Reducing the primary property tax rate for Cochise College and adopting the Fiscal Year 2010 budget will be among the subjects of a public hearing before the Cochise College Governing Board at 6 p.m. June 8 at the Douglas Campus.

The primary property tax rate will drop from $1.6604 to $1.6074 per $100 of assessed valuation. This will be the third consecutive year that the property tax rate for the college will decline. The reduced rate will generate an additional $329,745 in tax revenue for the college due to the increasing valuations of Cochise County properties.

Despite the rate reduction, state law requires community colleges to hold a public truth-in-taxation hearing and to notify the public using specific language whenever a state-mandated formula so determines.

In compliance with section 15-1461.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Cochise County Community College District is notifying its property taxpayers of Cochise County Community College District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over last year’s level.

The Cochise County Community College District is proposing an increase in primary property taxes of $329,745 or 2.12 percent.

For example, the proposed tax increase will cause Cochise County Community College District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $157.41 (total taxes that would be owed without the proposed tax increase) to $160.75 (total proposed taxes including the tax increase).

This proposed increase is exclusive of increased primary property taxes received from new construction. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter-approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.

All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the tax increase that is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. June 8 in the Governing Board Room, Building 100, at the Douglas Campus, 4190 W. Highway 80 in Douglas.