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A failed override, coupled with possible state cuts, could leave Maricopa Unified School District leadership looking for areas to cut potentially $9 million from a roughly $30 million operating budget.

When schools are in a bad financial condition, they start to eliminate some music, sports and other programs, explained MUSD Superintendent Jeff Kleck during a March 10 meeting with local media. When schools get into worse financial shape, they make deep cuts to personnel, he said. However, when a district is in dire straits, they begin to close buildings, eliminate transportation and get rid of ancillary costs, Kleck concluded.

“Schools around the state, including in MUSD, will be in this critical state if the sales tax provision does not pass,” Kleck said.

State cuts

The Arizona state legislature has drawn up two budget proposals that aim to balance the state’s nearly $1 billion deficit this year and a projected $3.5 billion deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The first proposal calls for the cancellation of health-care coverage for 47,000 children, removing 310,000 Arizonans from the state's Medicaid program and shifting juvenile corrections to the counties. It also relies on voters passing a temporary 1-cent sales tax increase to cover nearly a $1 billion deficit. However, if voters reject the sales tax measure, then the legislature will look at a second budget proposal that cuts funding to school districts by nearly 20 percent.

“If the sales tax does not pass, we would be looking to cut about $5 million from our budget,” Kleck said. “I don’t want to raise fear in the community, but almost $8 to $9 million in cuts is apocalyptic.”

Yet, even if the measure passes, the district still faces a difficult budget proposition. MUSD would be forced to make almost $4 million in reductions.

Override

The majority of the $4 million in neccessary cuts center around state leadership's funding to Maricopa, but almost $1 million of those cuts come as a direct result of the override measure Maricopa voters turned down in Tuesday’s primary election.

The maintenance and override measure would have allowed the district to continue to collect through property taxes approximately 10 percent of their operation's budget of $3 million a year. However, now that the measure has failed, it will be phased out by one third each fiscal school year, which begins July 1. “The people of Maricopa are going to see the effect the failure of this override has,” Kleck said

“I am very disappointed in the results of the election,” said Jim Rives, chairman of the override political action committee. “This is a decision that is going to send ripples through the community for years to come.”

The measure failed by a margin of less than 80 votes, with many of the dissenters originating from the Thunderbird Farms area and The Villages, which was the polling location for Province.

“We have to ask ourselves why people in these areas did not vote for the measure and learn how to get the word out to them,” said Geoff Goddard, MUSD board president.

Goddard said the district was very open about the override and even went as far as hosting several public meetings to answer questions and go through the financial numbers. “In my estimation, the district has been more transparent than any other entity in the city,” he said.

While efforts to educate voters seemed helpful for those who showed up at the polls, residents who mailed in their ballots did not appear to get the same message, rejecting the measure 60-40.

MUSD did not get approval from the state attorney general until late December to bring the override issue back to voters after it originally failed in November.

“We didn’t have much time to get everything together and get information out to the voters,” Kleck said. “It was a scramble.”

Despite the short timeline, Kleck said he was proud of the job the political action committee had done and that the voters had spoken. About 2,500 residents, or 12 percent of registered voters, showed up to cast their vote. Kleck predicted that about 15,000 votes were connected to the district through teachers, their spouses and parents. “It is discouraging to have such a low voter turnout,” Kleck said. “The right and ability to vote makes this country what it is.”

Goddard agreed, adding it was discouraging that the majority of those who did not turn out would be the people feeling the impact of the pending cuts.

The district can return the override to the ballot in November, but by that time they will have already lost $1 million in funding for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. “I believe when people start to see  the effects of what we have to do the next few months, they will feel the need for an override,” Kleck said

Cuts

The district has made several cuts in the past year to help deal with reductions in funding on the state level. These actions have included reductions in days for some staff, reduced security personnel, removal of a truancy officer, pay freezes and several other moves designed to save money while not impacting the classroom.

