CAC Board Approves Bond Election For Fall
Nearly $99 million bond proposal will be on November ballot
By Meghan McCoy
The News
PINAL COUNTY- A unanimous vote by the five-member Pinal County Community College District Governing Board at their meeting last Tuesday, June 17, 2008 approved the pursuit of a nearly $99 million general obligation bond in the November 2008 general election for Central Arizona College (CAC).
   The $98,975,000 bond, if approved by voters in November, would continue to keep the district’s tax assessment lower than 2007-2008, according to Russ Banta, CAC’s Vice President of Finance.
   “We have lowered our primary property tax assessment for the last five years,” he explained. “This year, it went down 39 cents per $100 assessed. If the bond is approved, taxpayers still will be paying less than what was paid in the year before.”
   Residents with a full cash value home of $200,000 will see a reduction from $360 to $282 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which is an $82 decline. If the bond is CAC Board Approves Bond Election For Fall Nearly $99 million bond proposal will be on November ballot passed, taxpayers would pay an additional $33.86 on that same home, bringing the total to $316.
   The wording to be used for the ballot will say that the funds can be used for any additional capital improvements within the district along with needed improvements county wide, according to CAC officials.

See A-1

Teen Stabbed To Death
Identity of victim not released by press time
By Meghan McCoy
The News
APACHE JUNCTION — The body of an Apache Junction teen was found last week with multiple stab wounds to the chest. Police say the body was discovered in the 1000 block of North Tomahawk Road early Friday morning, June 20, 2008.
   The Apache Junction Police Department, Pinal County Sheriff’s Department and a helicopter from the Department of Public Safety were all being utilized to search the desert area around the scene and in the ongoing investigation on Friday, according to Captain Tom Kelly.
   The deceased is described as a white male around 17 or 18 years old, Kelly said. Sources say authorities have actually identified the body but had not released the identity as of Friday afternoon. Sources also told the News that the teen had been involved with another male in an altercation over a female. That information was unconfirmed Friday.
   Kelly added that there is a possibility of one or two more individuals involved, but officers are not sure if they are witnesses or participants in the murder. Officers were also in the process of conducting interviews in Gold Canyon on possible leads they were following last Friday, according to Kelly.
   The murder is the second of 2008 in Apache Junction. The first took place on Sunday, March 9, 2008 in the parking lot of Walgreens Drug store at 2440 S. Ironwood Drive as a man was slain in his car by a gunshot wound.

County Adopts Tentative Budget
At $484 million, budget is $24 million less than last year
By Ed Barker
The News
FLORENCE – The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a tentative budget last week for fiscal year 2008-09 totaling $484.4 million, calling for a 54-cent reduction in the property tax rate. If approved, the rate would drop to $3.48 per $100 assessed valuation, the lowest in 31 years.
   In reaction to a tightening economy, the budget trims $24.4 million from the current year’s budget.
   Highlights of the proposed budget include:

• A net tax decrease of 54 cents, thus establishing the lowest primary property tax rate in 31 years. The proposed primary tax rate is 86 cents less than the 2006 rate.

• Establishing Superior Court Division X to handle the increased caseload stemming from the county’s rapid growth.

• Ensuring public safety by providing adequate funding for the Sheriff’s Office, Detention and the Courts.

• Minimizing the use of the county’s rainy day fund by making expenditure reductions across multiple departments and divisions.

The proposed budget is $24.39 million less than the prior year’s approved budget.
   In December 2007, Standard & Poor’s upgraded its debt rating for Pinal County to “A”. Standard & Poor’s said the upgrade was earned as a result of “continued economic growth and diversification and maintenance of a strong financial position with strong reserves.”
  The tentative budget will be under review for potential adjustments over the coming weeks.
 “Significant impact for the county may come when we learn how the state plans to balance its budget,” County Manager Terry Doolittle said.
   The Board of Supervisors will vote on the final budget at their July 30, 2008 meeting.

Minor All Stars In District 7 Tournament Play
10-11 Baseball All Stars play this week; Majors and Juniors Baseball All Stars start next week; Majors and Juniors Softball open up on July 7th
By Chuck Baker
The News
The Minor Baseball and Softball All Stars from Apache Junction Little League competed in their District 7 Tournaments this past week and more local All Star teams will be starting up tournament play this week.
   The Minor Baseball All Stars lost all four of their tournament games this past week but played with a great effort in each game. On Tuesday, the Minor Baseball All Stars lost to Mesa American by the score of 21-8, on Wednesday, the All Stars fell to Mesa Southern 19-7, on Thursday, the A.J. All Stars lost to Mesa Eastern (no score reported), and on Friday, the A.J. All Stars fell to they still had to play Red Mountain National (again, no score reported).
   In the game against Mesa Southern, Apache Junction held a 6-5 lead after two innings and a 7-6 lead after three innings but Mesa Southern rallied in the late innings.
   Ian McIntyre ripped a triple and a single and also reached base via a walk, scored two runs and drove in two runs for the Apache Junction All Stars. Matt Battle crushed a three-run double to deep left center field, Clayten McCarthy had a single and RBI, Hunter Fonseca had a single, Matthew Turner reached base safely with three walks, Hunter Villa walked and was hit by a pitch and scored a pair of runs, and Trevor Kelley walked and scored.

See C-1 and see All Stars, C-6