Higley, Coolidge districts seek overrides

Voters in Gilbert and Pinal County will be asked to approve bonds and budget overrides for the Higley and Coolidge school districts in November. The Higley Unified School District board decided Thursday to ask voters to renew an existing $4 million maintenance and operations budget override.

Chandler schools ask voters to continue override

Gilbert district board approves proposed budget

The override, which has been in place since 1994, needs voter approval this year so the district can continue receiving the money.

If the override is not renewed, the district would have to start cutting the $4 million over the next three years from its budget.

The maintenance and operations fund pays for the majority of instructional costs, all student transportation costs, general upkeep of district facilities and district administration and support, said Mark Busch, the district's executive director of budget and finance.

The extra money the district receives from the override allows Higley to maintain programs, class sizes and supplies, and competitive salaries, Busch said.

The money for the maintenance and operations override comes from property taxes, and since the current override is already in the tax rate, renewal of the override would not increase the tax rate, Busch said.

A Higley homeowner would pay an anticipated $68 for every $100,000 of a home's assessed value.

At a study session before the board meeting, Higley parent Michelle Rigby told district officials she would promote the override through the Change in HUSD group that she and other parents are involved with.

The Coolidge Unified School District board on Wednesday approved calling for a special bond election and a special capital outlay override election.

The $55 million in bonds would fund capital projects, including reconstruction of Coolidge High School, replacing West Elementary School, buying new buses and putting in athletic fields in several schools, said Coolidge Superintendent Darlene White.

The capital outlay override would give $7 million over seven years, and would fund the district's technology plan. The plan includes putting in computers, interactive whiteboards, video conferencing capabilities and upgrades to the telephone system, White said.

The Florence Unified School District also is considering a possible capital outlay budget override. The board will decide July 9 whether to put the issue on the November ballot.