School districts have mandated goals and expectations that can’t be changed regardless of the hits in funding, Goddard said. “These problems with funding are a direct result of poor decisions made by our governor and legislators,” Goddard said.

While last year the district kept cuts away from the classroom, Kleck said it would be impossible this go around to not impact the classroom. "From here on out, we impact lives,” Kleck said.

Kleck would not be specific as to which things the district was looking to cut, but three items he seemed to imply would remain are full-day kindergarten, existing levels of teachers' salaries and a five-day school week.

“Many of the teachers are struggling now and to take a portion of their pay would have a huge morale impact on the district as a whole,” he said.

Instead, Kleck said he believed cutting ties with the necessary number of teachers would not have as drastic an impact on the overall morale and productivity of the educational environment. Yet, with those cuts, classroom sizes could swell.

“Not too long ago, 40 kids in a classroom was the norm for Maricopa; we don’t want to go back there,” said school spokesman Tom Beckett. “I am not sure this district has historically ever faced a situation as bad as this.” 

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• Good! (brandonaz)
• In 1986 in NJ, higher taxes for new schools. Those who voted the taxes in could NOT afford the new taxes. They sold their homes and moved out. As to the temporary 1% AZ sales tax--remember Income Tax was temporary to fund a long forgotten war. Many Maricopa families cannot afford their homes NOW. Just increase the Real Estate tax and add the 1% new sales tax and puff--they will move. (mark95man)
• If there needs to be cuts, start from the top and work down. It seems to me that some of these high payed administrators could go. When times are tough go back to reading, writing, and arithmetic. Cut back on some of the buses. I've watched and some of the buses are half full of kids going home after school. It's time to cut out the overhead in the schools. (mybearessentials)
• Things are tough for many people.People are in danger of losing homes or possibly jobs. It was the wrong time to ask Can i run 10% over budget and bill you ? (Ravensnest2)
• MUSD, please read the story on Local housing economy scrappy in recovery. (mark95man)
• I disagree with not being able to afford the override. 9 out of 12 valley districts approved. Problem is the majority didn't vote. Very sad not many care down here. (Ebay1)
• I hope MUSD stays financially solvent. If not the bond interest will be increasing due to lower rating. Guess what? Then our taxes will increase to cover the school bonds. (Ebay1)
• "However, when a district is in dire straits, they begin to close buildings,ELIMINATE TRANSPORTATION and get rid of ancillary costs, Kleck concluded." WHAT AN EXCELLENT IDEA! (cholo bandito)
• You are ok with paying higher taxes for less? Bond rating drops = higher interest, more taxes. AZ sales tax increase = higher taxes. We will be paying higher taxes (more than the override) for less. You're ok with that? (Ebay1)
• Sales Tax increases are the smartest move.......if you aren't buying alot of crap you don't have much to worry about......if you are materialistic then we thank you for the extra cash....... (JasonY)
• Jason - You think it is a smart move to pay more for less? What about bond rating? Everyone will be hit with higher taxes to cover the higher interest for the bonds. (Ebay1)
• mark95man New Jersey is ranked top 10 States in education in the US. Arizona is dead last and Maricopa is at the bottom 50% in AZ. Do the math!!. Thank you for bringing up what happens to education when people support it!! (Bachue)
• Usage tax (JasonY)
• Good, let MUSD manage it's budget just like the rest of us do. I dont have the luxury of an extra 10% for my bills, why should they? I didnt even get any raise for last 2 years at my job, but the expenses keep climbing out here, so I make cuts in my spending. Let MUSD suffer without a raise in income, just like the rest of us hard working people. (CopaExplorer)
• CopaExplorer - try cutting your pay by 40% then we'll talk. That is what MUSD is trying to budget with because of the state cuts. (Ebay1)
• I can't believe people are so dumb as to not consider cutting transportation costs. At least Superintendent Kleck is smart enough to realize that nothing is off the table for which things should be cut. Well done Mr. Kleck! (cholo bandito)
