West Haymarket JPA approves $16 million payment register; board flags $231,000 customs tariff on scoreboard invoice

The West Haymarket Joint Public Agency approved a payment register showing total payments of just over $16,000,000 for the four-month period ending July 31 and carried the motion 3-0.

The register includes a mix of debt service, capital investments and routine operating, repair and maintenance costs. Joe (staff presenter) told the board $6,400,000 of the total was for debt service and said “that is in line with budgets and the resolutions passed by the board.” Other large items identified in the meeting packet and discussion included amounts described by staff as $1,000,000 to District Energy Corporation (thermal heating and cooling), about $1,000,000 to parking services, $2,800,000 described as related to a scoreboard, $1,600,000 to Mitsubishi Electric and $1,200,000 to Daktronics.

Board members asked about a separate tariff charge tied to the scoreboard shipments. Joe said a U.S. Customs and Border Protection charge of $231,000 had appeared on a recent invoice and staff are “looking to negotiate that with Mitsubishi right now.” He said the tariff was not yet paid and would require a budget amendment and a separate authorization if the board needed to authorize payment. Regent Tim Clare asked whether the tariff amount was included in the larger scoreboard payment; staff said it was not included because it had not been paid and would need separate authorization.

The packet also shows a payment of $1,850,000 to 5 Nines for the network and Wi‑Fi system upgrade, and a payment of $1,100,000 to Pinnacle Bank Arena for operating agreement transfers, repair and lighting projects. Joe told the board the Sandhills Global Youth Complex payment in the register represented the third of six payments authorized by a prior resolution and that the terms of that agreement remain on the authorized schedule.

Board members asked for additional evidence of economic impact tied to the Sandhills Global Youth Complex payments. A board member asked that staff and tourism representatives present future data on the number of out‑of‑town teams and hotel impacts. Joe said staff will arrange those follow‑up presentations.

During discussion of fund balances and taxes, staff said cash on hand was around $46,000,000 and total annual bond payments including principal and interest are about $23,000,000, a calculation the presenter said supports previous statements that the JPA could cover bond payments for roughly two years without new occupation tax receipts.

The board moved and seconded approval of the payment register, called the roll and the motion carried 3 to 0.