One critical aspect of school district funding that Arizona voters often hear about is a maintenance and operations override.

The word “override” is somewhat of a misnomer. School districts do not actually override their budgets. M&O overrides are voter-approved initiatives funded through the secondary property tax to increase the district operating budget by up to 15%.

Per statute, an override must be reauthorized every seven years by local voters. It is fully funded the first five years, with a gradual reduction in funding in the final two years. 

The Queen Creek Unified School District has an override that has been in place since 2015 and was reauthorized by voters in 2019. It has a direct impact on student outcomes, student opportunities and student choice within the district.

This funding currently supports a wide range of initiatives, including competitive salaries and benefits, reduced class sizes, and academic programs to prepare students for postsecondary and workforce success. This November, QCUSD voters will have the opportunity to renew this override.

It’s important to highlight that this renewal is not a new tax for residents. Rather, voter approval will continue the current funding that has been in place for nearly a decade. Renewal of the override will allow QCUSD to continue to support and enhance key programs that are critical to students' success, including:

• Teaching assistants for all K-3 classrooms
• Personalized math and reading intervention
• Summer bridge programming and secondary math labs
• School security staffing
• Competitive salaries to attract and retain exceptional teachers and staff
• Reduced class sizes
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes and fine arts programs
• JROTC and Naval programs

Questions often arise about the difference between an override and a bond. While overrides are used to fund the district's daily operational expenses, such as teacher salaries and academic programs, bonds are intended for long-term capital projects such as constructing new schools or renovating existing facilities.

QCUSD does not have a bond initiative on the ballot this year. All construction projects in the district are currently funded by the School Facilities Division of the Arizona Department of Administration. These state-funded new construction dollars are dedicated specifically to ensuring that the district can grow and improve without impacting the operational funds supported by the override.

As the November election nears, staying informed and engaged is critical. Be sure to register to vote by Oct. 7 and take part in this decision that will shape the future of QCUSD schools.

For more information about the upcoming Override Renewal, please visit qcusd.org/election.

Jessica Johnston is the chief financial officer for the Queen Creek Unified School District.