How Prescott is Funded for City Needs

By Phil Goode

As we conclude budget approval for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins on July 1, questions arise about the city’s tax structure and how we are funded. Many are surprised to learn that transaction privilege tax (TPT, or sales tax) is the primary source of revenue for the city’s general fund, which pays for public safety and other critical city services. Property tax in Prescott accounts for less than 4% of revenue for the general fund.

As growth continues in and around Prescott’s city limits, the low city property tax plays a minor but important role in funding our public safety and other critical services. The Prescott property tax rate is much lower than the rate in the unincorporated county areas. For this reason, growth and increased property values disproportionately benefit the county, with their higher property tax rate. However, growth in the north Prescott area, both in the city and county areas, is stretching city public safety services capability and response times.

This means that the police, fire and emergency medical services are funded from the city’s general fund with a vastly lower property tax rate. Currently, for example, a property with a $400,000 assessed value outside of the city limits located in the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority’s district, pays an additional $1,041 annually above the same valued property in the City of Prescott.

As council moves to approve the Fiscal Year ‘24 budget, for the first time since 2017, we are considering an increase in the property tax levy by the maximum allowed 2%. This increase will trigger a Truth in Taxation process, which will include public notices and public hearings. What does this increase mean for Prescott homeowners?

The answer is about $13.04 a year for a similar $400,000 property. While not a significant sum, the additional revenue will help the city keep up with the need for more police and firefighters.

Property Tax is a consistent funding source, while sales tax is subject to the cycles of the economy and tourism variations. Police and fire protection is a constant need and requires a more stable funding source. Property tax and its role in funding critical city services must be considered as a way to provide a more balanced source of revenue to meet the needs of our growing community. QCBN

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“So That’s What 70 Looks Like!” is designed to demonstrate the power of feminine leadership, reveal what aging can look like and not what it has to look like, show the difference between waiting and living, and illuminate how tough can be pretty.

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Pointing out that the average person spends 20 minutes a day deciding what to wear, her goal is to save people time, use what they already have and transform their image, which, she says, builds confidence and garners positive feedback. Through listening, intuition and her fashion sense, which stretches back to her New York City childhood sewing clothes for herself and her sister, Bobbie figures out each client’s individual style and puts together outfits they may never have considered before. In addition, she identifies accessories to enhance the wardrobe.

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Bobbie

Lewis’s new book, “So That’s What 70 Looks Like! The Essence of Aging Gracefully,” is available now on Amazon. Courtesy image possibly, transform your outlook and your life.

“Confidence is an inside job. You can never get enough from the outside to fill you up, ever, and you’ll always be hunting for it. So, if you can fill up your own cup, so that it’s overflowing, then the rest comes naturally. Confidence to me is everything. I find it attractive. I think it’s sexy. Truly knowing who you are and loving who you are and liking the way you show up, that’s being in flow.” QCBN

“So That’s What 70 Looks Like! The Essence of Aging Gracefully” is available on Amazon. Find out more about Casalino Lewis at https://bobbiecasalinolewis. com Meet her on Zonie Living: Business, Adventure and Leadership at https:/ StarWorldwideNetworks.com/shows/ bonniestevens.

Artful Eye owners and staff members attend jewelry shows throughout the year and hand-pick diamonds and gemstones from all over the world.

Recently, Dave Rabellino and CAD (computer aided designers) jewelry designer Holly Stringer were awarded first place for National Jewelry Design from the Independent Jewelers Organization. Pfeiffer said this is a significant achievement because jewelers from throughout the country enter the annual competition. Artful Eye, she says, is often recognized for its unique creative designs and attention to detail. “This is a big honor and it’s amazing that we keep winning!”

Artful Eye also has been recognized as America’s Coolest Store by Instore Magazine, a publication that provides jewelers with industry news and tips. Meanwhile, the in-house jewelers, Dave Rabellino and Kevin O’Neill, were voted Best Custom Jewelers by Prescott LIVING Magazine.

The jewelers are also known for their ability to repair extremely damaged jewelry, including pieces that have been dropped in a garbage disposal or run over by a car. “We’ve been able to turn it into something you want to wear again.”

Pfeiffer has been working for Artful Eye for 17 years and is certified through GIA. She is a diamond grader and a lifelong learner who regularly takes online classes and attends trade shows.

The business enjoys supporting local organizations, including Kiwanis Club of Prescott, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Yavapai Humane Society. It also has mentored local Girl Scouts. “They solder and leave with jewelry so they can earn their jewelry patches. It’s neat to have them make it and then take it with them.”

High school sweethearts Dave and Sherry began making jewelry when they were teenagers. Pfeiffer believes her 7-year-old daughter, Hannah, will continue the family business. She is already making her own bracelets. QCBN

LEWIS continued from page 12 businesses and numerous government departments.

