Agency Lease Cost AnalysisState of Mississippi

FacultyBill M. Brister, Ph.D.Joe Donovan, MBA

AnalystsRussell Morrison, MBAAnnette Fortman Vise, MBA

January 28, 2013

Contents:

1. Lease Cost Comparisons Within Metro Area

2. Office Space Allocation and Efficiency

3. Revisit Purchase of Landmark Center

State Agency Offices Eligible to Move

The State Capitol Building is located in the center of the map.

1

Comparing the Costs of Leasing Office Space in the

Metro Jackson Area

CategoryNumber of

Leases Square FeetOffice 59 851,812

Storage/ Warehouse 27 141,445Vacant land 13

Parking 6Housing 2 15,740

Clinic 1 11,225  Library 1 2,930

  109 1,023,152

CountyNumber of Office

Leases Square FeetHinds 37 652,312

Madison 13 144,043Rankin 9 55,457

59 851,812

Summary of Property Leases in Tri-County Area

Source: Department of Finance and Administration

Office Leases in Tri-County AreaOf the 59 Office Leases, 4 are leases between State agencies, leaving 55 Office Leases between State agency and private sector.

Private Sector Office Leases in Tri-County AreaWith DOR Without DOR

Total Square Feet Leased 813,494 681,294Total Rent Paid Annually $10,034,981 $8,948,297 Rent per Square Foot $12.34 $13.13

Source: Department of Finance and Administration

Agencies Located Outside of Capitol Complex (Does not include satellite offices, e.g. WIC, Medicaid, etc.

Source: Department of Finance and Administration

Office Leases Able to Move*

Number of Leases 23

Total Sq. Ft. = 176,220

Total Annual Rent Paid = $2,524,569

Weighted Average Rent per Sq. Ft. = $14.33

* Does not include DOR.

State Agency Leases Downtown

Source: Department of Finance and Administration

Institution/Agency Name Address of Property

Distance from State

CapitolTotal Square

Feet Annual RentAnnual Cost Per Sq. Ft.

1 Department of Corrections 723 NORTH PRESIDENT STREET 0.2 25,600.00 $404,480 $15.80

2 Department of Corrections 510 George Street 0.2 14,089.00 $183,157 $13.00

3 Mississippi Office of Capital Defense Counsel 510 GEORGE ST STE 300 0.2 3,520.00 $42,240 $12.00

4 State Board of Barber Examiners 510 George Street, Suite 400 0.2 1,200.00 $15,000 $12.50

5 Department of Human Services 750 NORTH STATE STREET 0.4 171,717.00 $2,572,321 $14.98

6 Mississippi Secretary of State 700 NORTH STREET 0.4 24,747.00 $465,244 $18.80

7 Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners 600 E AMITE ST STE 100 0.5 4,459.00 $75,714 $16.98

8 Department of Finance and Administration

210 E. Capitol Street, Suites 1300 and 1400 0.6 42,130.00 $526,625 $12.50

9 Mississippi State Personnel Board 210 E. Capitol Street 0.6 26,021.00 $317,196 $12.19

Total313,483.00 $ 4,601,976

Weighted Average Cost per Sq. Ft. = $ 14.68

Lease Cost of Select Vacant Buildings Downtown

Building Address Sqr. Ft. Vacant SF % Occupied Rent ($PSF)

1 Landmark Center* 175 East Capitol Street 345,335 345,335 0% 14.00

2 Capitol Towers** 125 South Congress Street 213,380 190,000 11% 13.50

3 Regions Plaza*** 210 East Capitol Street 316,428 113,914 64% 12.50

4 Lamar Life Building** 317 East Capitol Street 83,393 75,054 10% 14.50

5 State Street Building** 633 N. State Street 64,786 64,786 0% 14.00

Totals and Percentages 1,023,322 789,089 23%

Weighted Average Cost per Sq. Ft.= $13.71

* Cushman and Wakefield, 2011** Stated to ELSEWorks***DFA Pays $12.50 and State Personnel Board pays $12.19.

Finding:

The lease rates for the vacant office space presented previously in Downtown Jackson are slightly lower than lease rates currently being paid by State agencies in the Metro Area, even with no agencies sharing space.

