Chandler bonds, charter amendments and school override passing, school bond close
Matt York/Associated Press file
A voter drops off her ballot at a drop box in 2022 in Mesa. Results have begun to roll in for Chandler-area special city and school district elections.
Many directions for Chandler-area leaders and their governments hinge on Nov. 4 special election results — which Maricopa County elections began to post shortly after polls closed on Election Day.
Chandler-area voters had a $475 million bond and two charter amendments if they live in the city of Chandler, with Chandler Unified School District residents voting on both a $271.5 million bond and a spending override.
Sun Lakes-area county-island residents voted on a fire district bond.
City’s $475 million bond
The city of Chandler was asking voters to approve $475 million in bonds in the form of four yes-or-no questions on the ballot.
In early returns Nov. 4, all four city bond questions seemed to be on the way to passing by wide margins, with about 37,000 ballots cast, or 21.5% voter turnout.
The $158 million parks and recreation question was passing by a 67%-33% margin.
The $88 million fire services question is passing by about a 75%-25% margin.
The $46 million police services question is passing by a 70%-30% margin.
The $183 million streets and traffic question is passing by a 72%-28% margin.
City’s charter amendments
Proposition 410, which would specify a 16-year cap on serving as mayor and council, with zero gap required in between mayoral and council service, is passing by about a 78%-22% margin.
Proposition 411, which would give council the discretion of how much severance pay a removed city manager would receive, is also ahead, but not as much. It's passing, 63%-37%.
Chandler Unified bond
Chandler Unified voters are deciding on a single $271.5 million bond question. As of this writing, the votes reported are about as close as expected.
With 42,707 ballots counted, or 23.81% voter turnout, the bond is passing, but barely, with 21,202 votes in favor and 20,943 against. That's a 50.31%-49.69%-margin.
Chandler Unified override
Unlike bonds, budget overrides are spending authority for a specified length of time.
CUSD voters approved seven years’ worth of override authority in 2021. The district is asking voters to approve seven more years of such 15% authority this year, with 22,963 of the first 42,707 ballots in favor and only 18,826 against it. That's a 55%-45% margin.
Sun Lakes’ fire district bond
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority is seeking a $23.5 million bond from voters who live in the South County Fire & Medical District, which includes the unincorporated Sun Lakes area of Maricopa County, located southwest of Chandler.
Officially speaking, that bond is known as Maricopa County Proposition 408. It is currently on its way to passing by a 62% to 38% margin, with 42.2% voter turnout.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here