Brad's Real Estate Blog

Cochise County Economic Update

July 30, 2008

Below is a compilation of articles from newspapers across Cochise County. Articles are selected for inclusion based on their relevancy to the local economy. The Cochise County Economic Update is brought to you biweekly by the Cochise College Center for Economic Research.

Cochise County sees higher unemployment, more job losses

By Robert Carreira

Special to The Daily Dispatch

According to figures released by the Arizona Department of Commerce, Cochise County lost 300 nonfarm jobs in June. The county’s unemployment rate in June rose to….For more, click here

 Growth stays steady in SV.  City’s construction permits were up in recent fiscal year

By Laura Ory
Herald/Review

Sierra Vista’s growth has not stopped in the current economy, and the proof is in the permits.  In fiscal year 2007-2008, the city issued 1,561….For more, click here

Huachuca City council tax levy fix means lower property taxes

By Julie Ann Marra
Herald/Review

Residents will pay slightly less in property taxes in the coming year after the Town Council passed a motion fixing the tax levy for fiscal year 2008-09….For more, click here

Camp gives entrepreneurial students taste of business world

By Katie Evans
Herald/Review

Buzz on Biz was all about getting a head start on owning a business for the participants.  “I thought it would be a good resource for starting up….For more, click here

Sierra Vista budget approved, but large cuts loom

By Laura Ory
Herald/Review

The city’s final budget was approved but could be faced with about $500,000 or more in takes from the state.  A final budget of about $87 million was….For more, click here

County P&Z OKs permits for apple-processing operation, business in Whetstone

By Shar Porier
Herald/Review

The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission members had a welcomed, relatively easy agenda for their second meeting in July held Wednesday night….For more, click here

Economic Development Foundation has new executive director

By Ted Morris
Herald/Review

The local Economic Development Foundation announced Wednesday that it has hired a new executive director.  The new boss is Bob Shepard, who has experience with….For more, click here

SV council to look at property tax rate.  Rate declines, but assessed value rises

By Laura Ory
Herald/Review

The city has proposed a property tax rate that would decrease, but the amount property taxes bring into the city would continue increasing….For more, click here

County prescription drug card OK’d.  Program to be used to lower medicine costs

By Shar Porier
Herald/Review

Cochise County residents will soon be able to use a county prescription card that allows a 15 to 35 percent savings on some drugs for themselves and even….For more, click here

Another 300 jobs could open with call center if deal goes through

By Xavier Zaragoza
The Daily Dispatch

The City of Douglas is in discussions with call center representatives to hire up to 300 more call center agents.  The deal depends on….For more, click here

St. David school board adopts budget

By Adam Bernal

San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The St. David School District will see significant spending increases in special education and transportation this coming year as the district approved the adoption of the….For more, click here

City reports on financial status

By Carol Broeder

Arizona Range News

City Finance Director Ruth Graham presented fiscal year 2008 financial statements to the Willcox City Council earlier this month.  She explained that the statements are….For more, click here

Not too late for retirees, veterans to file for stimulus payment

By Xavier Zaragoza
The Daily Dispatch

The IRS says that it’s still not too late for retirees and veterans to file for their economic stimulus payment.
It will soon send a second set of information packets to….For more, click here

Fort Huachuca No. 1 on state list.  Post is a multi-billion dollar economic engine

By Bill Hess
Herald/Review

Arizona’s nine major military installations — active duty and National Guard — have a $9.1 billion economic impact on the state, and on the top of the list is Fort Huachuca….For more, click here

City proposes property tax increase

By Carol Broeder

Arizona Range News

If you own property in Willcox, you will be paying more property tax next year.  The City of Willcox is notifying taxpayers of its intention to raise its primary property taxes over the last….For more, click here

MONEY: Local/State marketplace

Herald/Review

The Cochise College Center for Economic Research is currently conducting its annual Top 75 Employer survey.  The purpose of the survey is to identify….For more, click here

April sales decline in major industries

By Robert Carreira

Special to Herald/Review

In April, sales posted inflation-adjusted declines in the retail, accommodation, and restaurant and bar industries across most of Cochise County….For more, click here

APS is Large Business winner

By Xavier Zaragoza
The Daily Dispatch

On any given day Arizona Public Service provides electrical power to about 7,500 customers in Douglas. If you include Bisbee, Hereford, Palominas and Tombstone, that figure increases….For more, click here

Bid entered for old Tombstone High School building

By Katie Evans
Herald/Review

If all goes well, the Tombstone school district could be closing on the old high school Oct. 30.  During a special meeting in early July, the school board accepted an offer from partners….For more, click here

The hidden costs of not shopping locally

By Robert Carreira

Special to The Daily Dispatch

The Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce recently launched its campaign to encourage residents to shop locally. This gives rise to the question: What, if….For more, click here

School building projects ongoing

By Adam Bernal

San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson School District has several new construction projects that will take place around different areas of the Benson campus, and they plan to break ground near the end of….For more, click here

City buys parking lot for call center, city meeting hours to change

By Xavier Zaragoza
The Daily Dispatch

As the call center continues to expand, the Douglas City Council on Wednesday passed a motion to buy a parking lot for the call center.  The property is….For more, click here

Council OKs liquor license

By Thelma Grimes

San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson City Council's June 23 decision to oppose transfer of a liquor license at the Arena Bar was reversed at Monday night's meeting, which featured the….For more, click here

WUSD seeks override continuation

By Ainslee S. Wittig

Arizona Range News

The Willcox School District will seek a continuation of the budget override in an election on Nov. 4. The override would "prevent a budget reduction of about $221,190 for each….For more, click here

Buy-in waiver for supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs underway in new farm bill

Arizona Range News

Alan Nulliner, Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Arizona announced July 11 that the Agency will allow producers who would otherwise be ineligible….For more, click here

Dealerships file for bankruptcy.  Chapter 11 reorganization is sought; businesses still off limits to local troops

By Bill Hess
Herald/Review

Less than two months after Fort Huachuca’s leadership put a number of car dealerships in Sierra Vista and Tucson off limits to soldiers, Johnston Shield Inc. filed for….For more, click here

Voters to decide whether to unify Palominas school district System could be K-12

By Katie Evans
Herald/Review

As it stands, about 500 high school students from the Palominas Elementary School District go to either Bisbee High School, Tombstone High School or Buena High School to get….For more, click here

Justice Complex construction continues

By Carol Broeder

Arizona Range News

A contract for more than $70,000 was awarded last month to Bates Paving and Sealing for the City of Willcox parking lot paving project….For more, click here

Counterfeit $50 and $100 bills being circulated in Willcox: Learn to detect them

Arizona Range News

The Willcox Police Department has received reports of counterfeit $50 and $100 bills being used in our community. These bills are decent copies and can be difficult….For more, click here

Many benefits in shopping locally

By Julie Ann Marra
Herald/Review

If you spend $100 in Cochise County, is there a difference from spending $100 in Tucson?  The answer might surprise you….For more, click here

New tax ruling affects Arizona business people personally

By Scott H. Gan and J. Emery Barker for Wick News Service

Herald/Review

On April 9, the Arizona Supreme Court made a ruling that personally impacts every corporate officer and director in the state. In a 3-2 decision, the court said….For more, click here

Local/state business news

Herald/Review

Team Women, a national networking organization, has opened a chapter in Sierra Vista. Established in January 2005, Team Women is one of the fastest-growing….For more, click here