Bond & Capital Override
Since schools in Arizona receive the majority of their funding from the state on a formula based on a snapshot in time of enrollment, there can be funding gaps for things such as aging infrastructure, rising operational costs and the need for new technology and programming.
Bonds are one funding mechanism allowed under Arizona state law to help public school districts pay for capital projects, with voter approval.
Bonds can fund things such as:
- New schools
- Building improvements
- Safety improvements
- Technology
- School buses
- Equipment and other projects
Overrides are another funding mechanism that, with voter approval, can help extend a school district extend its budget up to 15% of the maintenance and operation budget.
There are three types of overrides:
- M&O Override
- Provides funds for teacher salaries and benefits, supplies and general operations
- May request up to 15% of budget
- Special Override
- For programs like full-day kindergarten, art, music and physical education
- May request up to 5% of budget
- Capital Override
- Supports things like buses, books, fine arts, playground equipment and classroom furniture
- May request up to 10% of budget
Bond & Override Projects
2016 Bond & Capital Override
In 2016, SUSD put a measure on the ballot to replace mature bonds in the amount of $229 million and override measures that generated $8.5 million in funding over seven years.
SUSD’s bond was approved in 2016 for $229,000,000 for:
- Renovate, Improve and Construct School Facilities
- School Site Safety
- Pupil Transportation
The final bond sale was completed in March of 2021. In anticipation of the 2016 override maturing, the District asked voters to renew the override in 2019 and that measure overwhelmingly passed.
Project Updates
This regularly updated, informative presentation tracks and showcases current and completed 2016 Bond projects.