Bond and Budget Override Fact Sheet

Election Day is November 6, 2018.

What is a bond?A bond provides the district additional funding to use for capital items, such as new buildings, additions or renovations to buildings, school buses, equipment and technology. In November 2018, a proposed bond of $300 million will be decided by Mesa voters. Voters last approved a $230 million bond in November 2012.

Building renovations/repair/replacement - $167 million• Security (office improvements, campus monitoring

and emergency communications systems)• Portable replacement• New facility construction• Improved special-use facilities for arts and athletics• Energy efficiency• Playgrounds

Technology update - $87 million • Program-based expansion• Aging device replacement• Network upgrades to support security and device

demands

Transportation/bus replacement - $46 million• 300+ air-conditioned, propane-fueled school buses

About the Bond

Did you know? The 2012 bond provided safety enhancements, such as security fencing and monitored video cameras, along with 19,200 devices to support the one-to-one initiative at district high schools, 91 air-conditioned and propane-fueled school buses, and building replacements and renovations.

How will the bond impact Mesa Public Schools students?Over the past 10 years, the district has received $208 million less in capital funding than calculated by the state formula.

If approved, the bond will provide:• Continued integration of technology into the

classroom to prepare students for careers of the future.• Safer school campuses.• New buses to replace a rapidly aging fleet. The district

currently has 100 buses without air conditioning and 240 buses over 15 years old.

• Necessary school and campus repairs and renovations.

How will the bond affect property tax rates?Homeowners will see little to no increase in their tax rate.

The increase to a 15-percent override would generate an additional $18 million annually.

Homeowner impact of override increase

Did you know? The current budget override funds 8.7% of Mesa Public Schools employee salaries.

Minimum wage impactThe 5-percent override increase will address the salary compression caused by the voter-mandated Proposition 206 minimum-wage increase. The state education budget did not allocate funding for this increase. By 2020, Prop. 206 will cost the district an ongoing additional $28.8 million.

About the Budget OverrideWhat is an override?An override allows voters in a school district to approve additional funding for operational expenses. The override would allow the district to exceed its budget by 15 percent. A 10-percent override has been in place since 1995, which generates $36 million annually. The current override continuation was passed by voters in 2014.

Why doesn’t the district use bond funds for the needs funded by the override? Arizona statute dictates how various funds can be spent by a school district. The district is not permitted to use bond funds for salaries and benefits, programs or training.

How will the override impact Mesa Public Schools students?The district will continue to fund:• Increased school security staffing to provide a safe and

secure learning environment.• Compensation that attracts and retains quality

teachers and support staff, and prevents increased class sizes.

• Technology training for teachers to fully integrate technology into the learning process.

• Programs that prepare students for college and career success.

The increase to a 15-percent override would generate an additional $18 million annually.

$7.92 $95$142,090

Minimum Wage Increase

2016 2018 2019 2020

15

10

5

$8.05

$10.50 $11

$12

In 2015-16, 3% of district classified employees were within $1 of minimum wage. By 2017-18, 48% of classified employees were within $1 of minimum wage.

*as it appears on your tax bill and does not necessarily represent the market value.

Important election dates

You must be registered to vote by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 9. To verify your registration is up to date, visit azsos.gov/elections.

Early voter ballots will be mailed.

Last day to request an early ballot.

Election Day. Find your polling site at voter.azsos.gov.

Find additional resources and information at mpsaz.org/info

District overview• 64,000 students — the largest district in Arizona.• 82 schools.• Mesa’s second-largest employer, with more than 10,000

full- and part-time employees.• 26 A+ Schools of Excellence (2015-18).• 20 National Blue Ribbon Schools (1982-2017).• ASBO International Certificate of Excellence in Financial

Reporting (32 consecutive years).• Administrative costs far below the state average (and

comparable to neighboring districts).• High parent satisfaction rate. 96% of parents rate Mesa

Public Schools a B or above.• 52,100 student mobile technology devices.• 36,100 daily bus route miles.• 58,000 daily meals served.

Do you want to learn more about the bond and budget override? Learn more at these community meetings. All meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the auditorium.Tuesday, Sept. 18: Mountain View High School, 2700 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, AZ 85213Thursday, Sept. 20: Skyline High School, 845 S. Crismon Rd., Mesa, AZ 85208Monday, Sept. 24: Red Mountain High School, 7301 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, AZ 85207Thursday, Sept. 27: Mesa High School, 1630 E. Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ 85204Tuesday, Oct. 2: Westwood High School, 945 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Mesa, AZ 85201Thursday, Oct. 4: Dobson High School, 1501 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa, AZ 85202