a 9.3 percent increase to its maintenance and operation budget, the sum of which is $155,891.

"The Grand Canyon Unified School District would like to thank all voters for voting in the election and supporting education in our local community," said Kevin Dickerson, the school's finance director. "Our children and our staff thank you for valuing education and providing us the support we need to educate the children in our community."

Like in the past, the override won't change what tax payers are already paying and the school will be able to continue its music, art and P.E. classes.

Coconino Community College override fails

Of the 16,944 ballots cast, 45 percent of voters favored the Coconino Community College (CCC )budged override while 55 percent opposed it.

The seven-year override would have generated about $4.5 million per year from property taxes.

Based on the average home value in Coconino County of $170,000, residents would have paid an additional $4.20 per month or about $50 per year in property taxes had the override passed.

"The community has spoken through this vote and the college will now respond," CCC President Leah Bornstein said in a press release. "Decisions will be made by the District Governing Board regarding the mission of the college that will allow us to stay in business. This will be one of the most difficult decisions the board has made and the results will be painful to many throughout our county."

Prior to the election, CCC District Governing Board Member Jack Hadley said he was unsure of what would happen if the override did not pass, although he assumed it would cause additional cuts across the board.

Hadley said CCC is dipping into its reserve fund this year, which could last about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years. Once the reserve funds are gone, college officials will have to discuss potentially losing some of their programs since the override did not pass.

CCC has never had an override in place. The college asked for one in 2006, but the voters did not approve it.

In the last seven years, state aid to CCC has decreased by $15 million. CCC's property tax rate has also stayed about the same since 1991 while enrollment has grown. The current tax rate is the lowest of all the community colleges in the state, at about $0.36 for every $100 of property value.

To cope with these dwindling funding sources, CCC has had to raise tuition every year in the past few years. Tuition at CCC has increased 89 percent since 2007, and is now at $2,760 - the highest of any community college in the state.

Other cost saving measures included reducing staff by 15 percent, cutting 20 percent of classes, eliminating 30 percent of programs and closing the Williams campus.