OPINION — A year ago, I started to follow the budget process at Central Arizona College, which spends over $100 million a year and costs the average homeowner about $300 a year, or about 13% of their property tax bill. What I came across was the least transparent government organization since I began following local governments over 10 years ago.
After numerous e-mails and speaking at board meetings I was, over the course of several months, and after threats to sue under open records and open meeting laws, was finally able to get some information but was later told by their attorney that my questions were “unsustainable.”
Most people don’t know that they’re spending over $20 million on a performing arts center in Coolidge as part of an $80 million project, are considering a referendum to release $90 million in spending, or may be replacing a $300,000-a-year president who may be retiring.
