Voters in Maricopa County rejected about half of the 36 education funding measures on Tuesday’s ballot. Many voters are still uncomfortable paying higher taxes to support education.
Many of the failed bonds and budget overrides were rejected by a small margin. In many districts where the measures failed, schools will be forced to make cuts to their operating budget as soon as the next academic year. That means possible teacher layoffs and more crowded classrooms.
Nick Clement is a professor of education at NAU. He says after years of education cuts at the legislature, this election shows how voters and state lawmakers are playing hot potato with the issue.
“The state has kind of forced their hand to go to the communities and the communities are, you know, saying 'why should we increase our taxes when that’s should be something the state does because we’re paying taxes to the state,'” Clement said.
Chandler Unified School District and the Litchfield Elementary School District maintenance and operations budget overrides are among those that passed. Higley Unified School District and Roosevelt Elementary School District failed.
Phoenix Metro Area School Bonds and Overrides 2013 Election
as of Nov. 5, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.
School District | Type of Measure | Passed | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Agua Fria UHSD | M&O Override | Yes | 52.9% |
Alhanbra ESD | Capital Override | Yes | 53.3% |
Arlington ESD | General Bond | Yes | 55.8% |
Arlington ESD | M&O Override | No | 51.6% |
Avondale ESD | General Bond | Yes | 56.7% |
Avondale ESD | Capital Override | No | 50.6% |
Balsz ESD | Capital Override | No | 53.7% |
Buckeye ESD | M&O Override | No | 50.9% |
Buckeye USHD | General Bond | No | 52.3% |
Chandler USD | M&O Override | Yes | 50.1% |
Creighton ESD | Capital Override | No | 51.7% |
Deer Valley USD | General Bond | Yes | 56.9% |
Dysart USD | General Bond | No | 56.3% |
Fountain Hill USD | General Bond | Yes | 52.2% |
Fountain Hill USD | M&O Override | Yes | 51.2% |
Gilbert USD | M&O Override | No | 53.7% |
Glendale ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 52.3% |
Higley USD | General Bond | No | 50.9% |
Higley USD | M&O Override | No | 55.4% |
Isaac ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 53.8% |
Kyrene ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 58.0% |
Liberty ESD | General Bond | No | 50.3% |
Litchfield ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 53.0% |
Osborn ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 63.6% |
Palo Verde ESD | M&O Override | No | 62.8% |
Paradise Valley USD | M&O Override | Yes | 50.5% |
Phoenix ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 62.0% |
Phoenix UHSD | M&O Override | unknown | 50.0% |
Queen Creek USD | M&O Override | No | 54.9% |
Roosevelt ESD | M&O Override | No | 50.5% |
Roosevelt ESD | Capital Override | No | 51.2% |
Saddle Mountain USD | General Bond | No | 50.9% |
Scottsdale USD | M&O Override | No | 52.8% |
Tempe UHSD | M&O Override | Yes | 58.5% |
Washington ESD | M&O Override | Yes | 52.5% |
Washington ESD | Capital Override | No | 51.1% |