We Maricopans tend to complain, and oftentimes rightly so, about our high taxes, skyrocketing utility rates, the quality of our schools and the city’s lack of jobs. Next month, we can do something to positively impact these issues. On March 9, Maricopans will vote for a mayor and three people to join, or rejoin, the city council. Voters will also decide on whether to allow Maricopa Unified School District to continue receiving about $3 million a year to help fund its maintenance and operations, or about 10 percent of its total M&O budget. If the override fails, teachers, possibly 70 or more of them, will lose their jobs over the next three years — naturally increasing class sizes as a result — and programs such as full-day kindergarten and physical education, music and art classes will likely be dropped. Gifted programs, classroom materials, and sports and extracurricular activities will also be reduced. The same measure was on the November ballot and defeated with 1,618 people voting against it. There was no formal opposition to the override, so I can only assume these folks thought it would increase their taxes. Or maybe they thought this money would go to facilities instead of teachers and programs. (Does anyone think our teachers are overpaid?) Or maybe they’re retired or don’t have school aged kids, or send their kids to charter schools and don’t care about our public schools. Or maybe they're not pleased with the district's fiscal responsibility (I, too, am concerned about how our government entities spend our money, but this is not the time to 'teach MUSD a lesson'). Regardless, the result of this election will affect every single Maricopan.  |
There is nothing more important to economic development than the quality of education. If our schools are great, people—and their employers—will want to locate in Maricopa; and if our schools stink, Maricopa will have little chance of recruiting new employers to help shoulder the tax burden. And until some industry comes to Maricopa, the (increasing) costs of running our community—from schools to streets to staff—will continue to be borne primarily by its residents. The $65 or so each homeowner will pay annually—that’s about one venti latte each month—to continue this levy is a great investment and will ultimately save us many times that. Do what’s right for our schools and this community on March 9: Vote ‘yes’ in support of the Maricopa Unified School District Override Continuation. Scott Bartle is publisher of InMaricopa.com. (A version of this previously appeared in InMaricopa News.) File photo |