Higley USD board refers bond, override questions to voters

By Tom Blodgett
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The Higley Unified School District Governing Board referred on May 8 questions on a maintenance and operations override continuation and a bond to voters in the November election. 

The referrals passed on 3-1 votes with Vice President Anna Van Hoek voting in dissent and Board Member Kristina Reese absent. Both issues were given support by a citizens committee the district formed to study the issue, though the bond did not receive the committee’s unanimous support as the override did. 

The override continuation is for 15%, the maximum allowed under state law, which means the district would be able to increase its revenue control limit by 15% through the secondary property tax. The money would be used in the maintenance and operations of the district, which pays for most of its day-to-day expenses, including most salaries. 

The district has a current 15% override, but it is set to begin sunsetting by 5% per year starting in fiscal year 2025-26. A vote to pass it would maintain the current secondary property tax for it for another seven years. 

The override money supports special education programs, increased teacher compensation, provides staffing to maintain average class sizes, maintains and improves elementary special programs, supports gifted education and all-day kindergarten and provides educational resources to classrooms, according to the district. 

The $83 million bond, which also would be paid for by a secondary property tax, would pay for safety, security and technology improvements, essential maintenance projects, school improvements like classroom expansions or renovations, and transportation and buses. 

Passing a bond would also maintain the current property tax rate as the district says it would sell bonds as it retires debt from 2013 bonds. 

The district tried in 2021 and ‘22 to pass bonds, but both times failed to win support at the ballot box. That has slowed or stalled some district maintenance work. 

Nonetheless, Van Hoek opposed both measures, noting that seven of the districts’ schools are at less than 60% capacity for enrollment. 

“It’s easy to go out to the community and say we want more money,” she said. “It’s always easy to spend other people’s money, but we need to look at all the options we have.” 

She added that state funding is at the highest level it has ever been, but the district’s expenses continue to grow. 

Speaking during the public comment period, Taylor Francis, who is circulating nominating petitions to run for the board, urged the board to vote against putting the bond on ballot, calling it imprudent as it would jeopardize passage of the override. 

Board President Michelle Anderson said she too was concerned about that risk, but ended up voting for it. 

“I believe in a democratic voice,” she said. “I believe putting it out to the voters and let them speak and let them vote for what they want in this district.” 

Anderson did express concern that the debate could grow heated on the topic and did not want that to sway people’s opinion or deter people from offering their own opinion. 

Board Member Amanda Wade asked that people consider what typically happens when these questions do not pass. 

“That means there are electives that don't get done,” she said. “There are larger class sizes. There are clubs that get cut. There are things that you feel. 

“As we go forward as a community, I would advise community members to look at what happens to districts when these things don't end well — when they don't go through, or they don't pass. Because what you see routinely is just a year or two later, they turn around and then pass them because they have to make up for the hardship that they experienced during that timeframe.” 

Board Member Tiffany Shultz said she was choosing to honor the work of the board-appointed citizens committee that studied the issue closely and listen to the district’s Chief Financial Officer Tyler Moore in saying that the district can no longer look inward for solutions.  

“We only have so long that we can look within and what we can cut,” she said. “And I want our kids to have the best and our teachers, and I want to have the best leaders, and that's the most important. And I don't want to have aging schools in our neighborhoods, and I don't think anybody else does. We want our kids to have a great future.” 

We would like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Tom Blodgett can be reached by email at tblodgett@iniusa.org or follow him @sp_blodgett on X.    

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).