Joined by Board lawyer who says it is a “terrific idea” and will lead to greater “transparency
Ray Sigafoos, District Governing Board member
Author Archive for R. Oliphant – Page 16
Current resolution on consent agenda; only if member of District Governing Board asks for discussion about the item will a possible explanation come forward
Yavapai Community College’s District Governing Board is set to approve a resolution allowing $10 million to be deposited in its Capital Accumulation account to use for purchasing land, buildings or improvements. The resolution, set out in full below, will be approved without discussion unless a member of the Board asks that it be pulled from the consent agenda and fully explained.
Doesn’t include $1.6 million for enterprise project, a small portion of which might affect the Verde Valley facilities
According to the draft budget provided by Dr. Clint Ewell to the District Governing Board at its February 20 meeting, approximately $18 million is allocated by the College for capital projects within the west side of the County’s College facilities, primarily focused in Prescott and Prescott Valley. Further details regarding the allocation of these funds will become available in the forthcoming months as the College proceeds with plans to potentially develop substantial permanent housing options for students, faculty, and staff, particularly in Prescott Valley and potentially in Chino Valley.
In addition to the aforementioned $18 million, the Community College plans to invest approximately $1.6 million towards enhancing internet security and addressing related issues as part of its enterprise improvement project.
Yavapai Community College considering this tax rate increase, which follows on the heels of last year’s 4% tax rate increase
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board meeting will be held at the Sedona Campus on Tuesday, March 19. The session will commence promptly at 1:00 p.m. Residents are invited to voice their concerns or opinions to the District Governing Board during the call to the public, typically held at the outset of the meeting.
This meeting presents an important chance for community members to weigh in on the proposed 4% cumulative tax rate increase for next year’s budget. Your input matters, and this forum offers a platform for your voice to be heard.
Please note that in order to accommodate all speakers, the Board typically limits public comments during the open call to three minutes per person.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. There is normally an open call to the public at this meeting. The possibility exists that the meeting will be live streamed for County residents to view; check agenda when posted and the College’s YouTube site on Tuesday
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold what is described as a “Study Session” and then a “Business Meeting” at the Sedona Campus on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m.
Under Arizona law, a citizen has a right to attend, listen, tape record, or videotape all of these meetings. The public may not disrupt, but may speak during the Call to the Public at the beginning of this meeting if the call is on the agenda. See Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. No. I78-001.
You may access the agenda for this meeting at the District Governing Board’s website when it is eventually posted. (It is normally sent to the Governing Board by Friday prior to a meeting but is usually withheld from public posting on the Governing Board’s website until the day before the meeting.)
There is a possibility that the meeting will be live streamed. Check the agenda when it is posted.
IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO INCREASING YOUR PROPERTY TAX, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOU VIEW TO THE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD AT THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC.
The agenda must be posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
To reach official Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation, College must read full time equivalent student population of 25%.
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has named Yavapai Community College as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. The College has repeatedly indicated a desire to become an official Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), which is designated by the U.S. Department of Education. However, to be designed as such, it must reach a full-time equivalent Hispanic student population of 25%.
Over the last several years, the College has increased its efforts to serve the Hispanic communities in Yavapai County. The efforts include increased outreach and participation in community events, increasing academic and personal support services, career coaching, developing more access to resources, and creating a better sense of belonging through activities for first-generation college students, among others.
Being named an emerging HSI is important. It affords the College with opportunities to further its efforts by providing the college with additional Hispanic student leadership programs, webinars and learning opportunities, conferences, and other benefits and resources.
Once full HSI status is achieved, Yavapai College will join 572 other HSIs throughout the United States and will become eligible for federal funding opportunities.
Money will mostly go toward west side housing projects, increased planned maintenance expenses, and improved electronic infrastructure
During the February 20 meeting of the District Governing Board, Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services at Yavapai Community College, presented several recommendations for generating additional revenue necessary for the upcoming 2024-2025 budget cycle.
Dr. Ewell outlined the following requisites to fulfill the projected budgetary needs:
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A 4% cumulative increase in the County’s primary property tax rate.
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Procuring an estimated $14 million by issuing revenue bonds.
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Extending the outstanding payments on existing revenue bonds for a number of years.
Furthermore, Dr. Ewell explained that funding all current projects on the College’s drawing boards would require a 13% increase in the primary property tax rate. He considered this impractical given the current tax climate.
It’s important to note that the District Governing Board holds the authority to issue revenue bonds and adjust the county’s primary property tax rate, requiring only a majority vote among the five-member Board. Notably, county voters do not possess a direct mechanism to vote on or veto such adjustments.
The final bond and tax rate figures will be presented and voted on by the District Governing Board in May 2024.
Dr. Ewell’s explanation to the Board regarding these recommendations can be accessed via the provided link by clicking here.
Verde Valley Campus trailer park appears to have rented from five to seven pads of the 10 that are available
Yavapai Community College’s Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Clint Ewell, addressed the District Governing Board during its February 20 meeting regarding its arrangement with the Fein Group to lease apartments in Cottonwood for students. These apartments were situated in a newly developed complex located approximately a mile from the Verde Valley Campus. Dr. Ewell disclosed that despite the College’s efforts, there was a lack of student interest as no students had chosen to rent any of the apartments. The project appears to have ended.
(You may hear Dr. Ewell’s statement to the Governing Board on this issue by clicking here.)
It is noteworthy that the Community College offered no financial incentive to students as it announced the apartment rental program. Students paid the same market rate as any other apartment renters.
