Phoenix 2021 Election Voter Guide: School Referendums

PHOENIX, AZ — School districts across the Phoenix area are asking voters in the Nov. 2 election to help bolster their budgets. In this fall's all-mail election in Maricopa County, voters in several Phoenix school districts will decide whether to allow schools to continue overriding their revenue limits or to use bonds to pay for new projects.

The voter registration deadline was Oct. 4 and ballots were mailed Oct. 6. All qualified voters within jurisdictions holding elections should have been sent ballots, even if they are not signed up to vote via mail. The last day to request a ballot in the mail is Oct. 22.

The last recommended day to mail back your ballot is Oct. 26. The ballot must be received by Election Day Nov. 2. Having an Election Day postmark does not mean your ballot will be counted.

You can also return your ballot to a voting location or ballot drop box no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day or vote in person no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Phoenix Union High School District: Maintenance and Operations Override

Phoenix Union High is asking voters to continue to exceed its revenue limit by 15 percent for the next seven years, after its existing 7-year budget override authorization expires. The expected tax rate for the override is $.47 per $100 of value or $66.50 for an average district home.

The district estimates that it will collect $28.5 million in the first year of the new override, if it is approved. That money is set to go toward things like maintaining smaller class sizes, enhancing course offerings, strengthening alternative education programs, student services like counseling and funding for athletic programs.

Phoenix Union High School District: Additional Assistance Override

Phoenix Union High is also asking for a continuation of its existing Additional Assistance Override to collect $15.3 million per year. The tax rate for the override is estimated at $.25 for $100 of assessed value or around $35.64 per year for an average homeowner in the district.

The district aims to use the override to fund digital programs. This will allow for the purchase of digital subscriptions, funding for better student WiFi access and continuing to provide a laptop for each student.

Phoenix Elementary School District: Maintenance and Operations Override

Phoenix Elementary School District is asking voters to continue its current 15 percent budget override. The district estimates that it will collect around $4.6 million for first year of the proposed continuation, if approved. The estimated tax rate would be $0.54 per $100 of assessed value. This is around the same rate of the current override.

Riverside Elementary School District: Additional Assistance Override

Riverside Elementary district is asking voters to renew its additional assistance override by $850,000 or 10 percent of its revenue control limit, whichever amount is smaller. The estimated tax rate for the first year is $0.195 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Roosevelt Elementary School District: Additional Assistance Override

Roosevelt Elementary School District is asking voters to exceed its additional assistance budget by around $5.1 million or 10 percent of its revenue control limit, whichever is less. The estimated first year tax rate for the override is $0.70 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Roosevelt Elementary School District: Maintenance and Operations Override

Roosevelt Elementary School District is asking voters to continue its 15 percent budget override to collect approximately $6.9 million in the first year. It would be funded by an estimated tax rate of $0.94 per $100 of assessed value, around the same as the existing override.

Isaac Elementary School District: Maintenance and Operations Override

Isaac Elementary School District is asking voters to renew its 15 percent maintenance and operations override to bring in around $4.5 million in the first year.

Pendergast Elementary School District: Bond Election

The Pendergast Elementary School District is asking voters to approve $53.5 million in bonds to fund things like continuing to provide all K-8 students with computers, improving technology infrastructure, replacement of aging playground equipment, updating fire alarms and security systems and renovation of facilities. District voters approved a $59.9 million bond in 2016.

Cave Creek Unified School District: Bond Election

Cave Creek Unified School District is asking voters to approve $40 million in bonds to upgrade student technology, refresh school facilities, make improvements to sports facilities, buy school buses and make repairs and renovations. The district estimates the cost to the average homeowner would be around $94 per year.

Kyrene School District: Maintenance and Operations Override

Kyrene School District is asking voters to approve a continuation of its existing 15 percent maintenance and operations budget override. It would collect an estimated $13.8 million per year to go toward smaller class sizes, instruction in art, physical education, music and languages, and to attract and retain quality teachers. The average homeowner would continue to pay around $160 per year for the override.

Tolleson Union High School District: Bond Election

Tolleson Union High School District is asking voters to approve $125 million in school improvement bonds to fund replacement of old or damaged heating and cooling units and other major equipment as well as to pay for new school buses and software systems for district services. The estimated tax rate is $0.51 per $100 of assessed valuation.