The Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Governing Board has officially called for a special maintenance and operations override election to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The election will allow voters to decide on a proposed budget override for the district. A school district override is an initiative allowing a district to exceed its state-mandated budget limit in order to provide additional funding for staffing, resources and educational programs.
Overrides are funded through property taxes — this is not a new tax, but a continuation. While Arizona school districts can ask for up to 15% override, COCSD is asking for a continuation of the existing 10%. The community has supported seven previous overrides for the district.
Property owners in the district pay an additional amount each month to support the override. Based on the average home valued at $100,000 in the district with a tax rate of $0.40, the override costs taxpayers about $3.34 a month.
Schools use overrides to help their district expand programs and maintain services that would otherwise be cut due to budget constraints. A maintenance and operations override funds
operational expenses including salaries, student services and instructional programs. It lasts for seven years with a two-year phase down period if voters choose not to renew it.
“This override is essential to maintaining funding for programs and services currently serving our students,” said COCSD Superintendent Jessica Vocca.
This includes maintaining reasonable class sizes, providing enrichment opportunities such as STEM, sports, music and art, advanced learning programs such as algebra, aviation and animation, summer learning programs and safety and prevention programs.
“For six consecutive cycles, district taxpayers have voted to support this investment in our schools by approving an increase to the district’s operating budget through the M&O override,” Vocca said. “We are asking for continued support to ensure our students continue to receive these opportunities.”
If the override is not approved, potential consequences may include increased class sizes, elimination of extracurricular activities, reduction in staffing, outdated technology and fewer resources available for students.
The override must be approved by a simple majority of voters in the district and must be renewed every five to seven years.
The election will be conducted as an all-mail ballot election. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed to registered voters beginning Wednesday, Oct. 8.
For more information, visit cocsd.us.
