The Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board called for a Maintenance and Operations Budget Override election for March 9, 2010 to request voter authorization to continue the existing override that was approved by voters in 2005. The action was taken at the December 3 Governing Board meeting.
The call for the override was in response to a November override which failed to pass by some 1,000 votes, resulting in Phoenix Union facing a reduction of $4.5 million to the District’s M&O budget for the 2010-2011 school year and subsequent reductions as the current seven-year override phases out.
Overrides are voter-approved measures allowing the school district to exceed its operating budget limit by 10 percent each year. The operating budget is used to pay teachers and support staff, along with supplies, repairs, utilities and student transportation.
The proposed seven-year override, if approved, would be for an estimated $13,682,823 for 2010-2011. Homeowner and business taxes would not be increased, according to District officials, because the proposed tax rate for the full amount is estimated to be $0.18, which is approximately equal to the existing override tax rate, and will continue programs that have been in place with prior years’ override approvals. The override portion of the Maintenance and Operations Budget is approximately $18 for a home with an assessed value of $100,000.
Renewal of the override will not generate any new money for the District, but will permit Phoenix Union to maintain programs:
• To preserve smaller class sizes in all grades
• To continue alternative education programs and interscholastic athletics.
• To sustain enhanced course offerings for more rigorous college and career preparatory classes
• To continue to offer students elective courses such as student government, performing arts, vocational education and Junior ROTC
• To attract and retain the highest qualified educators in the profession
• To keep small schools such as Cyber, Bioscience and Franklin Police and Fire open
• To retain student services and counseling as well as security staffing
School districts utilize overrides because the State Legislature does not fully fund inflationary increases to public education. In fact, in the current state budget crisis, reductions to Phoenix Union are projected to be $6.5 million in 2010-2011. Failure of the override would force the District to reduce its operating budget over the next three years by more than $13 million, through the loss of services, programs and employees.
Source: Phoenix Union High School District
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