Voters in the the Mingus Union High School District, Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District and Clarkdale-Jerome School District all approved budget overrides in the Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, general election.
- MUHSD voters approved the override 3,758 to 2,515 or 59.91% to 40.09%.
- Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District voters approved the override 3,182 to 2,191 or 59.22% to 40.78%.
- Clarkdale-Jerome School District voters approved the override 611 to 231 or 72.57% to 27.43%.
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. Schools use overrides to help their district expand programs and maintain services that would otherwise be cut due to budget constraints.
There are three types of overrides: A maintenance & operations override that funds operational expenses such as salaries, student services and instructional programs; capital overrides fund capital expenses such as technology and textbooks; and special overrides that fund specific needs such as full-day kindergarten and other specialized programs.
The override must be approved by a simple majority of voters in the district and must be renewed every five to seven years.
In 2017, Mingus voters passed an override 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, or 50.37% to 49.63%.
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.
Verde Valley Fire District Bond
Voters in the Verde Valley Fire District approved the Governing Board to sell and issue general obligation bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $15.5 million by a vote of 3,099 to 1,105, or 73.72% 26.28%.
