(Photo by Laurel Morales - KJZZ)

A flag stands on the hill in Yarnell.

A Yarnell Elementary School is in danger of closing because of lack of funding. Enrollment dropped by 12 students, nearly 30 percent, from the 2012-13 school year to the 2013-14 school year. Many families moved following the fire that devastated the community last June.  

Thursday morning, the school board approved a property tax increase that would add $200 to the average homeowner’s taxes. But even that isn’t enough to make up the funding shortfall. School staff took nearly $100,000 in pay cuts to balance the budget.

Superintendent and School Principal Fred Garnett said, “Every single person that works here took a pay cut because we all believe in the importance of the school that’s worth saving.”

The public can comment on the proposed budget until July 15 and then the board will vote to approve the budget again and send it to the state.