WE SAID NO - THEY'RE NOT LISTENING: TOPOCK DISTRICT TRIES AGAIN FOR 900% TAX INCREASE

FINAL HEARING: September 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM Location: Topock School Library, 5083 Tule Drive, Topock, AZ 86436

This is our chance to stop this massive tax increase and demand transparency.

THEY'RE IGNORING THE COMMUNITY:

Over 181 residents have signed this petition demanding accountability before any tax increase. The Mohave County Board of Supervisors delayed their decision in August after hearing our concerns about legal violations and financial mismanagement.

What did the district do? They scheduled ANOTHER hearing to try to ram through the exact same $450,000 tax hike.

Something happened to their July 14 hearing - but they won't tell us what. Now they're attempting a second bite at the apple, hoping fewer people will show up this time.

This is not how elected officials should respond when their constituents say no.

WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THIS PETITION STARTED:

• 181+ residents signed this petition - and they're pretending we don't exist
• Mohave County supervisors delayed acknowledgement due to our testimony about legal violations
• July 14 hearing mysteriously didn't happen - no clear explanation provided to the community
• Two conflicting tax notices issued - they can't even get basic math consistent
• Arizona Auditor General STILL withholding state funding due to lack of financial controls
• Still demanding ~900%+ property tax increase (from ~$12.92 to ~$129.21 annually on a $100,000 home)

The bottom line: Whether it's $9.69 or $10.77 more per month, it's still a 900% increase - they're just using word tricks to make it sound less shocking.

EVEN MORE CONCERNING DEVELOPMENTS:

• The same day as their last board meeting (August 21, 2025), the Arizona Auditor General released ANOTHER compliance report showing the district is STILL in noncompliance with basic financial record-keeping requirements
• At that August 21 meeting, over 45 residents attended demanding better communication - yet the district continues to push forward with the tax increase without addressing community concerns
• This is a pattern: The state keeps finding financial management problems, residents keep demanding accountability, and the district keeps asking for more money

THE TIMELINE TELLS THE STORY:

• August 4: Mohave County Board delays decision due to our testimony about legal violations
• August 21: Over 45 residents attend board meeting demanding better communication
• Same day (August 21): Arizona Auditor General releases another report showing district STILL in noncompliance with financial record-keeping
• August 29: District issues second tax notice, trying again for the same $450,000 increase
• September 17: Final hearing scheduled - they're hoping we won't show up

CONFUSION AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY:

• First notice said hearing would be July 14 at 5:00 PM
• Second notice now says September 17 at 4:00 PM
• No explanation of what happened to the first hearing
• No communication to residents about the change until the new notice
• This is exactly the kind of opacity we've been complaining about

THE NUMBERS STILL DON'T ADD UP:

Imagine you get $1 allowance every month. Then your parents say: "We're changing your allowance to $10 per month."

That sounds like you're getting $10 MORE, right? But what they really mean is your TOTAL allowance will be $10 - so you're only getting $9 more.

That's exactly what the school district is doing.

They say the tax increase is "$10.77 per month" - but that's your TOTAL monthly tax, not how much MORE you'll pay.

You currently pay about $1 per month. After their increase, you'll pay $10.77 per month. So you're really paying $9.69 MORE per month.

Why does this matter? Because when someone talks about a "tax increase," people expect to hear how much MORE they'll pay, not the total amount.

It's like advertising a "sale" by telling you the final price instead of how much you'll save. Technically true, but designed to confuse you.

First Attempt (June): Said taxes would be $132.07 on a $100K home
Second Attempt (August): Now claims $129.21 on the same home

If they can't get basic math right in their public notices, how can we trust them with $450,000 more of our money?

STILL NO ACCOUNTABILITY - STILL NO ANSWERS:

• No detailed budget showing exactly how the $450,000 would be spent
• No explanation of alternatives considered (spending cuts, grants, phased increases)
• No timeline for resolving the ongoing state audit issues
• No response to community concerns raised in August
• No acknowledgment that over 181 residents oppose this increase
• No explanation of what happened to their first hearing

THEY THINK CONFUSION AND DELAYS WILL WEAR US DOWN. THEY'RE WRONG.

The state government doesn't trust this district with taxpayer money - that's why funding is being withheld. Yet they expect us to write them a blank check while under investigation for financial mismanagement and while keeping us in the dark about basic procedural questions.

Our voices mattered in August. Our voices will matter again on September 17.

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:

1. ATTEND THE HEARING - September 17, 4:00 PM at Topock School Library. Bring every neighbor, friend, and family member you can. They may be counting on confusion and low turnout.
2. SHARE THIS PETITION - The more signatures we have, the harder it will be to ignore us.
3. DEMAND ANSWERS - Ask these specific questions at the hearing:
   1. "Why did you ignore 181+ petition signatures opposing this increase?"
   2. "What happened to the July 14 hearing and why weren't residents properly notified?"
   3. "Why are the tax calculations different in your two notices?"
   4. "What specific programs require exactly $450,000?"
   5. "When will state audit issues be resolved BEFORE asking for more money?"
   6. "What alternatives to a tax increase were considered?"
4. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING - Record the hearing (if legally permitted), take photos of attendance, make sure our opposition is on the public record
5. STAY ORGANIZED - If they approve this despite community opposition, we need to discuss recall options and further accountability measures

WE'RE NOT ANTI-EDUCATION - WE'RE PRO-TRANSPARENCY.

Our children deserve a well-funded school, but taxpayers deserve clear communication, honest numbers, and respect for the democratic process.

They ignored our petition. Something mysterious happened to their first hearing. Now they're trying again with conflicting numbers and no explanations.

Let's show them that Topock residents demand transparency and won't be confused or worn down by bureaucratic games.

The hearing on September 17 is our final opportunity to be heard. Please attend and bring everyone you know.