Voters within the Deer Valley Unified School District’s boundaries again appear to be saying “no” to both a bond and a continuation of the maintenance and operations budget override.
The latest unofficial numbers from Maricopa County Elections show a 54% to 46% swing for the bond question, coming down to 44,382 votes against and 37,556 votes in favor so far.
It looks to be a similar vote for the maintenance and operations override continuation, which is losing by a 53% to 47% margin, or 43,100 votes in favor and 38,068 votes against.
If those results look familiar, the district in November 2023 had two similar initiatives on the ballot and each failed by almost the same 55% to 45% margins.
It’s unclear if the district will place new initiatives on a ballot in 2025.
“The new governing board will have reintroduction as an option,” DVUSD Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch said via email on Wednesday. “The probability of me recommending some variation of the initiatives is pretty high. We'll look at the data to see how many of our staff, parents, and constituents participated and make an informed decision from there.”
The district asked voters for four potential bond sales to reach $325 million, with each sale going out 11 or 12 years into the future. Projections show the bonds could sell for approximately $80 million each, with an interest rate to be determined at the time of each sale and locked in for the term.
Bonds are sold to investors who are repaid with interest over time from property tax collections, generally between 10 and 25 years. The bond would not increase property taxes. The 2019 bond led to the construction of Inspiration Mountain School and Union Park School, plus improvements at all five district high schools.
Deer Valley Unified also asked voters for a continuation of the existing 15% M&O budget override, which provides for the district’s operating resources, including staff salaries. Voters can authorize the district to exceed the amount of the budget otherwise allowed by the state by 15%.
This override was first approved by voters in 1991. It would not add a new tax or increase current taxes.
With the override looking like it may fail at Tuesday’s polls, the override will begin its phase out Dec. 31 of this year.
The $293.6 million budget for 2024-25 is already in place so will be unaffected.
Whatever cuts may take place for next year would be up to the governing board.
“The board may choose to better position ourselves for the first $11 million gap for next year in this year's budget as we begin to form next year's budget in the coming months,” Finch stated. “The State's allocation, enrollment, and the current economy will all be variables in the equation.”
AZcentral is reporting that Maricopa County will post two rounds of updated results tonight, one between 6 and 7 p.m. and again between 10 and 11 p.m., and that there are about 700,000 ballots left in Maricopa County and more statewide.
Steve Stockmar News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net
Meet Steve Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.
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