The Community College administration, again according to Dr. Ewell’s address to the District Governing Board February 20, seemed satisfied with trailer park project located on the Verde Valley campus. The Community College has been able to rent from five to seven trailer pads at the 10-space desert trailer park located on the Verde Campus. Some of the four trailers it parked there on the pads have also been rented for the first time. (You may hear Dr. Ewell’s statement to the Governing Board by clicking here.)
Revenue bonds versus General Obligation bonds
Yavapai Community College employs two primary methods to secure additional funding for major capital projects.
The first method involves the issuance of General Obligation (GO) bonds, a traditional avenue that necessitates a county-wide campaign to explain the necessity for such funds to Yavapai County voters. This approach mandates a transparent explanation of why substantial investments are directed toward certain areas within the County, potentially at the expense of others.
Approval or rejection of the GO bond request occurs through a county-wide election. While this route offers the potential of providing substantial funds for a variety of capital projects, there’s always the risk of taxpayers withholding approval.
The last time the Community College sought a GO bond was in 1999. That was for $69.5 million. The pros and cons of expending that much money for a bond to support capital construction and renovation was discussed and eventually approved in a County-wide election.
The 1999 bond contained provisions for capital projects at the Sedona Center and the Verde Valley Campus, while a majority of the bond issue went to the Prescott side of Mingus Mountain. It is noteworthy that this bond was fully paid off by taxpayers via a secondary property tax in 2022.
The second method, known as the “revenue bond” approach, allows the College to avoid much public discourse, if any, when targeting revenue bonds for specific renovation or construction projects. This process requires only three votes from the District Governing Board for approval, sidestepping the need for public explanation and validation. While advantageous for the College’s executives due to its ease of implementation, this method is subject to oversight solely by the District Governing Board, with minimal public awareness or input.
A revenue bond issue needs only three votes of the five member District Governing Board. Practically, because most of the major projects needed for capital funding support are on the west side of the County, the three member-majority representing the west side of the county have little difficulty in approving a revenue bond issue.
Difference in payment: Revenue bonds, unlike GO bonds, are repaid from sources such as tuition, fees, rentals, and other charges, rather than directly from taxpayer funds. GO bonds are paid through a secondary property tax.
However, the repayment method associated with Revenue bonds indirectly impacts County taxpayers. It occurs because of the potential revenue reallocation of sources of revenue within the College’s budget. This shift may necessitate compensatory measures, such as increasing the county-wide tax rate, subject to approval by the District Governing Board major of three, without formal public recourse.
Currently, the Community College is considering issuing a $14 million revenue bond to finance anticipated 2024-2025 capital expenditures. It is also considering extending the payoff period of existing revenue bonds. The decision to extend the payoff period would prolong the financial obligation, but give the Community College additional cash.
It is noteworthy that the current revenue bonds were anticipated to be paid off within the next four years.
It is also noteworthy that there’s a proposal to raise the property tax rate incrementally by a cumulative total of 4%, signaling potential future implications for County taxpayers.
SUMMARY: Yavapai Community College’s methods for raising money for major capital projects:
- General Obligation (GO) Bonds:
- The traditional approach involves issuing GO bonds.
- However, there are specific requirements for doing so along with practical considerations:
- A county-wide campaign of sorts is necessary to explain the need for funds to voters across Yavapai County.
- Community College executives must justify why funds are allocated heavily to one part of the county, potentially affecting another part.
- Voters then approve or reject the bond request in a county-wide election.
- The last GO bond sought by the Community College was in 1999, totaling $69.5 million.
- Despite risks, it was eventually approved in a county-wide election.
- Notably, the 1999 bond funded capital projects at the Sedona Center and the Verde Valley Campus, with a majority going to the Prescott side of Mingus Mountain. Taxpayers fully paid off this bond via a secondary property tax in 2022.
- Revenue Bonds:
- The “revenue bond” approach allows pinpointing specific renovation or construction needs.
- Approval requires only three votes from the District Governing Board.
- Unlike GO bonds, there’s no need to explain to the public or hold a public vote.
- This process currently appears favored by Yavapai Community College executives for obtaining capital dollars.
- The only check on revenue bond issuance is the five-member District Governing Board because it requires only three members to approve the issuance.
- The only check on increasing the tax rate to make up for money now going to pay off the revenue bonds from non-tax sources is the District Governing Board. It takes only a majority to approve a tax rate hike.
College says it needs the new influx of cash for 2024-2025 Capital Improvement budget
Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance at Yavapai Community College, presented the cash flow requirements for the upcoming academic year during the February 2024 meeting of the District Governing Board. He explained the financial needs of the Community College, detailing the amount of additional funding required and the intended allocation within the 2024-2025 budget.
To fulfill what it anticipates as its financial obligations, the Governing Board is being asked to consider approving a 4% increase in the County property tax rate, building upon last year’s 4% increase, and extending the deadline for final payments on existing revenue bonds. Furthermore, the issuance of a new $14 million revenue bond is deemed necessary. Dr. Ewell utilized the following slide to articulate the Community College’s fiscal position on this issue.
Dr. Ewell disclosed that due to the College’s inability to secure grant funding for 90% of the highly anticipated Health Science Center on the Prescott Valley Campus, he proposed a revised timeline for the project, postponing it from August 2024 to 2027. Under this new timeline, he specified that 50% of the funding would be sourced from the College’s own reserves, a significant increase from the original 10%, while the remaining 50% would be sought from grants and donations.
Additionally, Dr. Ewell recommended expediting the expansion of housing to align with the Campus Master Plan’s recommended capacity. However, as the College has unexpectedly removed the Campus Master Plan from its website, the exact financial implications of this recommendation remain unclear.