The Camp Verde Unified School District approved 4-0, with Carol German absent, a resolution calling for a $20 million bond to be placed on the November ballot.
The finance firm Stifel, during the May 12 board meeting, provided members with options for $10 million, $15 million and $20 million bonds, which ranged from $38 to $80 paid yearly per $100,000 in taxable property value.
The average limited property value in Camp Verde, according to Stifel, is $167,204. This value can vary significantly from market value.
For example, the Stifel limited property value estimate for homes along East Canyon Drive was $154,302, while the market value for those same homes, using Zestimate, is about $379,000. Likewise, homes along South McCracken Lane were estimated at $184,231 for limited property value and $433,600 for market value.
Public Poll
Since the board’s last meeting, the district had contracted a consultant to gauge public interest on the bond potential.
While the board wasn’t provided with the exact polling data, Superintendent Steve Hicks said upward of 70% of responses were in favor of a bond with the stipulation that a third party auditor be used.
The poll had about 275 responses, Hicks said, which is about 3.4% of the 8,000 Camp Verde voters.
The data was not provided before the meeting, but with a standard confidence level, the margin of error of that polling size would be +/- 5.79%.
“I think what happens is Paul [Ulan], our consultant, will get with the PAC and me and begin to explain to the PAC ‘here’s our best bet,’” Hicks said. The PAC will ultimately oversee the next few steps in the bond process, including more outreach to voters.
Board chair Sharon Petrie said the district is growing, and a bond would help it focus on the growth in enrollment that could also come with current housing projects underway within the district.
“My thing is it’s a small price to pay,” Petrie said. “I know some people’s budgets are tight — $100, $200 a year, they might notice that when they pay their taxes.”
Budget Revision
The board also approved its final budget revision of the year which, for the first time in years, increased from its December revision.
“We’re on what’s called current year funding,” Hicks said, “which means we get funded this year on the enrollment or the ADM.”
The district normally adopts a budget in July that lowballs the Average Daily Membership — the metric the state used to fund school districts, because admin doesn’t want to assume the district willget more money than it will. Then in December, when they have a better idea of what the trends for this school year are, they adjust it, and then again at the end of the school year.
The board will see a fiscal year ‘27 preliminary budget, likely in June, before its budget approval meeting in July.
