Sam Campana

Far down your 2022 ballot arriving in your home next week will be the most important choice you make this year. Vote yes on the Scottsdale Unified School District Override.

One of the first questions any new, highly desirable company asked when considering relocating or investing in our community asked, “How are your schools here? Will my well-paid employees be excited to send their children to their neighborhood school?” As your mayor, I was always proud to be able to answer yes. It’s been a point of pride in our fair city for as long as I can remember.

And it’s you and I and the taxpaying citizens who have made this possible.

Have your household costs increased these past few years? Mine have. Helping educate and enrich my two grandsons, I’ve been happy to help them get to do a little bit more. But now we have the opportunity for every child in our district to have that same enrichment: appropriate technology, STEAM resources, fine arts, safe playground equipment, well-stocked libraries are my priorities. What are yours?

I urge you also to research which candidates for school board share your values. Do they too support this modest but critical override? Who among us cannot afford the approximately $4 a month that it might increase your annual school tax. We cannot afford not to endow our collective future.

I urge you to make this a priority, vote your conscience, do the research and complete your ballot to the end.

It’s a small investment with the biggest payback we can have — smart, healthy, well-educated children in our community. Thank you!