Arizona Western College Releases Truth in Taxation Information
May 30, 2023Yuma, AZ (May 30, 2023) – Yuma/La Paz Counties Community College District, Arizona Western College (AWC), has released its Truth in Taxation information for the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget, in compliance with Arizona Revised Statue 15-1461.01.
The AWC priority-based budget utilizes the anticipated revenue from various sources that will be available to the college for delivery of educational services and community facilities to the citizens of Yuma and La Paz Counties during 2023-2024. In developing the budget, AWC has taxation authority to raise property taxes by 2% each fiscal year. AWC begins every budget planning cycle with the assumption that we will not raise property taxes. In fact, AWC has not raised property taxes in the six previous years. Given the fiscal stewardship the AWC leadership has maintained, the actual realized adjusted tax rate to citizens within the district has had a net decrease of .76% in property tax rates over this six-year period from approved levy taxation.
Operational and instructional costs have risen significantly in our current high inflationary environment. Consequently, according to the Truth in Taxation information, the college is proposing a 1.91% increase in the primary tax rate over fiscal year 2022-2023. As stated earlier AWC begins every budget year with the assumption we will not raise property taxes, we are allowed an annual 2% increase. Given our dedication to keep property taxes low, we propose only a 1.91% increase which is below our allowable increase and significantly lower than most other community colleges in the state with the same taxing authority as AWC. AWC has not asked for a property tax levy increase in the past six years. In spite of the 1.91% recovery increase this year, we reiterate that the actual realized adjusted tax rate to citizens within the district has had a net decrease of .76% in their property taxes over the previous six-year period under the approved levy increases over the same period. The current tax, inclusive of new construction, will provide an additional $1,477,759 in revenues. The total taxes owed on a $100,000 home will be $207.18 annually. Details concerning the impact of this proposal are listed in the Truth in Taxation Notice published in the Yuma Sun and the Parker Pioneer on May 24 and will be published again on May 31, 2023.
The college’s secondary tax rate is proposed to decrease to .3024. The college continues to have an outstanding general obligation debt.
The district’s publicly elected five-member Governing Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 budget, property tax rates, and levies. All interested citizens are invited to attend, virtually or in person. The public hearing on the tax increase is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. in the Frances Morris Board Room in the College Community Center (3C) on the Arizona Western College campus, and conducted through Zoom, at 2020 South Avenue 8E, Yuma, Arizona. For details about how to attend board meetings, visit the college’s website at azwestern.edu/district-governing-board.
A Special Meeting to vote on the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget, property tax rates, and levies will follow the public hearing. During the Special Meeting, by a roll call vote, the Governing Board will consider a motion to levy the property tax that will take effect on July 1, 2023.
The Board’s Regular Meeting for June is scheduled to begin immediately following the Special Meeting. Governing Board meetings are open to the public.
Additional information about the college’s budget is available online here.
For information about the college’s 2023-2024 proposed budget, tax rates, or levies, contact the AWC at (928) 344-7522.
Contact:
Mandy Heil
Associate Dean of Marketing & Communications
Arizona Western College
Mandy.Heil@azwestern.edu
(928)314-9594