Your 2024 Ballot: A Guide to Bonds and Overrides
It’s more important now than ever for voters to educate themselves on the local ballot measures that fund our local public schools, typically called “bonds,” “overrides,” and “budget continuations” in Arizona. Ballots will be mailed across Arizona on Wednesday, October 9.
The Importance of School Funding Ballot Measures
In a presidential election year, the top of the ballot gets an outsized amount of attention. But further down, the lesser-known local measures that fund our local schools often pass or fail by a razor thin margin. As local voters, we hold the power to ensure our communities put kids and teachers first by voting on these education funding ballot questions.
It’s no secret that Arizona ranks 50th in the nation for public school funding and resources, with an exceptionally high student-to-teacher ratio and some of the lowest teacher salaries nationwide. Local school districts statewide use education funding ballot measures to help make ends meet, typically funding teacher and counselor positions, school facility repairs, buses, technology and safety improvements.
For Arizona’s local schools, this year’s election is extremely critical. Local parent/teacher groups and neighborhood committees have worked hard to put over 50 school funding measures before voters this November. In many cases, the ability of our neighborhood public schools to meet the needs of their students hinges on the success or failure of these local education measures.
What types of measures will I see on my ballot?
Local education measures fall into three basic categories: bonds, overrides and budget continuations. These are voter-approved initiatives that generate local tax revenue to fund projects and operations for local school districts or community colleges.
Bonds: Bonds are essentially voter-authorized loans. Also called “capital funding measures,” bond money is typically used for big, tangible projects like building or renovating schools, buying school buses, or improving technology or safety. The funds are repaid over a set period of time. Bond money cannot be used to pay school employees.
Overrides: Overrides are used to fund people and/or programs. Also called “maintenance and operations (M&O) overrides” or “capital overrides,” these can be used for things like educator pay, extracurriculars, full-day kindergarten, playground equipment, books, and the arts. Overrides generate additional funding for seven years, but many districts will ask voters to approve a renewal in year 4 or 5 of an override so schools can consistently hire and pay staff. If overrides are not renewed, the funding phases out.
Budget continuations: Budget continuations are not new money, but instead extensions of local bonds and overrides previously approved by voters. If voters fail to pass a continuation, it results in schools having to eliminate the people or programs funded by the measure, which in turn means cuts to our neighborhood schools. Continuations typically do not result in higher taxation.
Why are my neighborhood schools asking for this funding?
Unfortunately, Arizona’s local public schools have been dramatically underfunded by the state legislature. Our state’s K-12 public school funding remains ranked 50th in the nation. In June, state lawmakers continued that trend by passing a budget that cut funding for K-12 public schools (such as for new school construction and capital needs like books and buses).
Proper funding is essential to help our state’s students succeed. A 2023 study from the MIT Journal of Education, Finance and Policy found that funding has a dramatic and positive impact on student achievement. The study found that increased public school funding reduced the number of underperforming students by almost one-to-one. A 20% increase in per-pupil funding at underperforming schools reduced the number of below-average students in core subjects (math, English, social studies and science) by 16-20% compared with a control group.
A recent paper by noted education researcher Eric Hanushek finds similar results: more funding leads to students staying in school longer and scoring higher on standardized tests. This is especially notable considering that Hanushek spent the last few decades arguing the opposite and has since changed his mind because of the overwhelming data.
Bond and override measures are critical tools that our communities can use to provide desperately needed basic resources for their neighborhood public schools – like teacher salaries, bus drivers, computers, basic building maintenance and more.
Where does this money come from?
School districts use bonds and budget overrides to help bridge the gaps between state-allocated funding and the cost of providing for the needs of their students. These local dollars come from the local property taxes of district residents, and never leave the local community.
Measures which are new will cost taxpayers at most around $100 a year — roughly a cup of coffee each month — to ensure local students are safe, learning and thriving in their community schools. Budget continuations rarely result in higher taxation.
I don't have school-aged kids. Why should I care?
Investment in public schools benefits everyone in the community, whether residents have children in public school or not. A recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that every additional $1 spent on neighborhood public schools results in a $20 increase in home values. This underscores the financial benefits of investing in quality public education to benefit both school children and local homeowners.
What measures will I see on my ballot?
To see if your local school district is going out for a bond or override this election, check this handy Bond & Override website. Here is information on Maricopa County and Pima County measures.
Don’t Forget to Vote!
Arizona kids are counting on us to support their schools! Don’t forget to mail back your ballot as soon as possible; an early return saves campaigns precious resources as they reach out to voters. All mail-in ballots must be put in the mail by October 29 — otherwise, you’ll have to return your ballot to a drop box or early vote center before or on Election Day, November 5.