Arkansas Baptist College did not pay at least $17,625.29 in real estate taxes on 31 Pulaski County properties on time, according to tax delinquency records.
Dean of Finance and Administration Haskell Ruff said Thursday that the school paid $12,795.06 -- everything he was told it owed -- after the payment deadline and that the late payment was intentional.
Online tax records showed Thursday that the college had paid taxes on some properties but still had outstanding balances on several more, although Ruff disputed that.
Arkansas Baptist College had 31 properties listed as delinquent in the Pulaski County treasurer's list of delinquent properties published in Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, totaling $19,387.82, which includes a 10 percent delinquent fee. The college's original bill due Oct. 15 on those 31 properties was $17,625.29.
The Democrat-Gazette found no other colleges in the county with delinquent taxes.
Public entities are exempt from paying property taxes on any facilities that are not revenue-generating. For example, the city of Little Rock does not need to pay property taxes on City Hall but must pay property taxes on its three parking decks in the city.
Arkansas Baptist College is a private, four-year institution with 968 students enrolled this fall. It has struggled with debt for several years, prompting complaints of late employee paychecks and student financial aid checks, as well as civil lawsuits in which vendors demanded payment.
College President Fitz Hill has called the struggles "cash flow problems." The college has been in jeopardy of losing its accreditation, in part because of its debt. In December, the college received a $30 million federal loan to help shore up its finances.
Ruff said he intentionally did not pay taxes on time because the tax deadline came before the time of the month that he normally writes checks -- about the 20th of each month.
"If you call any other businesses up you will find that," he said.
He said he called the county treasurer's office Oct. 20 and asked how much the college owed, then wrote a check for that amount, which he said was $12,795.06.
Ruff said he did not write a check when he paid bills the previous month because he wanted to keep the money in the bank for another month to accrue interest. He declined to indicate what the interest rate is on the college's savings account.
A 10 percent delinquency fee for paying five days late on $17,625.29 would amount to $1,762.53 in extra money owed to the county. To match that extra money in one month's interest on $17,625.29, the college would have needed an interest yield of 10 percent in September.
When asked if a clerical error or cash flow issues contributed to the college not paying its taxes on time, Ruff said neither factored in.
He also said the college only owed $12,795.06, according to what the treasurer's office told him when he called Oct. 20. He also said the college has paid all of what it owes.
"As far as I know, they've [all taxes] been paid, unless there's some properties I'm not aware of," Ruff said.
The Pulaski County treasurer/tax collector's website indicated Thursday that 27 of the college's properties remained delinquent for $8,581.21.
Messages left for treasurer's office officials late Thursday asking whether the delinquency list online was current and whether the college only owed $12,795.06 as of Oct. 20 were not immediately returned.
Of the $19,387.82 owed, $4,805.96 refer to Hill; $1,289.19 refer to "Arkansas Baptist College Inc.;" $3,783.24 to "Arkansas Baptist College Corp." or "Arkansas Baptist College - A Corporation;" and $522.75 to "AR Baptist College." The rest refer to "Arkansas Baptist College."
The tax records published in Wednesday's Democrat-Gazette also indicated that several government properties were delinquent on taxes, despite governments not needing to pay taxes on properties that don't generate revenue.
The city of Little Rock had 53 real estate properties listed as delinquent, adding up to $56,640.39, including the 10 percent delinquency fee. City spokesman Jennifer Godwin said she did not have an answer back Thursday afternoon from city employees on why the city had so many delinquent tax bills.
North Little Rock Municipal Airport also was listed as not paying taxes on time for seven of its properties, totaling $2,990.26 with the delinquency fee. A city spokesman did not return a message seeking more information Thursday afternoon.
One Pulaski County-owned property also was listed as delinquent, owing $7,290.90 with the delinquency fee. County spokesman Jarrod Johnson said the taxes hadn't been paid by the private company that utilizes the space via government bonds and a lease with the county.
The property is exempt from taxes in 2015 but is required to pay them for 2014 because the county did not purchase the building, on Executive Center Drive in Little Rock, until midway through the year.
Metro on 11/06/2015