• CopaExplorer your comment is very short sighted and lacks any logic. In case you haven't heard, we the people pay for public education. If we use your analogy, expenses are climbing up, MUSD employees got a pay cut last year and MUSD's pay just cut by 20%. Matbe your employer should do the same to you so you know how it feels!! (Bachue)
• cholo bandito cutting transportation?? That's all we need, more kids walking to school means more choices for all the creeps trying to abduct them. Read the news!! (Bachue)
• There is so much #$%$%^ going around here it's quite amazing. CopaExplorer: It is not MUSD suffering my friend ... it's the kids who go to these schools. You all remember kids... right??? The little people it's our job to educate and offer the most opportunities to? (NY2Copa)
• That having been said who was the genious who made the vote during Spring Break when many of your voters may be out of town? ... yeeeesh! (NY2Copa)
• Transportation already cut 9% from last year. Cut another 10 to save about $200K. Not nearly enough. Will have to cut teachers and special ed. Can close a school but minimal savings due to the bond we are paying. (Ebay1)
• NY2Copa - I believe the state of AZ is in charge of voting dates. (Ebay1)
• Superintendent Kleck used the word eliminate, not cut transporation. (cholo bandito)
• No excuse for not voting, use a mail-in ballot if you can't stop by for ten minutes..... (JasonY)
• I've seen this plan before: Let's keep placing it on the ballot! Or better yet, let's have a special election when those who are against this are away. (mark95man)
• They got close than last time. They will for sure next time. (cholo bandito)
• Bachue-do you want a $15,000 yearly Real Estate Tax bill? The more $$$ they receive, the more they will spend creating another shortfall. Stop the spending to reduce costs! Otherwise we'll be looking at a tax increase EVERY YEAR! (mark95man)
• mark95man majority of those taxes (which can not be turned down by override vote are for teachers salary and pension benefits. Unions have a lot of say in NY-NJ. (Ebay1)
• NY & NJ Unions are NOT as strong as they once were. My fear: If MUSD has a budget of say $XY Million and "only" uses $X-Y million, is there fear that the budget will be reduced by $-Y Million next year? Use it or lose it issue, so they use more hoping for more. Then there is a crisis with all sorts of claims. If I live on a budget why can't MUSD??? If you're short of $$$, spend LESS!!!! (mark95man)
• Everyone has to make adjustments. The problem is the more you have the more you spend. Could some of the improvements waited that didn't directly impact the children. The focus now should be an adjustment of maintaining items that are necessary for the children and maintain what was already purchased with the previous money received. It's sad but it's also a wake up call that the economy is in (2R1)
• Pay close attention to the Superintendents verbiage. Kleck would not be specific as to which things the district was looking to cut, but three items he seemed to imply would remain are full-day kindergarten, existing levels of teachers' salaries and a five-day school week. “Many of the teachers are struggling now and to take a portion of their pay would have a huge morale impact on the dist (2R1)
• If you read between the lines he is pointing to a manpower cut, maybe even closing a school. The voters have spoken. The majority said make cuts and I am sure that's what they intend on doing. Congratulations Maricopa! (Duke Nukem)
• This article is an insult to residents of Thunderbird Farms and Province because of their votes--where were the other 88% of voters. Another insult was the obvious inference that the "mail-in voters" were less "informed" than Tues. voters. The Board had at least 3 years to do something and did little or nothing in the meantime. This was the second time voters said "no". LWF (LWF)
• Parents need to be responsible for raising kids. Want your kid in band? Get private lessons and involve them in a community orchestra (which, by the way, would pump badly needed $$ into the community and provide a sense of involvement in your kid’s life). Worried about the quality of education? Help them with homework. We can’t keep relying on government to provide everything at taxpayer expense. (statusplayer)
• mark95man - NY teachers unions are alive and well. Just ask anyone paying taxes that increase 5%-15% year over year even when the budget overrides are voted down. I thought NJ was just swamp land? (Ebay1)
