•••
THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
Barrio Queen PAGE
Flinn Scholar
13
westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
PAGE
EMCC to offer bachelor’s degrees BY SARA EDWARDS
A Verrado Rotary donates clothing to Abrazo West
OPINION....... 10 Hunting: Some folks simply enjoy killing things
FEATURES ..... 15 WV veteran receives honorary Quilt of Valor
OPINION ................. 8 BUSINESS.............. 13 FEATURES ..............14 YOUTH ..................17 OBITUARIES ...........19 CLASSIFIEDS ..........20 NORTH
May 12, 2021
The Voice of the West Valley for 36 years
West Valley View Contributing Writer
NEWS ............... 7
18
fter the May 4 passing of Senate Bill 1453, Estrella Mountain Community College will develop baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields like health care, IT, education, and police and fire services. EMCC President Dr. Ray Rivera said SB 1453 creates another opportunity for equity gaps with students from diverse backgrounds to accomplish their career goals. “We want to be more equitable, accessible and affordable for students,” Rivera said. Recently, Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law SB 1453 allowing the state’s community colleges to offer students limited fouryear degrees, joining 23 other states. Previously, the schools only provided associate degrees and professional certifications. Rivera said the passage of SB 1453 will give students another option when it comes
to pursuing higher education. “This legislation would help reduce some of the barriers our students face,” Rivera said in a letter to Ducey. “SB1453 would help save students money and would provide the convenience of in-person education close to home.” Nine of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges are Hispanic-serving institutions with a large population, Rivera said. At EMCC, minorities make up the majority of the EMCC President Dr. Rey Rivera with Roary the Estrella Mountain student population. Lion. (Photo courtesy of EMCC) “Our next step is to bring together the administration begin enrolling for bachelor’s degree proand faculty across our system and deter- grams in fall 2023. mine which programs we specifically want Thomas Mitchell is an EMCC student to target,” he said. EMCC...continued on page 2 Rivera said students should be able to
Avondale holding hearing on tax, utility rate changes BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
T
he city of Avondale is holding a public hearing about a proposed tax increase and another on proposed utility rate changes within the next month. Residents can gather more information about a proposed tax increase at 7 p.m. Monday, June 7, in City Council Chambers, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive.
The city is proposing an increase in primary property levy of $64,610, or 2%. For example, the proposed tax increase will cause the city of Avondale’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to be $66.72 (total proposed taxes including the tax increase). Without the proposed tax increase, the total taxes that would be owed on a $100,000 home would have
been $65.41. This proposed increase is exclusive of the increased primary property taxes received from new construction. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property levies for voter-approved bonded indebtedness or bud-
The latest breaking news and top local stories in the West Valley!
www.WestValleyView.com .com
Rate...continued on page 2 JUST A CLICK AWAY