Arizona State and Local Government Documents Collection

In fiscal year 2011, Chino Valley Unified School District’s student achievement was similar to peer district and state averages, and its operational efficiencies were mixed with some costs higher and some costs lower than peer districts’ averages. The District’s per-pupil administrative costs were slightly higher than peer districts’ because the District employed more administrative positions per pupil. The District’s plant operations, food service, and transportation programs operated reasonably efficiently, with cost measures such as cost per square foot, cost per meal, and cost per mile that were similar to or lower than peer districts’ averages. However, the District needs to improve controls over access to critical information systems and strengthen controls over its fuel purchase cards.

In fiscal year 2011, Elfrida Elementary School District’s student AIMS scores for reading and writing were similar to the peer districts’ averages, and its math scores were lower. The District’s operational efficiencies compared favorably to peer district averages in most areas. All of the District’s nonclassroom areas operated with lower per pupil costs than peer districts’ averages and were reasonably efficient overall considering the District’s small size. However, the District’s transportation cost per mile was 59 percent higher than the peer districts’ average, partly because of slightly higher staffing levels. Providing transportation services cooperatively with neighboring districts could help bring costs closer to the peer district average. Further, the District needs to strengthen its accounting and computer controls.

The Planning Assistance for Rural Areas program is sponsored by the Arizona Department of Transportation Multimodal Planning Division, and provides federal funds for the purpose of conducting transportation planning studies. Lake Havasu City first participated in another ADOT program for local governments, the Small Area Transportation Study program, in 1991. Under the SATS program the Lake Havasu City government successfully developed a citywide roadway plan, and then took part in the SATS program to update the plan in 1997 and 2005. The PARA program is flexible and allows for studies of neighborhoods or sub-areas within jurisdictions. The subarea program provision made it possible for the City to apply for and receive PARA funding for the North Havasu Study Area.

The Graham County, Safford, Thatcher, Pima Small Area Transportation Study was initiated by Graham County, in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Transportation, to develop a countywide, long-range multimodal transportation plan for this growing rural Arizona community. The project sponsors selected the PB Americas team to conduct this study under the direction of a Technical Advisory Committee, which included representatives from Graham County, City of Safford, Town of Thatcher, Town of Pima, Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization, and ADOT.

The Arizona Department of Transportation assisted the Town of Clarkdale to develop the Clarkdale Transportation Study through the Planning Assistance for Rural Areas program. The PARA program assists counties, cities, towns, and tribal communities to address a broad range of multimodal transportation planning issues including roadway and non-motorized modes of travel. Existing multimodal needs and deficiencies, or those projected as a result of future growth and development, were identified through the analysis of existing transportation conditions, stakeholder input, and review of existing plans and studies.

In October 2009, the San Carlos Apache Tribe completed an update to their Long-Range Transportation Plan. One of the recommendations from the LRTP was for the Tribe to conduct an extensive transit feasibility study to evaluate the existing services and identify improvement opportunities. In addition, the Tribe is seeking support in preparing the required documentation to assist in the development of Federal and State transit funding grants. The San Carlos Apache Transit Services applied for, and received funding from the ADOT Multimodal Planning Division to conduct the Transit Feasibility Study. This Five-year Implementation Plan represents the second phase of the Study.

In October 2009, the San Carlos Apache Tribe completed an update to their Long-Range Transportation Plan. One of the recommendations from the LRTP was for the Tribe to conduct an extensive transit feasibility study to evaluate the existing services and identify improvement opportunities. The San Carlos Apache Transit Services applied for, and received Planning Assistance for Rural Areas program funding from the Arizona Department of Transportation Multimodal Planning Division to conduct the Transit Feasibility Study. The study consists of two separate phases: The first phase focuses on the feasibility of expanding and enhancing the San Carlos Apache Transit Services operation, and the second phase is the development of a five-year plan for implementing the recommended enhancements and service expansion. This is the Final Report for the first phase of the study.

The purpose of the study was to develop a multimodal transportation plan that outlines the City’s transportation priority projects. The transportation plan created a path to help the City achieve its vision and goals for a future transportation system in a manner that is closely aligned with the lifestyle and the values of the community. Additionally, it will address the City of San Luis mobility needs for the future population, commercial growth, the transportation needs due to the opening of the new San Luis commercial Port of Entry, and the reconfiguration of the original San Luis Port of Entry I. The City of San Luis Small Area Transportation Study is a joint effort of the City of San Luis and Arizona Department of Transportation.

In fiscal year 2011, Pearce Elementary School District’s student AIMS scores were similar to peer districts’ averages. Although per pupil costs were high in some operational areas, the District was reasonably efficient overall. Pearce ESD’s per pupil administration costs were similar to the peer districts’ average, and although its plant operations, food service, and transportation program operated with higher per pupil costs than peer districts, these areas operated in a reasonably efficient manner considering factors such as the age of the District’s buildings, number of meals served, and transportation miles driven. Although relatively efficient, the District should strengthen some of its accounting controls, including ensuring proper separation of duties for its payroll and purchasing processes and ensuring purchases are properly approved before they are made. The District should also strengthen some of its computer controls, such as the requirements for network passwords.

In fiscal year 2011, McNeal Elementary School District’s student AIMS scores were lower than or similar to peer districts’ averages. Although per pupil costs were high in some operational areas, the District was relatively efficient overall. McNeal ESD’s per pupil administrative costs were higher than the peer districts’ average, but only because the District served fewer students. The District’s food service program also had higher per pupil costs, but its cost per meal was similar to the peer districts’ average. However, the District subsidized its food service program with $23,000 that otherwise potentially could have been spent in the classroom. In addition, McNeal ESD’s plant operations and transportation program were both reasonably efficient, with lower costs per square foot and per mile, respectively. McNeal ESD paid a neighboring district to transport high school students living within McNeal ESD’s boundaries. As allowed by law, both districts received full funding for the route miles. Lastly, the District needs to strengthen some of its purchasing and computer controls.