Born and raised on the reservation in Clarkdale, Lewis says it’s important to know where you came from. “My dad hunted for the meat that we ate and our food came from food boxes. I have 10 brothers and sisters, but I consider the Yavapai-Apache people to be my family and we were always there for our neighbors.”

Before assuming her position as chairwoman, Lewis served as Yavapai-Apache vice chairwoman, a Tribal Council member and executive assistant for two administrations. She says her strength comes from God. “I get up early every morning to pray, not just for myself and my family, but I also pray for our community. I chose to be here because I love it here and love serving to the best of my ability for my people.”

“Chairwoman Tanya Lewis was an outstanding student of mine while I was a professor at Yavapai College (YC),” said Northern Arizona University (NAU) Professor Dr. Joy D’Angelo. “She stood out as a collaborator with her fellow YC students by her exemplary academic work. In addition, I had the honor of working with her to bring a vision she had for leadership education for the YavapaiApache nation.”

As a woman leading a Native American tribe, challenges can arise periodically. “Sometimes misunderstandings in communication occur and we always work it out,” she said.

Yavapai-Apache Cultural Resource Center employee and elder, Barbara McCabe has known Lewis since 2005 and was close friends with Lewis’s mom. “Tanya took good care of her mom and dad. We talk quite often and sometimes she will seek elders’ advice on cultural or environmental issues.”

As a mom of two adult children, Lance, 29, and Taylor, 18, Lewis’ advice to younger Native women is to “always look toward your elders for wisdom, guidance and advice. Take to heart their teaching and learn it and live it. It will keep you grounded as it teaches us why and who we are.” She added that it is very important to lead by example.

Leisure time for Lewis is sewing. She makes all her dresses. “I love to sew and make ribbon shirts. I recently learned to make pillowcases and pillows and I’m learning to quilt. I also enjoy following my daughters’ rodeos.”

MY FAVORITE MEAL

I love tacos! Tacos make me happy. They are my comfort food. I like to make my own soft-shell tacos. They have a lot of flavor; I love to eat them with salsa and they are quick to make and eat.

Meaningful Childhood Memory

Every weekend when my dad came home we were all at the softball field cheering on my older sisters.

Advice For Young People

Look for a purpose. You need to know who we are as individuals. There are no limits in life and there’s always somebody out there to help you, guide you and show you the way.

The Moment I Knew I Was A Leader

It was many years ago when I worked with the Yavapai-Apache Nation Pageant Committee. We spent the time with the young ladies mentoring them and teaching, talking and listening. To see these young women grow and see where they are today is wonderful. After that, I sought election and served as a Tribal Council Member from 2010 to 2013. I set expectations for myself and went out there and did it. I thought, “Wow! I can do it.”

Where I Go For Solitude And Contemplation

I love kickboxing and working out at Sensei Robert Gonzales’ HDH Powerhouse Gym in Cottonwood. I also like working in my yard and just being outside. QCBN

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Ray Newton, Sue Marceau, Stacey Wittig, Veronica Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography got himself accepted into a private college, the University of Rochester, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He received his MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and held senior management positions with prestigious financial firms. Despite his success as a Wall Street executive and financial manager, he was turned down for membership to a Nantucket golf club. Instead of fighting it, he built his own golf club, which has now become the largest charity on the island. Later in life, upon assuming the position of chairman of the University of Rochester’s Board of Directors, he gave the school its largest single donation ever, $30 million, to support scholarships and endow the Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The Quad Cities Business News is a publication of Quad Cities Business News, LLC and distributed free each month to residents of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt. Reproduction of any portion of the publication is strictly prohibited without expressed permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements submitted to the newspaper and is not responsible for the claims of its advertisers.

“The instability I felt [as a child] had everything to do with my quest for a purpose in adulthood. Scary as my circumstances might have been, they ignited in me a desire to find my purpose and plan for the future I wanted,” he wrote.

“The Island of the Four Ps” reads like a storybook. Gentle and imaginative, and enhanced with colorful illustrations by Gabriela Leal, the tale is masterfully crafted with key ideas and questions to ponder at the end of each section. Readers follow the

YAVAPAI continued from page 16 people on that wall,” said Las Vegas Veteran Blayne Stowasser, who came with two veteran friends. “We were stationed at Holloman Air Force Base and served in different locations overseas. We became friends and kept in touch with each other over the years.”

Jerry “Geronimo” Martin, the great-great-grandson of the legendary Geronimo and Vietnam Veteran, was the emcee for the event. “It was my duty to go wherever the fight was rather than have the fight here on our own soil. I made it a privilege to volunteer and go,” said Martin, who told candid stories of his military life and, specifically, his assignment on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

“Every person who has come here and met a veteran and heard their story is leaving with a whole different perspective of the Vietnam War,” said Fort Verde Historic Park Manager Sheila Stubler. “People have been moved and I think there’s a lot of people here whose lives have been changed. I met one veteran who lost 27 comrades. He said for 50 years he carried that pain and was able to let it go. He said it’s time for closure.”

