The Mingus Union High School District Governing Board voted to move forward with a budget override election in November during its April 10 meeting. Budget overrides are used to increase funding for the school’s maintenance and operations budget. Under state law, a school district is only allowed to budget up to the amount of as pending cap set by a state formula. The state, however, allows school districts to ask voters for a budget override, meaning the schools can tax property owners in the district to raise additional funds beyond their set spending limits. Mingus voters approved a seven-year override in 2021, but can renew the override during that term. The current override would expire in 2028.The board rejected an option to send a$32.8 million capital bond election to the voters by a 3-2 vote on June 8, 2023, on the grounds that the amount was too high and would support campus repairs rather than improved academic performance.
During the 2024 election, then-candidates Ashley Koepnick and Taylor Bell said they would vote in favor of bonds and overrides. Koepnick is the MUHSD vice president. “I am all for capital bonds that help to improve our facilities for the benefit of the students — i.e. the new wrestling room and football fields. I am also for an M&O over-ride as long as it provides for the education achievements of our students,” Bell said. “I would be in favor of a capital bond over-ride, leaving the final decision in the hands of the taxpayers. If the override passes, my priority would be to ensure budget oversight and responsible spending, making sure that funds are allocated efficiently to benefit our students and school,” Koepnick said.
Rev. Frank Nevarez, the MUHSD Governing Board temporary president, voted in favor of the budget override on April 10 although he stated during the November2024 election campaign he would have voted against the 2023 capital bond. “I would have also voted no,” Nevarez said, differentiating himself from all of the other candidates at a League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona and the Greater Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce forum on Oct. 7, saying that “the bond that was trying to get passed, they didn’t have all the details. ”The three board members who rejected the 2023 bond left the board in the 2024election.“Financial mismanagement at the state level hurts rural schools like Mingus, ”Narvaez said in a candidate interview regarding a bond. “I’m undecided due to the lack of information about the bond and why it was denied. I believe every bond needs to be fully understood regarding the amount needed and have clear budgetary oversight on the spending.”
Nevarez later offered alternative funding suggestions for the district, such as monetizing the public school district website through private advertising, looking at creating new community partnerships and crowdfunding. MUHSD voters previously approved a budget override by 58.3% percent to 41.17%in 2013, but denied an override measure at the polls in November 2014 that would have granted the district money for capital improvements. However, the voters did pass a $5.9 million capital bond by 52.13% to47.87% in 2015 aimed at the same capital improvements. In 2017, Mingus voters passed an over-ride by 60.52% to 39.48%, and the district held a special election in 2021 to ask voters for a continuation of that override, which narrowly passed by a mere 54 votes, or50.37% to 49.63%. Nevarez was also sworn in as board president on April 10, replacing Dr. Misty Cox, who resigned on March 25.
