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Yavapai Community College in Northern Arizona

Archive for Budget – Page 4

COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLANS TO SPEND ALMOST $4 MILLION IN COMING YEAR ON MAINTENANCE FOR FACILITIES ON WEST SIDE OF DISTRICT; MOST ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS

By R. Oliphant

Saturday, April 24th, 2021

PAC accounts for almost $2 million; facilities on Verde Campus and at the Sedona Center in such good shape no planned maintenance anticipated

The Yavapai Community College Administration proposed spending $3,974,000 in planned maintenance projects for the coming academic year at the April budget meeting of the District Governing Board. As the chart below prepared by the Administration shows, all of the maintenance projects are scheduled for the west side of the District. No facilities on the east side are in need of any significant maintenance.

One reason for the disparity in planned maintenance needs goes back to the 2000 Government Bond issue that triggered a building/renovation boom on the west side of the County. Fewer buildings were constructed or existed on the east side of the County at that time.

It should also be noted that the facilities on the east side of the County were upgraded and renovated from 2010 to 2013 and are not in need of any anticipated current major maintenance. It should also be noted that the Community College is one of top institution’s in the nation in terms of maintaining its buildings and grounds.

Building “L” on the Verde Campus, which was constructed with 2000 Bonds and Federal financial support in anticipation of becoming a major Career and Technical Education Center but failing to do so, was given a major multi-million dollar renovation in 2019-2020. It now houses the Community College’s allied health program on the east side of the County and an additional small dedicated Career and Technical Education space.

Categories : Budget, Construction

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANTICIPATES ONE MILLION OR MORE DROP IN TUITION AND FEES FOR 2021-22

By R. Oliphant

Friday, April 23rd, 2021

Increased competition, 9% drop in fall 2020 enrollment, no increase authorized by Board accounts for expected loss; College nevertheless will make its $85 million dollar 2021-2022 budget balance

Dr. Clint Ewell

The Yavapai Community College Administration explained to the District Governing Board while discussing the budget that it anticipated a one million dollar drop in student tuition and fees in the 2021-2122 academic year. Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, explained some of the reasons for the drop in a letter to the District Governing Board and the citizens of Yavapai County.

He wrote, in part:

Community college enrollments have declined since the depth of the Great Recession of 2011. Typically, as the unemployment rises, displaced workers seek out community colleges to upskill, causing an increase in enrollments. Recently, this trend has begun to be compounded by a shrinking demographic of traditional 18-22 year old, due to a decline in birthrates during the Great Recession. The pandemic displaced many workers, but it also forced colleges to move to online delivery of courses. Not all students were willing or able to make this transition. So even though we hit record highs in unemployment, Fall enrollments declined by 9%.

In Arizona, the decline in enrollments reduces how much public money (eg. property taxes) the College is allowed to spend according to Arizona Constitutional Expenditure Limits.

With the advent of the approved vaccines this Spring, YC believes enrollments will rebound this Fall; however, the College has begun making plans should further reductions in spending become necessary.

In Arizona, the decline in enrollments reduces how much public money (eg. property taxes) the College is allowed to spend according to Arizona Constitutional Expenditure Limits.

With the advent of the approved vaccines this Spring, YC believes enrollments will rebound this Fall; however, the College has begun making plans should further reductions in spending become necessary.

A second challenge has to do with increasing competition. The advent of technology has created more online competitors, both non-profit and for-profit. The pandemic forced virtually all colleges and universities online this past year, further accelerating this trend.

Finally, our Strategic Planning process identified several ways in which student and employer needs and wants have been changing. The College is creating new initiatives needed to address these changes and allow YC to remain relevant in the education marketplace.

Categories : Budget

GOVERNING BOARD APPROVES $1.6 MILLION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN 2021-22

By R. Oliphant

Saturday, March 20th, 2021

Only new expenditure is $200,000 for hiring experts to draft new Campus Master Plan; remaining funds are directed at projects previously approved

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board approved the Capital Improvement Plan projects budget submitted by the College Administration at it March meeting. Six of the projects had been approved in previous years for expenditure in this year. The only new expenditure on the list of approved projects was $200,000 for hiring consultants to develop a new Master Plan for the College.

