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Voters Approve Scottsdale Unified M&O Override Election
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 5, 2019) – The ballots have been counted and the results are in: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) voters have approved the proposed Maintenance and Operations (M&O) budget override. According to the Maricopa County Recorder’s unofficial tally, as of 8:30 p.m., 61% of the ballots cast were in favor of the measure; 39% were opposed. Results show that 44,828 ballots were cast in the election.
With this vote, the secondary property tax rate for SUSD will be $0.38 per $100 of net assessed valuation through June 30, 2025. The 2019 SUSD M&O override will generate an estimated $21.4 million beginning in fiscal year 2020-2021 that will be used to:
- maintain current class-size standards;
- maintain all-day kindergarten programming;
- maintain an emphasis on technology for students and classrooms;
- maintain professional learning opportunities for staff;
- maintain competitive salaries for teachers; and
- maintain current music, art, world languages, athletics and co-curricular activities.
“We are grateful to our community for endorsing the continuation of this additional funding mechanism to support these important programs,” said Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard. “This decision is an important step in our continuing effort to secure funding to ensure our students are best prepared for their future.”
In the all vote-by-mail election, voters residing within SUSD’s Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Tempe boundaries were asked to continue the current 15% M&O override to the District’s revenue control limit that they first approved in November 2014.
Had voters not approved renewing the M&O override for another five years, the District would have lost approximately $6.5 million per year in each of the 2014 override’s final three years, for a total of $19.5 million, until the additional funding completely phased out on June 30, 2023.
“It is heartening to see that voters recognized that rejecting the override would have resulted in some very difficult choices at every one of our campuses,” said Kriekard. “There is no doubt that class sizes would have increased, programs would have been cut and reductions in staffing would have been a stark reality.”
Managed by the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office, a budget override election is a tool that is available to local school districts to provide funding for schools beyond what the state of Arizona budgets annually for public education.
The process culminating in the Nov. 5 election began June 11, when the Scottsdale Unified School District’s Governing Board unanimously approved a resolution calling for the special budget override election. Ballots were mailed to voters in October.
For more information on school district elections, visit the Maricopa County School Superintendent elections website at http://schoolsup.org/elections, email schoolelections@maricopa.gov or call (602) 506-3978. For more information on the election results, visit the election results page on the Maricopa County Recorder’s website: https://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionresults/.
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About the Scottsdale Unified School District
Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families of 23,000 students across 29 campuses. Approximately 240,476 people reside within its boundaries. The District’s award-winning academic, arts and athletic programs draw students from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment to develop the potential in every individual learner. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, Twitter: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, Nextdoor, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Media Release: Voters Approve Scottsdale Unified M&O Override Election; Funding Mechanism Helps Maintain Current Service Levels, Class Sizes