Eastern Plains Head Start seeks help with appraisal and space; city attorney flagged charging rent as an "anti‑donation" risk

Tucumcari — Representatives from Eastern Plains Head Start told the City Commission on March 27 that the agency operates Head Start and CSBG programs from multiple sites and asked the city to work with them on facility appraisal and leasing arrangements. City staff said the city attorney advised caution about charging rent for the site, noting such an arrangement could be treated as an impermissible “anti‑donation.”

AG Evans, Eastern Plains Head Start director, and Isabel Gonzalez described the program: Eastern Plains has been incorporated since 1969; it administers Head Start and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs and serves low‑income families across seven counties. Speakers explained that many of their sites occupy school property for nominal rent (examples noted in the packet include $1 or $2 a year arrangements) and that only a single building listed in their packet carried a commercial rent (about $1,200 a month in Portales).

The agency said it is due for an updated appraisal; the last appraisal in the packet was dated 2021. Staff and the commission discussed the appraisal request and the need to avoid creating an impermissible donation. A commissioner recommended that the city attorney work with Eastern Plains to identify options that comply with state law and grant requirements; commissioners agreed.

Why it matters: Eastern Plains Head Start provides early‑childhood and family services in Tucumcari and surrounding counties; decisions about rent, in‑kind contributions and facility use can affect the program’s federal cost‑share (in‑kind) and operations.

Details from the meeting: The presenters described how in‑kind contributions (donated space, volunteer time and donated materials) are required to meet federal match requirements. They reported Tucumcari classrooms had a budgeted enrollment of 51 but were running at about 40 students at the meeting, with two classrooms in operation and staffing constraints linked to federal credential requirements for teachers. Commissioners asked for an appraisal schedule and asked staff to have the city attorney coordinate with the agency to identify lawful approaches to facility use and any timing concerns.

What’s next: The commission asked the city attorney to work with Eastern Plains Head Start to explore lawful options for facility use and to return to the commission with suggested solutions that avoid an anti‑donation exposure and preserve the agency’s federal in‑kind match.