The Eastern Arizona College Governing Board approved the school’s 2009/10 budget June 17 and in the same meeting learned that if Arizona’s budget crisis closes down state agencies, the college will remain open.

On a 4-0 vote, the board approved the college’s $40.2 million budget, which includes $32.543 million for the general fund and $7.657 for the unexpended plant fund. Board member Lois Ann Moody was absent from the meeting.

The total budget reflects a 2.8-percent increase over the current fiscal year budget of $39.1 million, according to the budget summary. The current fiscal year ends June 30, and the 2009/10 fiscal year begins July 1.

The college receives funding from several sources, including tuition, state aid and local property taxes. The 2009/10 budget includes $3.987 million in local property taxes — an increase of 29.99 percent, according to the budget summary.

Homeowners will not see an increase in their property tax rate, which will decrease by 4.55 percent — from $1.8826 per $100 assessed value to $1.7970 per $100 assessed value.

Assessed value is equal to 10 percent of a home’s full-cash value. Vacant land and commercial property are taxed at a higher assessed value — land at 16 percent and commercial property at 22 percent of the full-cash value.

In a truth in taxation hearing prior to the budget hearing, the tax notice states there will be a property tax increase. This notice is based on the assumption that properties in Graham County did not increase in value. It also does not consider tax money generated by new construction, EAC Executive Vice President Brent McEuen said.

The fact that property values increased and there is new construction in the county resulted in a reduction of the property tax rate.

After approving the budget, the board moved on to other items, including announcements from EAC President Mark Bryce.

He said the threat of a closing of state offices will not cause EAC or any other community college to close because they operate under the authority of separate governing boards. The colleges also have other funding sources in addition to state money.

According to Bryce, the current state budget crisis could result in shutting down state government if Gov. Jan Brewer does not sign the Legislature’s proposed budget into law by the end of business June 30.

The state’s legislative leadership is withholding the proposed state budget from Brewer as leverage in budget negotiations, according to several news accounts of the state’s budget process.

According to the Web site azfamily.com, Brewer filed a complaint with the Arizona Supreme Court. A June 23 hearing is scheduled.

On a positive note, Bryce reported that Arizona’s community colleges expect to receive $29.9 million in federal stimulus money. He did not specify how much of the total will be given to EAC.