2

Office Space Allocation and Efficiency

Federal Benchmark for Office Space Allocation

The current benchmark for office workspace of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is 218 Rentable Square Feet per person, which includes all individual and shared space such as workstations, circulation, storage, and conference rooms. How one allots space among the different uses is up to the organization, working with their staff, management, and designers. The 218 rentable square feet per person was determined by benchmarking public and private sector office space users.

Rentable Square Feet (RSF) per Person Comparisons

• VirginiaImplemented a standard average 222 RSF per person

• TexasCurrently averages 225 RSF per person down from

236 RSF since 2000

• MississippiCurrently averages 323 RSF per person,

approximately 46% more than VA and 44% more than TX

Savings From Reducing Space Utilization Rates

• A reduction in the space per person from the current 323 square feet in Mississippi to the Federal benchmark of 218 square feet represents a 33% reduction in leased office space.

• The State currently spends $15.5 million per year (statewide) on leased office space. Reducing this amount by 33% through more efficient use of space would save over $5 million per year.

Findings:

The State of Mississippi current leases significantly more office space per person than is recommended by the U.S. General Services Administration and has been achieved by other states such as Texas and Virginia.

The State can realize significant savings by reducing the rentable square feet per person in State agency leases.

Recommendations to Achieve Reduction in Rentable Square Feet (RSF) per Employee

•Then State should set goals and targets for reduction in RSF per employee.

•Centralize authority within DFA to oversee the leasing process and reduce the RSF per employee.

•Enable and encourage sharing spaces like conference rooms and hearing rooms through consolidating State agencies within the Capitol Complex.

3

Revisit the Purchase of the Landmark Center

The Landmark Center

September 16, 2011, Purchase Price = $14.1 million.

“After careful consideration of the proposals received, we recommend the Landmark Center as the best [alternative] for the new DOR offices…” –State of Mississippi Department of Revenue, Site Selection Study, Cushman and Wakefield, September 16, 2011.

NOW…ABOUT A YEAR LATER Purchase Price = $7.6 million.

Photo by Ted Carter

345,335 SF of office space

Conclusion: Holding the assumptions in the Cushman and Wakefield study constant except for the price, a purchase of the Landmark Center is an even better deal today than it was a year ago, when it was deemed the best alternative for housing DOR.

Purchase Landmark Center vs. Continued Leasing for State Agencies

Assumptions:

• Purchase Price for Landmark Center = $7.6 million

• All other assumptions from Cushman and Wakefield report hold, including:Cost of Tenant Improvements = $40 per SF.Operating Expenses = $6.00 per SF.Recurring Capital Improvements = $1.00 per SF.Parking Expense = $1.14 per SF.

• Current lease rates paid by State agencies in metro area (average of $14.33 per SF) escalate by 2% annually.

• The DOR requires 209,000 SF. Other state agencies in the metro area but outside of the Capitol Complex currently lease 176,200 SF. This totals 385,200 SF, which is more than enough to fill up the Landmark Center.

Savings from Purchase of Landmark Center vs. Continued Leasing for State Agencies

Total Cash Flows (Spending) by State over 20 Year Period Net Present Value

Lease 345,335 SF of Office Space in Metro Area at Current Rates $120,239,192 $79,631,954

Purchase Landmark Center and Fill with State Agencies $90,247,834 $60,312,470

Savings over 20 Year Period $29,991,358 $19,319,484

Additionally, the State will own the Landmark Center free and clear after 20 years with the Purchase Option. Not so with the Lease Option.

Finding:

Purchasing the Landmark Center and filling it with State agencies (which now lease office space in the metro area) provides the State an opportunity to achieve significant savings in the annual cost of office space.

Summary of Findings• The average lease rate for the vacant office space examined in

downtown Jackson is slightly lower than the average lease rate currently being paid by State agencies outside of downtown Jackson, but within the metro area.

• Significant savings can be realized through more efficient use of

office space by State agencies.

• Purchasing the Landmark Center and filling it with State agencies (which now lease office space in the metro area) affords the State significant cost savings.

SourcesCushman and Wakefield Study, 2011.

General Services Administration; Office of Governmentwide Policy; Office of Real Property Management; Performance Measurement Division. “Workspace Utilization and Allocation Benchmark” July 2011.

Hood, Mason. Department of General Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia; Division of Real Estate Services, January 2013.

Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, 2012.

Texas Facilities Commission Master Plan, 2011.