Last November, the voters in the Kyrene School District voted to pass an over $14 million maintenance and operations override to assist with costs in the classroom. At the Oct. 27 board meeting, Chief Financial Officer Chris Hermann outlined where the funds have gone and why they were necessary for this year.
“We take being stewards of tax dollars very seriously,” Hermann said at the meeting.
Over $27 million in the 2026-27 budget has come from the bonds, while only $14 million has come from the override.
The override paid for 190 of the teaching positions in this school year.
Hermann also discussed the capital override funds that were passed last year to help with grounds and district property. The district sold over $161 million of bonds to pay for these projects and still has $118 million available to sell.
Hermann said that the state only provides 11% of the funding needed for the school year.
“If we were in a position where we had to rely on the state for our capital funding, it would be impossible to keep up the same quality of the district,” Hermann said.
Last year the district made the decision to remove students and teachers for several months after extensive construction projects at Sierra Elementary School. Construction was over 87% of the capital override budget, helping to update facilities not only at Sierra, but also at other schools for future students.
The board thanked Hermann for his work calling the presentation. Vice President Amy Satre thanked him on behalf of the community.
“It’s really important to point out what all of this does and why the community should be involved in these decisions,” Satre said.
Kyrene is not seeking another override this election; however, voters have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 320, which would affect Kyrene and hundreds of other districts in the state.
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.
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