• 2R1 if the state stops paying for full day kinder, the school districts have 2 choices parents pay or 1/2 day with no tuition. I can't see MUSD paying if the state takes ADK funds away. (Ebay1)
• Ebay1--You can spin the heck out of this but the bottom line is the parents must pay for THEIR children's activites that might be cut. All day kindergarden? That's "FREE" childcare for working people. Just remember anything "FREE" will cost in the end. The bill has arrived, if we cannot afford it, it must be dropped. (mark95man)
• mark95man-not a spin. You and I will be paying MORE for LESS. Sales tax increasing and bond rating will be lower = higher interest. Please explain if you disagree and why. (Ebay1)
• Markman...come to the budget committee next Thurday evening at the district office then you can learn where the money is spent and where it is not. Though there are areas where money can be saved it is no where close to the amount being cut. (Pepperdog)
• Further, for all you naysayers...just remember that people before you made sacrifices so you could get an education whether you took advantage of it or not. We all benefited from our elders and we owe it to our future generations to provide for decent schools. You will get what you pay for. Remember these are the ones who will be caring for us in our old age. (Pepperdog)
• Again I say, time for cuts. Maybe if we cut some busing and the kids walk, they might get some needed exercise they don't get at school. Maybe if the parents have to pay for extra activities such as band, baseball, football and such, they may go to those events. And if they cut kindergarden a half a day, so be it. Why should the tax payers pay for some peoples babysiting. (mybearessentials)
• Been there, done that. mybearessentials has it correct--WE HAD TO WALK in the snow or rain! A fine example of saving money! YOU are making it too easy for kids and parents by over spending. Nothing wrong with walking to school or spending your income on after school activities. (mark95man)
• mybearessentials and mark95man ... wow. Clearly you two either have no kids or your kids are grown and you've forgotten. So I'll remind you. Kids walking to school is great, love the exercise idea and all. (NY2Copa)
• Until some guy in a pick-up truck approaches and takes a child. Then you'll post "hang-em". Things are not as safe as they were back when you walked 50 miles in rain and snow with no shoes. (NY2Copa)
• Full day kindergarten is not babysitting. Children are EXPECTED to be reading and writing by first grade now-a-days and half day kindergarten won't produce that. (NY2Copa)
• Half day kindergarten is babysitting. Full day offers education. AND lastly gentlemen, the elementary aged school kids you speak of ALREADY PAY FOR SPORTS as the elementary schools don't offer sports. (NY2Copa)
• So parents pay and go through Parks and Rec. So make it easy on yourself, remember a time when you were young and prices were low and politicians didn't filander and don't post on what you don't know! (NY2Copa)
• The thing about walking to school--no fights or vandalism around the Bus stops! While children wait for the bus, they have nothing to do and tend to get into trouble. The same issues were present long ago with kidnapping, etc. Good behavior starts AT HOME. When was the last time your children had a home cooked meal for breakfast? (mark95man)
• Some entries sound like angry mothers with too many offspring! Before we had kids, we realized the cost and requirements. It is a committment that will change your life. Please don't expect others to handle your burden. Life has many choices and voting down the override was one of them. (mark95man)
• mark95man - It has become obvious you either have no kids or they are grown and out of the house. Get a clue about life as we kno it now, not the 1970's. (Ebay1)
• Ebay1 is so angry about the outcome of this override. Today many parents do not know how to handle/raise their children. Just watch what goes on at the school bus stops. Make them walk to school and put that money to better use! (mark95man)
• I suggested cutting bus service and ebay1 said it was STUPID. Then Mr Kleck suggested it might be needed, because of budget cuts, and all of a sudden, its not so stupid. I agree though, ebay1 is extremely angry and unstable. I don't think she seems like a very good parent. (cholo bandito)
• mark95man, you have to understand that parent like ebay1 expect the community to raise their kids. Its sad, but true. People like that are more interested in their own lives and thier kids suffer for it. It really is negligence. (cholo bandito)
