Override back on Nov. 2 ballot

Last night the Maricopa Unified School District governing board adopted a resolution calling for a budget override election “in and for the district” on Nov. 2.

“This is probably the most difficult decision, regarding the amount,” said Superintendent Jeff Kleck. “It’s like trying to grab sand when you’re trying to decide.”

“I don’t think it’s that people don’t want to support education,” said board member Carrie Vargas. “I just don’t want to go for the gusto and overdo it; I think it would result in a resounding thud. We need to make sure what we do is reasonable.”

Board president Geoff Goddard expressed his concern about asking for money after the passage of the state sales tax increase. “I think it’s the wrong time to keep coming back, saying we’ll keep doing this until you say ‘yes.’”

“I think we need to stick with what we told the voters we’d do,” said board member Tim White.

The original override is at a tax rate of approximately 70 cents or $70 per year for a home with an assessed value of $100,000, according to figures provided to board members by business director Aron Rausch.

The board decision, with Goddard voting against the measure, was a 6.67 percent override to provide $1,934,000 at a tax rate of about 84 cents or $84 per year for each $100,000 of assessed valuation.

The tax rate difference is a result of a higher assessed valuation in 2005 (about $3 million) and a lower tax rate now. Maricopa’s secondary assessed valuation is estimated to drop from $284,564,000 in 2010-2011 to $229,817,623 for 2011-2012.

“It’s unprecedented how much assessed valuations have changed,” said Rausch.

“We are going for an amount that attempts to cover possible losses,” said Kleck. “We aren’t going for the gusto; we’re not going so far into the public pocket that we’re taking the lint.”

Rausch added, “If we want to compare and be as good as districts to the north and east we have to provide the same services.”

“I feel if this board agrees tonight, this is a thumbs up; after all, this is to be a continuation of the 2005 override,” said board vice president Tracy Davis.

The override would be a continuation of what the district has been doing since it first passed in May 2005. It is not a new tax, but a means to maintain current funding for maintenance and operations, which includes expenses for curriculum, books and programs. “That’s people primarily,” said Kleck, who believes, at this point, the override would focus on reducing class sizes and providing the funds to prevent further budget cuts. Recently the district made $5 million in personnel reductions in its 2010-2011 budget.

An override is different from a bond; bonds are used for building. Override monies cannot be used for the construction of buildings.

On Nov. 3, 2009, an override was denied; the most recent override measure was defeated by only 20 votes on the March 9 ballot. If not continued, override funding is reduced by one third (approximately $1 million) each year for two years and then expires in 2012-2013.

Voters will decide the fate of the override election on Nov. 2, but MUSD and its governing board are, undoubtedly, hoping this third time ‘will be the charm.’

Photo by Joyce Hollis