The Plan was approved unanimously by the Governing Board at the meeting. There was extensive discussion by the Governing Board led by Mr. Mitch Padilla about developing a Master Plan, which will be posted next week.

The video clip below contains detailed explanations about the projects, which were the result of careful questioning by Board Chair Deb McCasland of Dr. Clint Ewell who presented the proposal to the Board.

Categories : Budget

GOVERNING BOARD CLAMPS DOWN ON WHAT BOARD MEMBERS MAY ASK DURING PUBLIC SESSIONS ABOUT FINANCES; OR PLACE AS AN AGENDA ITEM

By R. Oliphant

Sunday, February 14th, 2021

Board refuses to allow Representative Chevalier to ask certain questions at January meeting where Board briefed on financial matters; then refuses to allow him to put the matter about that area on Board Agenda for discussion at February meeting

Paul Chevalier

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board has decided to clamp down on Representative Paul Chevalier’s efforts to bring into public view a more detailed understanding of how the College Administration is spending taxpayer money. Over the past several meetings Chevalier has tried in a number of ways to publicly discuss budgetary matters with his questions often being gaveled down as out-of-order or a matter the Board does not discuss, at least in Public. He has repeatedly been told to contact the College President rather than have the matter openly discussed during a Board meeting.

An example of the controversy came at the very outset of Tuesday’s meeting. (See video below.) He sought to have an item he had been told he could not publicly discuss at the January meeting (See January meeting video clip below) and had asked that it be placed on the agenda for open discussion at the February 9 meeting. He had followed his January request with a phone call and letter request to place the matter on the Agenda to the Board Chair.

Below is the statement he read to the Governing Board on February 9 regarding the Agenda item.

The Chair ruled the matter was not appropriate for Board public discussion and was supported by a 4-1 vote from the other members of the Governing Board.

A video clip below contains the complete discussion about the issue at the February 9 meeting. It is followed by a second video clip from the January meeting where the issue was first raised by Mr. Chevalier.

STATEMENT BY MR. PAUL CHEVALIER TO GOVERNING BOARD

February Bd Mtg 1.3 Adoption of Agenda

I move that this agenda not be adopted. I would like to explain why I am making this motion. But for me to be able to talk I need a Board member to second my motion so we can have discussion. Seconding the motion does not commit you to vote for it. Will one of you second my motion for discussion? I believe some of you will find my explanation valuable.

Thank you. I will now explain why I made this motion.

At our January budget work session meeting the college presented in the Board packet a glossary of terms it uses. I wished to ask some questions about that glossary so I could understand it better but I was told that as it was not on the agenda I could not ask questions. I thought that since it was in the packet the college presented to the Board I should have been able to ask for an explanation of some of the terms. Our chair said it was not on the agenda.

I then asked that it be put on the February Board agenda. I cited Board Policy 3.4.3.3, which states “ any Board member who wishes to put an item on the agenda should so through the Board Chair. If it is a Board Issue it will be placed on the next Board agenda.”

I followed up my oral request with one in writing.

A week later the Board Chair asked me in an e-mail why I wanted to discuss apart of the glossary. I responded to her as follows; “To ask questions about items listed in the glossary so that I am sure I understand them. “

Last week I received the following response from the Chair.

“Paul your proposed questions on this report are not issues our Board would consider or decide. “

On that basis my request was not included in this agenda and therefore the agenda should not be approved.

The Chair’s decision is of grave concern to me. The Chair appears to believe that if the Board delegates something to the college it is no longer a Board issue. The Chair stated that something is not a Board issue if the Board would not consider or decide. It.

The chair is wrong. Let me give you a real life example. A few years ago the former President’s administration fired an employer who brought a lawsuit stating he was fired illegally. This lawsuit was not brought against the President it was brought against the Board even though the Board had delegated firing of college employees to the College President and it is an issue our Board has never consider or decide.

This lawsuit was lawfully brought against the Board because in fact it is a Board issue. The Arizona Legislature made our Board the one and only governing body of this college. As this lawsuit clearly illustrates our Board cannot escape its governing responsibilities by delegating matters to the college. The law is clear – our Board remains accountable for anything the college says, writes or does.

