Arizona school elections: Voters support many bonds, overrides
Two dozen school districts in Maricopa County have funding measures on the ballot. These measures ask voters to approve financing slated for a variety of projects, including athletic and extracurricular programs, teacher pay, school buses, furniture and technology.
Most Maricopa County school bond and override measures passed. The results signal relief for many districts that want to follow through on capital projects and increase their budgets for operational expenses.
Maricopa County election officials will continue to update their tallies in the coming days as ballots are processed.
Property owners pay for bonds and overrides via property taxes. Bonds are a form of debt districts take on and are used for longer-term capital projects, such as new buildings and facilities or renovations.
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Maintenance and operation overrides are usually used to pay for operational expenses, such as campus safety, extracurricular activities and student programs.
District additional assistance overrides bolster capital funding and often help cover technology, books and other equipment expenses.
Agua Fria Union High School District
The bond measure appears to be failing by a close margin. The override renewal was approved.
Seeks a $209 million bond for safety and security improvements, building repair and updates, maintenance, land purchase, school buses, classroom technology, furniture, equipment and the construction of a new high school.
The district also seeks a renewal of its 15% override that would bring in an estimated $10 million in the next fiscal year.
Buckeye Union High School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 10% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $4.5 million in the next fiscal year.
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Cartwright Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $14 million in the next fiscal year.
Cave Creek Unified School District
Rejected.
Seeks approval of a 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $5 million in the next fiscal year.
Creighton Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $14 million in the next fiscal year.
Fountain Hills Unified School District
The bond measure and override renewal were rejected.
Seeks approval of a $20 million bond for safety and security upgrades and renovations, site and athletic facility improvements, school buses, facility renovations and furniture, technology and equipment purchases.
Fountain Hills also seeks approval of a district additional assistance override that would bring in $750,000 or less.
Fowler Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks approval of a $30 million bond for capital improvements, safety and security improvements, conservation and energy efficiency projects, school buses, technology upgrades, and new furniture and equipment.
Glendale Union High School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 10% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $11.5 million in the next fiscal year.
Higley Unified School District
Rejected.
Seeks approval of a $77.2 million bond for building construction and renovation, furniture, equipment and technology, safety and security, and to ensure one-to-one student-to-device ratios.
Liberty Elementary School District
Appears to be passing by a close margin.
Seeks renewal of its 10% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $3 million in the next fiscal year.
Litchfield Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $10.7 million in the next fiscal year.
Madison Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks approval of a district additional assistance override that would bring in $4.6 million or less.
Murphy Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $1.2 million in the next fiscal year.
Nadaburg Unified School District
The request to join the Western Maricopa Education Center career technical educational district was approved. The bond request was rejected.
Nadaburg seeks approval of a $20 million bond for safety and security improvements; air conditioning and HVAC system improvements; building renovations; construction for the Mountainside High school athletic fields, multipurpose spaces, and a gymnasium; and site maintenance, school buses and campus improvements.
Osborn Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $2.5 million in the next fiscal year.
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Approved.
Seeks renewal of its 15% maintenance and operations override that would bring in an estimated $31 million in the next fiscal year.
Phoenix Elementary School District
The bond request was approved. A request to sell, lease or exchange district-owned property was also approved.
Seeks approval of a $97 million bond for construction of new schools; renovations, remodeling and improvements to existing schools; technology equipment and upgrades; furniture and equipment; and school buses.
Phoenix Elementary also seeks approval to sell, lease or exchange district-owned property, which would have no additional tax impact.
Queen Creek Unified School District
Rejected.
Seeks approval of a $198 million bond for infrastructure additions and improvements, a new elementary school, more middle and high school space, technology infrastructure, security upgrades, buses, resource programming and extracurricular activities.
Scottsdale Unified School District
Approved.
Seeks approval of a district additional assistance override that would bring in $14.5 million or less.
Tempe Elementary School District
Approved.
Seeks approval of a $196.5 million bond for school renovations and critical maintenance projects, including furniture, equipment and technology; school buses; and maintenance for district support facilities.
Phoenix Elementary also seeks approval to sell, lease or exchange district-owned property, which would have no additional tax impact.
Tempe Union High School District
The bond measure, the maintenance override and the additional assistance override were approved.
Funds from the override would be used to reduce class sizes, core instructional programs, elective programs, student support services, maintenance, student professional development, technology services, athletic and extracurricular programs, and teacher pay.
Funds from the bond would be used for heating and cooling ventilation systems, roofing systems, security and surveillance systems, electrical and lighting systems, plumbing systems, telephone and other communication systems, energy management systems, building additions, building and ground renovations and energy efficient replacement buses.
The district's additional assistance override would bring in $8.7 million or less.
Union Elementary School District
The bond measure appears to be passing by a close margin. The override renewal was approved.
Funds from the bond would be used for new construction, furniture, equipment, capital improvements to facilities and systems, school buses and technology improvements.
Funds from the override would be used for full-day kindergarten; class size reduction; competitive compensation for teachers and staff; and art, physical education, music, dance, STEM and electives.
Washington Elementary School District
The bond measure and the override renewal were approved.
Funds from the bond would be used for safety projects, building system upgrades and replacements, pavement upgrades, new construction, technology and school buses.
Funds from the override would be used for full-day kindergarten; student intervention services; art, music and physical education programs; gifted and specialized programs; additional teachers and support staff; and competitive pay.
Wickenburg Unified School District
Approved.
Seeks approval of a 10% maintenance and operations override that would bring an estimated $936,013 in the next fiscal year.
Renata Cló is a reporter on The Arizona Republic's K-12 education team. You can reach her at rclo@arizonarepublic.com, follow her on Twitter @renataclo and join the conversation in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/arizonaeducation.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2022 election results: Voters support many school bonds, overrides