The U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration Deputy Director Tres C. Smith came from Washington, D.C., for the tribute. “I talked to Sheila about what we could do to support and help her. We actually participate in the local communities and local ceremonies. It just means so much more because people know the veterans, people have the experience. To be in the neigh- journey of a young adventurer named Marketus as he explores The Village of Passions, The Village of Principles, The Village of Partners and The Village of Plans, the Four Ps.

“It’s not a right or wrong book. It’s saying here are the things you should look at when you make decisions,” he said. “It’s intended for young people and anyone in transition. I’m trying to soften a few of the bumps on the journey of life. I like to say, ‘The highway of life is always under construction.’”

Marketus, and later, a character named Thalia, are guided by an older gentleman name Archimedes. “Their conversations are the same conversations that people must have with themselves to make good life decisions,” said Hajim. “You have an inner voice that you talk to and I wanted to give that inner voice a vocabulary. I looked back at the words I used [to make decisions], and my passions, my principles, my partners and my plans were all part of that.”

In the Village of Passions, Marketus is introduced to the value of finding his own passions by answering four questions: What activities make time pass quickly? What subjects do you hunger to learn about? What tasks do you pursue with commitment and energy, without hesitation? And, what do you daydream about?

He also learns that not setting priorities “can leave us meandering from path to path.”

In the Village of Principles, the Blacksmith explains that the rules and actions we create must be our own. “They are based on the mix of principles and circumstances unique to you,” he tells Marketus.

The book also offers playful allegorical messages. The Village of Partners, for example, is accessed by a system of ropes, pulleys and levers that lowers a platform from a cliff to a river. “The chair mechanism is designed for two people working together,” Archimedes explains.

In The Village of Plans, Marketus and Thalia learn about creating A Life-Plan Map that reflects the interplay of three things: A person’s passions, principles and partners; a person’s environment; and the actions a person will take to pursue those opportunities. They also are encouraged to keep the plan updated and pay attention to change and economic cycles. “Never be afraid to test new paths,” Hajim said, noting that change, cycles and latent demand should be anticipated, studied and acted upon. “You’ve got to ask yourself constantly, ‘What’s next?’ Today, if you’re in AI [artificial intelligence] or robotics, you’re probably at the bottom of a long cycle.”

Hajim’s passions include putting people together to solve a problem, create a product or start a program. He found that what he really enjoys is helping people do better than they thought they could. His own guiding principles are: “Treat others as you hope to be treated; seek freedom to make your own decisions; and decide what is enough – enough money, possessions, accomplishments and recognition – and don’t pursue more than enough.”

“Everybody has to define ‘just enough.’ I’ve seen so many people in my business seek too much,” he said. “And that ‘too much’ makes them sacrifice the other parts of their life.”

Both in the book and in life, Hajim strives to balance his principles with four realms – self, family, work and community.

Hajim’s own story includes a happily ever after. At age 60, he learned his mother hadn’t died and was reunited with her when she was 81.

They were close for the remaining 12 years of her life. He says his biggest legacy is enjoying a 57-year marriage with his wife, Barbara, having three children and eight grandchildren.

Today, at age 86, he says his purpose is as a mentor through his book and in person. Reflecting on his extraordinary life, he offers this advice: “Anything is possible. Education is the solution to almost everything. And, never be a victim.” QCBN borhoods and communities that were impacted by the veterans is so much more important and powerful.” Smith is a veteran himself and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Hear more hard-earned wisdom from Ed Hajim on Zonie Living: https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/ exploring-the-island-of-the-four-ps-toplan-your-future-with-business-leaderextraordinaire-ed-hajim-video.

Former Military Air Transport (MATS) flight attendant and Camp Verde resident Carolanne Moore worked 10 years for Trans International Airlines (TIA), a contractor to the government. “We flew new soldiers over to the war zone into the main part of Saigon and flew others back home. I remember the day the Viet Cong attacked the American embassy. We were scared but our pilots were veteran pilots who had flown in other wars and I trusted them, and I trusted in the Lord so I knew we were going to be OK.”

“It was an awesome display of pride and patriotism by the entire community,” said Town of Camp Verde Mayor Dee Jenkins. “To recognize and thank those that fought and returned and those that gave their lives for our nation and for all of us that are blessed to live in the United States of America, it was truly an honor to be among heroes and say, ‘Thank you. Welcome home.’”

Several sponsors such as American Legion Riders, Sedona Area Veteran and Community Outreach, Town of Camp Verde, Yavapai Apache Nation, Town of Clarkdale, City of Sedona, City of Cottonwood, American Legions Post 93, 125 and several businesses helped support the event. QCBN