You and I individually have a right to put on our Board agenda anything the college does, says or writes. I asked to do this not for the purpose of to take away college delegation, but simply to ask questions and for discussion. The Chair’s decision to deny this to me violates our policy.

Do I like impeding our going forward with this agenda? Of course not. But I am out of options to right this wrong unless the Chair will now agree to honor my request on the next Board agenda. In that case I will withdraw my motion. If not, I ask for your support for my motion. I know that may be hard for you. It was hard for me to write this. But if we fail to correct wrongs that is how the public representation gets hurt and eventually democracy dies.

Categories : Budget, GOVERNING BOARD

BOARD CHAIR, ATTORNEY AND PAUL CHEVALIER HAVE RATHER FIERY DISCUSSION OVER CHEVALIER’S WRITTEN COMMENT TO A REPORT THAT HE AND THE PUBLIC REMAIN “IN THE DARK” OVER HOW THE COLLEGE ALLOCATES RESOURCES

By R. Oliphant

Tuesday, January 19th, 2021

Chair and Board Attorney say that all Community College President need do is meet minimum requirements set by state statute when making fiscal report; this minimum standard, they say, is adopted Board policy; Chevalier says more could be provided

Written comments at the January 12 Board meeting by Third District Representative Paul Chevalier, in his response to what is called an “Executive Limitation” report, drew a somewhat fiery response from Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland whose views were generally supported by the Governing Board Attorney. Chevalier wrote in part in response to the report that “The College, while not required by the Board to do so, could provide a detailed transparent budget as [do] all the major public entities in our county.” He said because the Community College does not do this, “I am in the dark, so is the public,” about how the College allocates resources.

Chair Deb McCasland argued that Chevalier’s comments were not appropriate because “we have addressed as a Board the budget format,” which was passed by a majority of the Board, and “we move forward with one voice.” She also said she was reminding Chavlier “of [his] responsibility as a Board member.”

Chevalier said that the Governing Board policy regarding a financial data report “didn’t prohibit the College president from doing more” than required by the state statute. He said his comments were an attempt to encourage the president “to do more” when sending the Governing Board a budget.

The Governing Board attorney, Ms. Lynn Adams, said Mr. Chevalier could make a suggestion but not a direction. Chevalier said he was not making a direction. Ms. Adams also said that she interpreted Mr. Chevalier’s remarks as meaning the College president did not meet the minimum requirements as set down by the Governing Board for this report. Finally, it appeared that from her perspective, Mr. Chevalier had a criteria different from that of the Board policy for assessing this report and technically, if she was correct, he should not be using it.

From the Blog’s perspective, the conversation seemed more about wordsmithing than anything else. For example, had Mr. Chevalier said in his comments that the President met the state statutory requirements as set out by Governing Board policy, but he would have preferred more information, it would be difficult to challenge because he still has a right to state his own view on the issue. At the same time he is recognizing that the Community College president met the existing Governing Board policy.

In the end, the report was unanimously approved by the Governing Board. You may view the eight minute back and forth on the issue of providing greater transparency on the College budget in the video clip below.

Categories : Budget

PAUL CHEVALIER’S EFFORT TO OBTAIN GREATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUDGET TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC FAILS

By R. Oliphant

Friday, October 30th, 2020

By a vote of 4-1, Governing Board says all the College need do is to meet minimal requirements set out by state statutes in public budgetary reporting

Paul Chevalier

Third District Yavapai Community College Representative Paul Chevalier’s efforts to require a much more detailed, transparent College budget that is open to the public showing how taxes and other revenue supporting the $80 million operation are used was rejected in a 4-1 vote at the October meeting. Chevalier has urged the College on several occasions to provide much greater detailed information about its operation to the public. However, it was the will of the Governing Board that the only public budget document the public need see is that set out by Arizona statutes.

Chevalier pointed out that the Arizona statutes set out the bare minimum requirements in terms of public information that must be provided. They do not prevent a College, if it chooses to do so, to include additional information for the public. The majority on the Governing Board appeared satisfied with keeping budgetary details away from a more robust public requirement.

Chevalier has consistently used as illustrations of better public budgetary documents those that are prepared by the cities in Yavapai County and the budget published by the Yavapai County Supervisors. He has also cited Coconino Community College’s financial reports on its web site as another illustration of a community college providing greater public transparency and budgetary details. The Community College budget in contrast to those budgets is sparse in terms of detailed information.

