What to know about Mesa Public School’s Propositions 419 and 420

By Madeline Bates
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The Mesa Public Schools governing board in May voted to bring Propositions 419 and 420 to the Nov. 3 ballot.

Prop. 419 asks for $449 million in bonds for capital improvements, technology upgrades and student transportation services. Prop. 420 allows the district to sell, lease or exchange several properties.

Should neither pass, Tyler Moore, the district’s chief business officer, says that the district will continue to “react to emergency repairs” by using $28 million in capital funding from the state that the district receives annually. However, they would be limited to this amount across all 82 schools in the district.

Prop. 419

The district has an estimated $1.4 billion in capital improvement needs, and Prop. 419 bonds would only be used for capital improvements, not salaries or staff.

The district also says that around 5% of the funding from the bond would go toward improving career and technical education. This would equate to over $22 million of the entire bond.

Ten percent of the bond, or roughly $49 million, would go to improving security needs across various schools and district properties.

An estimated 15% of the bond would be for capital projects at specific schools. This would equate to over $67 million, but be disbursed across several schools.

The district says that over 70% of the bond would be allocated to what the district calls “core infrastructure,” which includes air-conditioning and HVAC, roofing, plumbing, electrical and structural components in district facilities.

Bond funds will be distributed across all schools in the district, with some, like Mesa High School, having more than $49 million allocated to improve infrastructure, safety and CTE programs. Other schools are getting around $200,000 to make necessary improvements, but don’t require infrastructure updates.

For information on how much funding is allocated for which school, visit Prop 419 Mesa Public Schools

Prop. 420

The district currently has five parcels that total more than 23 acres. The sale or lease of the properties would go toward funding capital improvements at schools, should there be a need.

The district says that “any proceeds could be used only for permitted capital purposes, such as purchasing school sites, constructing or improving school buildings, furnishing and equipping schools, purchasing technology, buying student vehicles, or other allowable capital expenses.”

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Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.