Chino Valley board approves $500,000 "adjacent ways" levy after public hearing

The Chino Valley Unified School District governing board on July 14 approved a one‑year $500,000 adjacent ways levy intended for paving, fire lanes and drainage projects at district campuses.

Superintendent and district staff presented the levy during a Truth in Taxation public hearing and described how the district has used its special adjacent‑ways fund for several campus projects in recent years, including emergency work at Del Rio and a paved fire lane at Del Rio’s administrative building. The superintendent said the district’s current assessed value is $291,000,000 and that the proposed $500,000 levy would be collected in the 2025–26 tax year.

Nut graf: District leaders said the one‑year levy will pay for immediate site repairs and safety improvements — work staff said cannot wait for a larger bond or voter‑approved override — and that the district has returned to requesting levies after drawing down reserves on recent emergency projects.

Board members opened the hearing, accepted public comment (none compelled further action), closed the hearing and then moved to adopt the levy. A motion to adopt the $500,000 adjacent ways levy passed by voice vote.

Board and staff described the fund’s recent use: funds set aside for adjacent‑ways had been drawn down this spring and fall for two Del Rio campus projects (a paved fire lane and drainage work and a separate administrative‑building pavement/repair project). The superintendent said years of modest levies had produced small reserves, but emergency needs at Del Rio used most of the balance and left the district seeking this single‑year increase.

During the hearing, the superintendent explained the levy mechanics as printed on the budget’s back page, citing the current assessed value of $291,000,000 and showing how the proposed levy affects the district’s overall tax rate. Board members noted the levy does not require voter approval in this form and characterized it as a limited, one‑year request focused on maintenance of existing facilities rather than a long‑term capital bond.

The board’s action authorizes the district to place the levy on the county tax roll for collection in the coming year and to use the revenue for site paving, fire lanes and related adjacent‑ways projects.

Ending: District staff said approved projects will proceed this summer and into the next fiscal year; the board will receive updates in regular financial reports and at future meetings.