Mingus Union School District is looking for voter approval for a $5.9 million bond to pay for infrastructure repairs.
In the face of years of budget cuts at the state level, schools have been more and more dependent on the electorate to provide for the education of local students.
The ballots should be in the mail to the voters by mid-October in advance of the Tueday, Nov. 3, election date.
Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to the Yavapai County Elections Department.
“It’s for a lot of little things,” said Mingus Union Superintendent Paul Tighe.
“Since 2008, the legislature has cut Mingus’ budget by $979,000 annually, of which $522,000 was cut from the capital budget,” the district’s report stated. “These capital cuts total over $3 million, not adjusted for inflation.”
If passed, the bond would cost district taxpayers around $1.50 a month per $100,000 of property valuation.
Tighe broke down the district’s needs into three main categories.
“Buses, buildings and books,” he said.
Tighe said that if the bond passes, a third of the money will be used to upgrade the district’s aging bus fleet.
“They are well past their life expectancy,” Tighe said. “Many are over 15 years old.”
The buses are designed with a 10-year operating life, Tighe said.
Several of the buses have between 160,000 and 170,000 miles on them, Tighe said. Another seven buses have more than 200,000 miles on the odometer.
“They’re safe but tired,” Tighe said.
Other physical improvements are needed at Mingus Union High School, according to an analysis issued by the school district.
Tighe said the district was looking at improvements needed with the next 10 years in mind.
“Heating, ventilation and air conditioning,” Tighe said.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Oct. 7, edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
