The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is thanking voters for passing Proposition 486. The measure allows the district’s current spending cap to be raised.
Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, the associate vice chancellor of the Center for Excellence in Inclusive Democracy at MCCCD, said if voters hadn’t passed the proposition, it would’ve meant major cuts for the community college system.
“We were looking at having to cut $100 million from our budget the following fiscal year," Villanueva-Saucedo said." $100 million is equivalent to the budget of one of our largest colleges or two of our smaller colleges combined, so that would’ve had a significant impact.”
The change does not raise taxes or require additional funds, but simply allows the district to spend its available funds without penalties.
"We're just very excited that the voters in Maricopa County saw the value that we bring to our community and what we contribute to the economic health of our region," Villanueva-Saucedo said.
KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.
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