The effort to consolidate the Mingus Union and Cottonwood-Oak Creek school districts is on ice for the time being, after a lawsuit filed by the MUHSD board blocked the planned public vote as part of the Nov. 6 general election. But the two parties continue to have disagreements and make arguments for their sides.
At a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 26, the MUHSD board jumped on one of those arguments, an estimate calculated by Yavapai County Deputy Superintendent Renee Raskin showing the impact of consolidation on secondary tax rates affecting the Clarkdale-Jerome area of the Mingus school district boundaries.
The county superintendent’s office based its calculations on the premise that, since consolidation between the COCSD and MUHS would leave out the Clarkdale-Jerome School District [which has previously voted not to consolidate], the new unified district’s borders would not include the cement plant and other Clarkdale-area businesses that are subject to secondary tax from Mingus. The calculations of losses due to that, when compounded by bond and overrides, were estimated to be $867,584.
“What our office has concluded is that, if there had been a consolidation vote in November of [2018], based on the current information available, and due to the fact that the secondary assessment for Clarkdale would cease and be transferred to the Cottonwood, that is our best estimate,” Yavapai County Superintendent Tim Carter said. Carter stressed that the change has only been assessed for the first year after the hypothetical consolidation, and not for years afterwards.
With the Clarkdale-Jerome area removed from Mingus’ tax base, residents in the remaining Cottonwood/ Mingus district would likely see their taxes increase.
“To take away the cement plant’s obligation and hoist it on the shrunken Mingus district is irresponsible and frankly just inappropriate,” MUHS board member Jim Ledbetter said. Ledbetter expressed staunch opposition to any consolidation that would have the effect of shrinking MUHSD’s borders and, subsequently, its tax base.
At the Oct. 23 meeting, MUHSD board members defended their claims that consolidation would end up costing the school district money. Members of the board had long argued that this funding loss would occur, and saw the numbers coming from the county — not their own calculations — as backing them up.
“This is a bombshell. This is another glaring example of this board’s concern over the nebulous, uncharted territory that consolidation to a smaller district represents,” MUHSD board member Steve Gesell said. Gesell and other board members highlighted not only their fears about the effect consolidation would have on the budget, but also their concerns from this past summer that the planned vote would have occurred without voters having full access to information like this.
“We’ve been consistent all along in the concern over our children’s education and the adverse impacts this can lead to and this is underscored by this figure.”
Jason Finger, a COCSD board member who has long advocated in favor of consolidation and is now running for MUHSD board, responded to the county’s estimate on his campaign Facebook page:
“This $868,000 is cash balance and not part of their budget capacity. It is money that would be still going to the new consolidated district by an adjustment of the new district consisting of Cornville and Cottonwood residents. The homeowners in the district would see an increase of approximately $37 per $100,000 of assessed value. Granted, the community members may or may not want to accept that, which is why I believe that the community should have the right to have their say and vote on consolidation. The adjustment in secondary taxes would always exist in each district as long as the community continues to support bonds and overrides as they have for years. Should they stop that support, then this issue simply ceases to exist.”
Phil Terbell, president of the Committee for Better Upper Verde Valley Schools, said he was doubtful of the county superintendent’s numbers, but stressed that he had not yet had a chance to examine them closely. He reiterated his belief in the logic of consolidation, though he hoped that it could progress in a more measured way than the previous effort that led to the lawsuit.
“We’re sitting back right now. We want to let the smoke clear, resolve issues,” Terbell said. He argued that with COCSD and Mingus losing students, it is necessary for the school districts to find a way to save money and put it into better instruction. “We’re not on active solicitation drive, but we still think it’s beneficial in the long run to pursue consolidation.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
