Same-community other facility operating expense as a percent of revenue was flat to the prior year. Driving the dollar expense increase over the prior year first quarter were a number of marginal factors, including the higher cost of property and casualty coverage, including higher premiums and higher retained risk, technology enhancements, including upgraded WiFi within our independent living portfolio, and an outsourcing of our data centers, as well as broad inflationary pressure and the impact of an extra day. Importantly, the data center outsourcing is neutral from a cash flow perspective. Our continued favorable same-community revenue to expense spread drove 140 basis points of year-over-year adjusted operating margin expansion to 27.6% of revenue. As Cindy shared, this represents our highest reported adjusted margin rate since the initial impact of the pandemic.
Reflecting our tenth consecutive quarter of meaningful year-over-year same community growth, first quarter adjusted operating income increased by 12% over the prior year first quarter. Continued progress on the top line and ongoing appropriate expense management have supported these results, as well as supporting our achievement of a meaningful milestone in our pandemic recovery. On a per available unit basis, our annualized first quarter same-community operating income surpassed our 2019 same-community operating income per available unit. Given the significant runway still available for occupancy growth, we believe this not only reflects a remarkable accomplishment, but also positions us well over the near and long term as occupancy continues to grow.
I’m very proud of our continued progress as we diligently work to return to pre-pandemic segment operating margins while continuing to ensure that we meet our residents’ needs, provide high-quality care and services, and remain in compliance with applicable regulations.
First quarter general and administrative expense was relatively flat to the prior year first quarter, excluding prior year restructuring costs. Cash operating lease payments were $65 million. These financial results culminated in first quarter adjusted EBITDA of $98 million, which exceeded the top end of our guidance range by approximately $3 million. This outperformance was due to favorability in labor expense, driven predominantly by wage rage. Compared to the prior year first quarter, adjusted EBITDA increased $9 million or 10%. As we shared previously, when comparing first quarter adjusted EBITDA to the first quarter of 2023, there are several factors that presented a meaningful headwind to year-over-year growth results.
First, the prior year first quarter included approximately $2.3 million in government grant revenue. Second, as a result of the May 2023 change in lease classification, we had approximately $7.4 million of lease payments that impacted adjusted EBITDA this year, but did not affect last year and did not impact cash rent payments. Third, our current year first quarter adjusted EBITDA results include approximately $2 million of incremental expense from the January winter storms. And lastly, the current year first quarter included an extra day for leap year, which resulted in approximately $3 million of incremental expense, with only a minor impact to revenue. Considering the magnitude of these factors combined, we’re very pleased with our year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth results.
Adjusted free cash flow was negative $26 million for the quarter. As expected, our first quarter change in working capital was negative $22 million and represented the largest impact when comparing first quarter adjusted free cash flow to the prior year first quarter, as normal core seasonality, annual incentive compensation payments occurred during the first quarter and are reflected in our change in working capital results. Additionally, unique to this quarter was the impact of cash, long-term incentive payments related to awards that were granted in lieu of equity in 2021 following satisfaction of certain performance conditions. Given Brookdale’s strong 2023 performance and the timing of the unique approximately $4 million long-term incentive grant, the cash impact of our current period incentive compensation payments was larger than in recent prior years.
First quarter nondevelopment capital expenditures were $51 million. We continue to anticipate approximately $180 million of net nondevelopment capital expenditures in 2024. First quarter interest expense net was relatively flat to the fourth quarter of 2023. As of March 31, total liquidity was $355 million compared to $341 million at the end of the 2023 fourth quarter. We’re pleased with this liquidity position and that we’ve no mortgage debt maturities without extension options until September 2025.
Turning to the second quarter. In yesterday’s press release, we guided to second quarter RevPAR growth of 6.25% to 6.75% over the prior year and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $93 million to $98 million. Contributing to our RevPAR expectations, we anticipate our second quarter weighted average occupancy to increase sequentially from the first quarter, representing favorable performance when compared to normal pre-pandemic seasonality for this period. This favorable expectation reflects our strong first quarter move-ins and the anticipation for continued positive recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
Regarding RevPOR, we expect a step down sequentially from first quarter RevPOR to second quarter RevPOR. A sequential step down between these 2 quarters is normal course, and has varied historically in amount based upon a number of factors, including product mix and care rates as newer residents generally move in with lower acuity and therefore, have a lower care rate than existing residents. We’re pleased that our top line expectations will support another quarter of meaningful year-over-year revenue growth, particularly considering we received more than $4 million in state grant revenue in the second quarter of 2023.
We expect to exit the second quarter with a capacity of 50,950 units, or 1,000 fewer units than at the same time last year as a result of owned and leased dispositions over the 12-month period. We believe that with our continued expected occupancy recovery as we build upon our strong occupancy start to this year, our year-over-year RevPAR growth rate will further improve throughout the year. When considering our second quarter adjusted EBITDA guidance, we believe that beyond our expected favorable occupancy growth compared to the first quarter and continued appropriate expense management, the cadence of our results will be largely in line as it relates to the seasonal sequential performance as shown on the last page of our investor presentation.
In closing, we’re pleased to have delivered another quarter of strong year-over-year growth. We’re confident that our disciplined approach to achieving positive outcomes and sustainable growth, while maintaining a commitment to quality and excellence will yield favorable results in 2024 and for decades to come.
I’ll now turn the call back over to Cindy.