Yavapai Community College is not alone in Arizona in formally hiding detailed budgetary information from the public. In fact, it appears that most of the Community Colleges in Arizona, with the exception of Coconino, provide even less information about how they spend public funds than does Yavapai. Chavlier argued that this should not be a justification for Yavapai following the same path.

You may view a video clip of the approximate 15-minute discussion by the Governing Board on this issue below. You may view the entire Board meeting by clicking here.

Categories : Budget

OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC BY REPRESENTATIVE PAUL CHEVALIER URGING GREATER TRANSPARENCY OF COLLEGE BUDGET GENERATES FAMILY SPAT AMONG DISTRICT GOVERNING BORD MEMBERS

By R. Oliphant

Saturday, September 12th, 2020

Caused Representative Sigafoos to state he would have sued Representative Chevalier for “defamation” except the law doesn’t allow it; both sought the other to apologize; Board in 4-1 vote adopts letter responding to Chevalier’s request for greater transparency

An open letter to the public in which Third District Representative Paul Chevalier expressed his view that the Community College budgeting process should be more transparent ruffled the feathers of some members of the District Governing Board. The letter, a copy of which was published by this Blog July 21, 2020, caused Governing Board Chair, Deb McCasland to draft a response that was adopted in a 4-1 vote.

Mr. Chevalier had attempted to share his views on the need for greater transparency in the budget process by reading his letter at the July Governing Board meeting. He was ruled out-of-order. Following the meeting, he released the letter to the public in his individual capacity as a Third District elected represented. It expressed his view that the Community College’s annual budget was not sufficiently transparent to adequately provide the public with information about the College.

During the discussion about the Board’s response to Mr. Chevalier’s letter at the September meeting, Representative Ray Sigafoos said that he was so affronted by the letter as a CPA, that “absent the Supreme Court in New York v. Sullivan, I might have a case to sue for defamation. But we’re all public officials here. I don’t have a case for defamation because I do not have proof, if you will, of actual malice. I have no proof of that but I think that in terms of those two paragraphs I cited, here in this screed, you owe this Board an apology.”

Mr. Chevalier responded to Mr. Sigafoos comments and then asked Mr. Sigafoos to apologize for his comments. It is noted that during Mr. Sigafoos’ comments, Mr. Chevalier had wished Mr. Sigafoos a “happy birthday.” (It was Mr. Sigafoos birthday.)

Representative Pat McCarver said she had never read Mr. Chevalier’s letter but voted in favor of the letter brought to the Board by the Chair anyway. Ms. McCarver indicated that she never has and never will read the Eyeonyavapai College Blog where Mr. Chevalier’s letter first appeared in July.

The back and forth between Board members and Mr. Chevalier about his open letter to the public took about 24 minutes. You can view the entire discussion on the video clip below.

The letter adopted 4-1 by the Board follows below as it appeared in the Agenda for the September 8 Governing Board meeting. There were no amendments to the letter during the meeting prior to the vote.

Item# 2.4

I am writing on behalf of the Yavapai College District Governing Board (DGB) and in response to the Eye on Yavapai posting entitled Third District Representative Paul Chevalier Wants Yavapai College to Produce a More Transparent Budget July 31, 2020. The DGB believes that the community deserves to have complete and accurate information about the College’s budget reporting processes, and as detailed below, we believe that the budget and the process by which it is prepared and approved is transparent.

Let me first address the preparation and approval of the budget. The budget preparation process starts in October each year and ends with the adoption of a budget in May, giving the DGB ample opportunities to ask detailed questions and the public ample opportunities to observe how the budget is prepared. In October, the process begins with a discussion and presentation from the College on revenue assumptions. In November, the College provides information from environmental scanning that may impact budget assumptions and decisions. The DGB holds a more in-depth budget workshop in January, and that is followed by a presentation and discussion regarding capital expenditures in March. After months of discussion and information sharing, the president presents a detailed preliminary budget in April, with opportunity for DGB and community input before the budget is approved in May.

