Another project not openly discussed at Board meetings used for construction rather than scholarships, improved educational programming or increased staff and faculty salaries

Commentary by Bob Oliphant

The almost complete renovation of the Community College Rock House on the Prescott Campus meeting building may come as a surprise if you attend a monthly Board meeting there.  During this summer, the Rock House was completely remodeled at a cost of thousands of dollars to County taxpayers. 

Having attended almost every Board meeting over the past six years at the Rock House, the Blog found the facility was in good condition before the newest renovation began. Furthermore, the Blog cannot recall the need for the complete renovation of this building being publicly discussed with the Governing Board at a public Governing Board meeting. 

Finally, the Blog cannot locate the estimated cost of the project in the budget submitted to the Board in May. Apparently, it does not exist in a form that the public can understand.

There certainly was no critical need to pour thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands,  of dollars of County property taxes into the facility. This is a huge waste of taxpayer money that could be better used for scholarships, improved educational programs, or to increase staff and faculty salaries. 

It is, however, another of the many examples vividly showing how the Governing Board fails in its financial oversight obligation and current President plows millions of taxpayer dollars into unnecessary but nice construction projects.  Meanwhile, while spending $75 million or more the last few years, taxpayers have seen enrollment plunge by 5,000 students by actual headcount.  That’s around one-third fewer students on campus.  Does this construction spending spree make any sense to anyone?

The renovation included design costs, installation of a sophisticated electronic lighting, new state-of-the art built-in video recording system, plush carpet, new mechanical work, etc.

Back in 2009 the Rock House was completely renovated, and the cost associated with it to be recouped, at least in part, by renting the facility to outside organizations. The College did not supply the Governing Board or the public with any indication of the success or failure of the business plan adopted in 2009. 

Declining enrollment and other priorities justify no longer pursuing this project

The Yavapai Community College Administration has scrapped plans for the $5.1 million Events Center that was part of the Master Plan adopted in 2013.  It was to be constructed near the planned soccer field on the Prescott Campus.  In a statement from the College, it said: “While we still believe this would have been a tremendous asset for the Yavapai County Community, it does not rise to the level of a “need” in light of other priorities, and limited resources. We recommend cancelling this project. ($5.1M, 10k sq ft).”

Reference, click here:

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Revenue for more important educational projects fall behind the unneeded facility

Wills tried to justify to the District Governing Board at its October 2017 meeting the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars on the outdoor amphitheater that is going up on the Prescott Campus. Although the numbers of students on the Prescott Campus have steadily declined over the past seven years using actual the FTSE measurement provided by the College (SEE GRAPH BELOW) in its annual financial reports, Wills said that as “more and more students are staying and being engaged in the College, they want to sit on the hillside.” The hillside is now used by Family Enrichment children who “roll down the hillside,” she also said.

She went on to say that the College will be able to have “outdoor movies, concerts, etcetera right there. It’s another space where students can get engaged.”

The graph below shows the enormous decline in students on the Prescott Campus.  The photo below, which was provided to the Governing Board in its agenda, shows the size and scope of the amphitheater project that taxpayers and County high schools via the dual enrollment fees charged by the College  are paying for.

As noted in an earlier Blog posting, it seems hard to justify such an expenditure when there are so many other educational needs in the District that are crying for that revenue. 

The one-minute explanation by Wills for the project can be viewed on the Video below.

College has so much primary property tax revenue that it can spend it on frivolous projects like this—beautiful but unjustified and  unnecessary—the revenue could be better spent on educational programs

Construction of the amphitheater on the Prescott Campus is moving ahead as scheduled.  Photos supplied to the District Governing Board in its October agenda show the progress being made. 

One has to question the wisdom of using County primary tax revenue for this project, which is nice but unnecessary.  It is the result of  the College having so much excess property tax revenue each year, it can spend it on projects like this without providing citizens any justification.  Moreover, there is never a priority assessment made by the Governing Board that weighs unnecessary projects like this against other potential educational projects throughout the County. Consequently, the Administration builds whatever it fancies with no accountability to anyone. 

Below are some of the photos provided the District Governing Board in the October Agenda. You may view all of them by clicking here.