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Ryan
★ for Yavapai College Board ★
Meet Ryan
Ryan Jones is an economist, father of two young daughters, and proud Prescott-area resident. His career spans finance, economic development, international business, and Yavapai College, where his work supported workforce development, strategic planning, and major community investments. Ryan brings practical experience and fiscal discipline to the Yavapai College Governing Board, with a focus on opportunity for students, families, and the future of Yavapai County.
Stop Tax Rate Hikes!
Recently local property owners were hit with a rapid, compounding, nearly 9% spike on the college portion of their property taxes over just two years.
[Source1] [Source2]
As your candidate, my mission is clear: we must stop treating taxpayers like a blank check. My goal is to better utilize the funding the college already receives and commit to a strict platform of no new tax increases to cover for wasteful spending.
Serving District 4 of Yavapai County
Ryan Jones is a Yavapai County resident, homeowner, economist, parent of two young daughters, and former Yavapai College employee (2021–2026). Ready to bring practical, taxpayer-focused leadership to the Yavapai College District Governing Board.
As an economist at the College, I regularly prepared and presented research and analysis directly to the District Governing Board. I saw how the quality, timing, and framing of information can shape major decisions. That experience is partly why I’m running — and it is something that sets me apart. I want to help ensure the Board receives complete and accurate information so it can put local students and taxpayers first.
Why I'm Running
Yavapai College is one of our community’s most important assets. It should train the local workforce, give students a clear path to careers or transfer, and operate with real respect for the taxpayers who fund it.
Right now, too much money is wasted on things that do not improve education. That is money that should be going into classrooms, programs, and student success instead of inefficiency and poorly managed spending.
I spent five years inside the College as an economist and researcher. I know how the institution works, how decisions are made, and where oversight is needed. I have the experience and the energy to demand better management of the budget and to stop treating taxpayers like an unlimited source of revenue.
I will not support raising taxes to cover waste. Rising property values already increase the College’s revenue. That should be enough. My focus is simple: put local students and taxpayers first, cut waste, and make sure every dollar strengthens education across Yavapai County.
Fiscal Responsibility & No Tax Hikes
Rising property values already grow the College’s tax revenue. That should be enough. I will scrutinize spending, contracts, and administrative growth before any request for higher rates.
Local Students & Community First
Local residents and their kids should get priority in high demand programs like nursing. Measure success by whether graduates stay and work here, not by packing in students from outside the county.
Transparency
If the Board spends public money, the public should be able to follow it. I want clear budgets, timely answers, and real discussion before major votes, not surprises after the fact.
Leadership and Programs That Serve This Community
Leadership should serve Yavapai County first. I will back programs tied to real local jobs: healthcare, skilled trades, outdoor recreation, and mountain biking, not generic offerings aimed at outsiders.
And more OLLI and Community Ed!
Employees Have the Right to Speak Out
Everyone should be able to raise real concerns with the Board without fear of retaliation. Under Dr. Rhine, policy restricted communications between staff/faculty and board members. The Board cannot govern well if it only hears what leadership wants it to hear.
Independent Oversight.
The Board Must Govern
The Board is not a cheering section. It is elected to govern.
I will demand complete information, consistent rules, and accountability when problems get ignored.
My Approach to the Board
The Governing Board exists to set direction, approve the budget, and hold leadership accountable — not to rubber-stamp decisions. I will ask the same questions on every major item:
Does it benefit students?
Is it fair to taxpayers?
Does it treat employees and faculty fairly?
Does it strengthen Yavapai College?
Does it serve the people of Yavapai County?
Employees must be able to raise legitimate concerns with their elected board members without fear of retaliation. Senior leadership should be committed to Yavapai County’s long-term needs, and programs should prioritize real local workforce demand — healthcare, skilled trades, outdoor recreation, and mountain biking — rather than generic initiatives that primarily serve students from outside the county.
Who I Answer To
District 4 elects me, and that is who I answer to first. At the same time, I serve the entire College and every taxpayer who funds it. Taxpayer dollars must go first to instruction and student success — not to short-lived initiatives or poorly managed contracts.
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