This multiple month process provides the DGB with the information it needs to understand and develop an appropriate budget, and it provides the public with insight and understanding about all of the budget components. The DGB goes well above and beyond the legal requirements of public notification regarding the budget.

Now let me turn to the presentation of information in the College’s budget. The DGB is responsible for governing on behalf of and is accountable to the taxpayers of Yavapai County. As members, we fulfill this accountability by developing policies that govern the operations of the College. All operational decisions are delegated to the president of the College, and the president is then held accountable for the delegated areas through our structured and transparent monitoring process.

It is extremely important that we as DGB members respect and adhere to our delegated structure for a number of reasons, including to maintain good standing with our accreditation body. We also must respect the leadership of our president. We are very proud of what our president, Dr. Rhine, has accomplished in a very short period of time. She came in and listened to our students, staff, faculty, DGB and community. She has taken that information and made significant changes in both operational structure and fiscal management and reporting.

There is truly transparency in her approach and leadership style. Under Dr. Rhine’s leadership the institution has incorporated significant changes in the way the College’s budget is structured and reported. The report now includes budgetary data by department outlining every expenditure, including employee information by classification and information related to our auxiliaries, including the College’s performing arts center (PAC). In addition, the budget classifies expenditures according to the two sides of the county. We asked for these changes, and the president quickly delivered.

As a long term DGB member, I believe that the budget process and the budget reporting structure are thorough, detailed, transparent and effective. It is not about how many pages we have, it is about the consistent transparency, and I want to commend Dr. Rhine for her fiscal responsibility, leadership and business acumen.

Categories : Budget, Politics

GOVERNING BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2021 $82.6 MILLION BUDGET

By R. Oliphant

Friday, May 15th, 2020

No property tax increase, 3% faculty/staff compensation increase, no layoffs or furloughs (earlier approved 5% tuition increase)

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board met on-line for its monthly general meeting and a public budget meeting Tuesday, May 12. It unanimously approved the fiscal year 2021 budget, which was proposed by the Community College administration. The budget totals $82.7 million.

The adopted budget is 4% less than the current fiscal year 2019-2020 budget. The smaller budget is due to a reduction in capital expenses and early payment on a portion of secondary taxes that were generated by a 2000 bond issue.

Categories : Budget

GOVERNING BOARD TO VOTE ON BUDGET FOR 2020-21 AT TUESDAY’S MEETING

By R. Oliphant

Saturday, May 9th, 2020

College proposes no increase in property tax, 3% faculty/staff compensation increase, no layoffs or furloughs (earlier approved 5% tuition increase), Board has final word

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will meet on-line for its monthly general meeting and a public budget meeting this Tuesday, May 12 beginning at 1 p.m. The first order of business will involve presentation of the College’s proposed 2020-2021 Budget. (See earlier Blog post with links to meeting and how to register if you want to participate.)

Other than additional Property Tax revenues from new construction, the College is not requesting an increase in the property tax levy for the coming fiscal year. The Budget is posted on the Yavapai College website (www.yc.edu/budget ), which you can reach by clicking here.

Earlier in the year the Governing Board approved a 5% increase in student tuition. The proposed budget anticipates a 3% increase in faculty/staff compensation. It also anticipates no faculty/staff layoffs or furloughs. The Board will vote on the final budget at this meeting.

Categories : Budget

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO SPEND $5 MILLION IN MAINTENANCE ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS IN 20-21

By R. Oliphant

Sunday, March 15th, 2020

Performing Arts Center needs $2.7 million for new roof and HVAC

The draft maintenance budget for 2020-21 was unveiled at the March Community College District Board meeting. In total, the College will spend about $5 million in maintenance projects in the District. Almost all of the maintenance will occur on the Prescott Campus.

The most expensive project is the Performing Arts Center on the Prescott Campus. It is estimated the College must spend an estimated $2.6 million to replace a failing HVAC system and put a new roof on the facility. It appears that most of this cost will be the responsibility of County taxpayers via their annual primary property taxes paid to support the Community College.

The second largest project involves the residence halls on the Prescott Campus. Maintenance on those facilities is estimated to cost about $1.2 million.

You may view Dr. Clint Ewell’s report to the Governing Board on this project below.

Categories : Budget

Tags : Budget, Performing Arts Center