The Maricopa Community College District Governing Board has approved a 2 percent increase in property taxes.
If you own property in Maricopa County the tax hike will cost you about $2.50 for every $100,000 in assessed value.
District spokesman Tom Gariepy says some of the revenue will be spent to upgrade computer systems, after a security breach last year potentially compromised the personal information of 2.5 million students, faculty and staff members.
“There are a number of projects that we have to do and this will contribute to allowing us to complete those," Gariepy said. "A number of initiatives in the area of student success, including developmental education. Need-based scholarships. There’s always a need for additional money to provide scholarships for students.”
Critics of the increase have questioned a property tax hike when the district has cash reserves of about $430 million. But Gariepy says a lot of that money is already committed. He says the reserves allow the district a cushion in case revenues drop and are a prime reason it has had a triple-A bond rating for the last four years.
KJZZ is licensed to Rio Salado College, part of the Maricopa County Community College District.