By Susan Randall | Casa Grande Dispatch
After listening to more than an hour of passionate testimony for and against a 34-percent primary tax rate increase, the Central Arizona College Governing Board split year.
The primary tax rate will increase by 28 cents per $100 net assessed value, instead of 55 cents per $100 as previously planned.
That means the owner of a house with an assessed value of $100,000 will pay $189.18 in primary property taxes for CAC next year, instead of $216.18 if the higher rate had been approved.
Board member Gladys Christensen from Coolidge made the motion, saying she was in favor of the 55-cent increase, but had to represent all of the citizens of Pinal County.
Board member Rick Gibson of Casa Grande seconded the motion.
Board member Debra Banks of San Tan Valley voted no, saying “I think there’s another way.”
Gibson said the lower tax rate will mean fewer dollars with which to operate the college. He made a motion to adopt a budget that reflects the new tax
rate and dip into reserve funds if necessary.
Gibson said he opposes using reserve funds except in catastrophic events.
