For the third consecutive election, Higley Unified School District voters soundly beat back a bond question from the district.
Additionally, the district this year is asking for a continuance on its 15% override, but that too is falling, though that margin is very thin. But time to change the outcome on late votes is nearly over.
In the Nov. 14 evening release through the Maricopa County Elections Department, the no vote on the $83.1 million bond was at 23,707 votes or 56.65%. Yes votes are at 18,132 or 43.35%.
That margin is slightly better than in 2022, when a $77.2 million bond lost by a 16% margin, but worse than the $95 million bond ask from 2021, which lost by nine points.
The override, however, was faring better, but not well enough. The No votes have it at 20,878 and 50.38%, with Yes at 20,564 and 49.62%.
Both questions were recommended to the board from a citizens committee, which was formed in the wake of the previous bond defeats. The committee unanimously recommended the override, but the bond had some dissent with fears that its presence on the ballot might jeopardize the override.
The bond money raised would have to be spent on issues the district defines for voters: safety, security and technology improvements; essential maintenance projects, including HVAC, roofing and other repairs; school improvement projects, including classroom expansion, renovation and secure front offices; transportation and buses.
The 15% override continuance pays to support special education; maintain class sizes; provide elementary special programs including physical education, music and arts; support gifted programs and all-day kindergarten; provide additional educational resources, including reading and mathematics, to classrooms.
One governing board candidate, Scott Glover, bemoaned the loss.
“I wish the override/continuation, whatever term you prefer, was going to pass,” he said by email. “Right now, it’s down by a mere 400 something votes, which equates to millions of dollars that could be used to boost salaries and keep funding many of the programs Higley offers students. A few hundred votes for something that makes a tremendous, positive difference.”
If the vote does not reverse in the final count, the previous override will have to begin to sunset per state law, falling to 10% next year and 5% the year after before expiring. The percentage represents the amount over the district’s revenue control limit that can be raised for its maintenance and operations budget. At present, it represents about $13 million.
The M&O budget pays for the day-to-day operations of the district, including most salaries. The override would be paid for by the district continuing its secondary property tax on district property owners.
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.
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).
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