• NY2Copa, I want you to know my kids are raised and I'm paying for my grandkids eduaction. No this isn't the 70's. We didn't have the schools feed our kids breakfast, lunch, and badysit them. Our kids came home with home work that we all worked on. Parents need to be responsible for your kids and the cities budget. (mybearessentials)
• NY2Copa, and when I went to school my mother packed me a sack lunch that I carried to school while I walked. Maybe we could go back to that idea and close down the cafeterias to save money. (mybearessentials)
• mybearessentials - let me guess your mommy wrapped up a warm baked potato to keep you warm on your 5 mile walk during the frigid winter. (Ebay1)
• Everyone needs to understand that Ebay1 feels its more important to spend time trolling inmaricopa.com, than to raise her kids, because thats everyone else's job. (cholo bandito)
• ok "gentlemen" My kids (I have just the right amount, thank you) had a homecooked meal for dinner just last night, ate their veggies and everything. Not a single one has ever been in a fight or been a behavior problem. (NY2Copa)
• All are excellent students and even get sack lunches for school. We do homework with our kids. AND our extended family all lives in the Copa, so they are surrounded by aunts, uncles cousins and grandparents. (NY2Copa)
• School is not now, nor has ever been a babysitter, but rather an educator. what does that have to do with bus/walking safety and full day kindergarten??? your responses never even addressed the kindergarten issue. (NY2Copa)
• I guess when you're wrong you simply glaze over the stuff you can't adress, huh? I've never seen kids fighting at the bus stop when my kids were there, because us parents waited with them! And if they do, I got news for ya, (NY2Copa)
• they'll fight walking to school, or at school. They even had school fights on Leave It To Beaver, right? The blantant judgement of people you've never met is bizarre to me. Is that what you taught your kids back in the day? (NY2Copa)
• Talk about taking it personal. I never said one thing about your kids. I don't know them. I would hope the are as good as you say they are because you seem to be a little radical. I hope your kids don't take after you. (mybearessentials)
• I worry about parents who say their kids are excellant students. I wasn't and neither was my kids. But my kids all work for a living and are trying their best to raise their kids. And yes kindergarden is babysitting kids. (mybearessentials)
• Can anyone here live on their budget if their household income was cut by %50? (Ebay1)
• Here comes the drama queen and her gross exxaggerations. Who ever said 50%? The override was for 10%. Is that the new math they teach at MUSD? If it is, maybe they could start with better math teacherd. (cholo bandito)
• Not the override. The budget cuts through the state. Try going to a meeting so you can be more informed. You'll look better than just talking out of your a$$. (Ebay1)
• Mr Kleck said $9,000,000 out of a $30,000,000 budget. If you think that's 50%, then you are more stupid than anyone here gave you credit for. Shouldn't you be reading to your kids or something. Nevermind, I forgot that's not your responsibility. (cholo bandito)
• Bandito - I wish you were correct about this one but she is more in line. State budget has passed with more education cuts and repeal of the tax credit. No I could not live on my budget if it was cut 40% - 50%. You should read up on it. (CopaLisa)
• "potentially $9 million from a roughly $30 million operatingbudget." Maybe you 2 can tell the rest of us how this works to 50%? (cholo bandito)
• I think I am going with Superintendent Kleck, on this one. He being the SUPERINTENDENT and all. I figure he might have more information than you 2 internet trolls. Bash away. (cholo bandito)
• Cholo - you need to comprehend what you are reading. I'm talking about state budget cuts for education. (almost %50 cut) NOT the override and NOT MUSD Budget. Can you stay on budget if your household income cut by about half? (Ebay1)
• Use the $9 million for the Las Vegas highway study...... (JasonY)
• OMFG!!!!Can't believe what I am hearing here. Between all of you bitching about each other you forget about whats most important "our children". I really hope that all of you who have destroyed our childrens lives have one foot in the grave & the other on a bananna peel!!!!! (sandman6573)