Initial results show $500M bond failing in Mesa Public Schools election

Mesa Unified School District No. 4 had two measures — the sale of $500 million in bonds and a 15% override continuation — for voters to consider at the ballot-by-mail Nov. 7 election.

In unofficial initial returns, the bond question is losing 29,525-28,468; and the override continuation is passing 28,614-28,451.

Results will continue to come in over the next several days. No results are final until the district governing board canvasses them.

There are 270,863 registered voters in the district, according to the county elections department.

Initial unofficial election results are posted at 8 p.m. on election day and are updated daily until all ballots have been tabulated, according to the Maricopa County Elections Department.

The ballots counted so far were received through the weekend, via U.S. Mail, ballot drop box, or ballot replacement center. Not included are ballots dropped off or voted in-person on Monday or Election Day, provisional ballots, and ballots requiring signature curing, according to a release from the county.

MUSD — also known as Mesa Public Schools — is the largest public school district in Arizona and has six high schools, nine junior high schools, 50 elementary schools and 17 choice and success schools.

The district had two items on the ballot, seeking approval on:

• allowing the district to issue and sell $500 million in general obligation bonds to provide funds for a variety of purposes including constructing and renovating school buildings, purchasing buses and acquiring schools lots; and
• adopting a general maintenance and operations budget that exceeds the revenue control limit specified by statute by 15% for fiscal year 2024-25 and for the next six years.

All qualified voters were sent a ballot by mail. Voted ballots were to be returned in the original affidavit envelope, signed by the voter, and received by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office no later than 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.