The spotlight is on the Western Maricopa Education Center (WestMEC) as a state audit casts doubt over its recent partnership with the Phoenix Raceway. The audit scrutinizes the financial justifications and legality of their sponsorship deal, prompting questions about the district’s decision-making.
WestMEC, a district focused on career and technical education, found itself under review following a legislative panel meeting. The district had allocated $155,000 to sponsor the raceway in 2024, with the intention of providing practical experience for students in their respective fields of study.
However, findings from the audit revealed that many students ended up participating in tasks unrelated to their programs, such as ticket collection and sign installation, without compensation. This finding drew criticism, with Sen. Mark Finchem (R-Prescott) expressing strong disapproval, stating, “I hope that the organization has taken some serious steps to never let this happen again, because I’ll tell ya, if you’ve got a bond issue going on right now and there’s people that are paying attention to this hearing, that bond issue might as well go down in flames.”
Further complicating matters, the state auditor general’s report indicated the sponsorship might contravene the constitutional gift clause. WestMEC officials acknowledged the cessation of the raceway sponsorship.
Beyond the raceway agreement, the audit uncovered that WestMEC had also allocated substantial funds for staff-related entertainment and dining, including attending golf tournaments.
Despite these revelations, in November, the electorate approved a substantial $415 million bond intended for WestMEC’s expansion. Ryan French, the assistant superintendent of business and operations at WestMEC, defended the partnership’s educational value for students while assuring lawmakers of the district’s commitment to adopting the audit’s recommendations.
For further details, access the full audit report here.
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