By a margin of just 226 votes, voters approved a ballot measure that will continue a budget override of $6.8 million a year for the Kyrene School District.

I have a pamphlet here on my desk, touting the need for continuing an existing Kyrene School District Capital Override: "The primary purpose of the Capital Override is to support the nationally-recognized instructional technology program."

Budget override is the same as raising the debt ceiling. It is time the Kyrene School District learned to live within its budget. We voted it down last time and they are back at the trough. They are counting on the taxpayers not knowing what is going on.

MESA BONDS

With 78 percent of the votes counted, the renewal of a kindergarten-through-third-grade budget override in the Tempe Elementary School District is passing, according to early results.

Phone banks organized at 33 schools in three weeks. Visits to parent groups at each of those sites. E-mails and pamphlets sent to voters.

Despite increased state funding for education in recent years, school districts remain dependent on having budget overrides — and asking voters to pay for the costly habit.

Scottsdale school leaders are downsizing a failed budget override in an attempt to see if its more palatable to voters. The Scottsdale Unified School District is considering putting a $69.3 million override on November’s ballot, but before deciding whether the measure will go to voters, officials want to get feedback to make sure the measure has community support.

Parents and Scottsdale Unified School District officials are already preparing for two spending measures that might be on the November ballot. And they’re using lessons learned from a failed capital override campaign last year to form strategies this time around.

With average class sizes in Mesa schools already larger than many parents and teachers would like, imagine what would happen if funding for 136 teachers were slashed.

Voters in Tempe, west Chandler and Ahwatukee Foothills who care about education have an opportunity on March 11 to maintain quality in their public high schools.

Higley Unified School District’s request to renew its maintenance and operations budget override was failing Tuesday night, according to unofficial results.

Editor's Note: These letters to the editor have been sorted by topic by the Tribune editorial staff in an effort to allow readers to read varied opinions on the issues, candidates, and other circumstances surrounding the 2012 general election. These submissions are the opinions of the author, not the Tribune, and have not been edited for grammar or content.

Gilbert schools may lose elementary art classes, see bigger class sizes and experience cuts to programs if current budget levels are not maintained, district leaders told the governing board.

I've been a parent in the Kyrene School District for 14 years. I live here because I heard this area had one of the best school districts. My experiences the past few years have taught me how low the level of support is for public education at the state level.

I've been a parent in the Kyrene School District for 14 years. I live here because I heard this area had one of the best school districts. My experiences the past few years have taught me how low the level of support is for public education at the state level.

The Higley Unified School District is asking voters to approve a budget override that would reduce class sizes in K-3 classrooms, while Mesa schools are depending on the renewal of an existing budget override to avoid cutting even more from their budget. Apache Junction's schools override would raise the property tax for next year.

Voters approved a budget override Tuesday, allowing the Mesa Unified School District to keep $35 million annually in its coffers.

Jim Ripley: Jill Benza asked me if I would write this column, then she asked me if I would put a campaign sign in my front yard. The sign she handed me says, “Vote Yes for Our Kids.”