46 NOVEMBER 2023 By Ella Pribble Scottsdale Unified School District hosted five informational town hall meetings in September and October regarding the Maintenance and Operations override special election, which is happening this year on November 7. The M&O budget for Scottsdale is approximately 15 percent of the revenue control limit used to boost the state funding for schools. Shannon Crosier, Chief Financial Officer for SUSD, said it generates approximately $22.3 million for salaries, supplies and programs for the district. The M&O override was originally passed in November 2019 and remains in effect for seven years, although voters are required to reapprove the override after five years. SUSD called a special election to renew the M&O override, in which mail-in-only ballots will be accepted. Being mindful of the upcoming election in 2024, the board is taking this to the voters a year early. “We know that the next election is going to have a lot of information on the ballot, and what you tend to run into is voter fatigue,” Crosier said. If it does not get approved this November, the district will have an option to hold a second election in November 2024. Arizona is ranked 45th in the nation for education and 47th for per pupil funding, according to the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau. The lack of funding for the annual budget affects students, teachers and staff. The board is frequently asked about outsourcing by community members. “We only have so many dollars,” Crosier said. “A lot of times, outsourcing is more expensive. For example, we’re having to outsource transportation for special needs students because we don’t have drivers to meet that need.” SUSD Communications Manager Nancy Norman said that with how quickly the city is growing, new residents and families will want to have security knowing their children will be in a stable educational environment. Scottsdale is considered one of the best places for “all things senior;” a popular destination for retirees, who usually do not have any relation to the schools. This explains the district’s concern for supportive voters. Considering the impacts on the school’s budget from the override, SUSD Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel said, “We’ve lost more than 1,150 students when it didn’t pass the second time, in 2013. We’re using every resource that we have.” The override improves extracurricular activities, kindergarten programs, class size ratios, staff professional development, and teacher compensation. “In order to have these extracurricular activities for students, we have to rely on the voters to help,” Crosier said. The current M&O Override was approved by voters in November 2019. It is set to expire on June 30, 2025. “We are asking that it be renewed a fiscal year ahead of time so that if it does not pass this November, the district has the option of calling another election in November 2024, before the current funding starts being phased down,” Norman said. susd.org SUSD seeks M&O budget support in November election HOW MUCH THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OVERRIDE COSTS THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER: If approved, the continuation of the 2019 voter-approved, 15 percent M&O Override would total $22,350,888, at an estimated tax rate of $0.3318 per $100 of net assessed property valuation from the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. According to the State and County Abstract from the Arizona Department of Revenue, the value of an average home in Scottsdale is $523,750. The estimated net assessed valuation of this home is taxed at 10 percent, or $52,375. With an estimated tax rate of $0.3318 applied per $100 of net assessed valuation, the owner of this home pays $173.78 per year to support the Maintenance and Operations Override. The M&O override was originally passed in November 2019 and remains in effect for seven years, although voters are required to reapprove the override after five years.

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