Dysart Unified District explains how state, federal and local funds are used, and what overrides and bonds pay for

A Dysart Unified District staff member said school funding comes mainly from the state and local sources, with federal dollars making up about 10% of the district's revenue and roughly 90% coming from state and local funds.

The presentation explained why that split matters: federal funds are earmarked for specific programs such as special education and Title I services and cannot be used for other purposes. The staff member summarized the district's two main budget categories: maintenance and operations (M&O), which covers day-to-day costs such as salaries, utilities, transportation and supplies, and capital, which pays for long-lived items such as buildings, equipment, technology and buses.

Under Arizona law, the presenter said, capital funds must be used only for capital purchases and M&O funds only for operating expenses. The staff member described two ways the district can seek additional locally raised revenue: an M&O override or a capital bond, both of which are raised through property taxes; the speaker emphasized that the two are distinct and not interchangeable. "There's no such thing as an override bond or a bond override," the staff member said.

The presenter reviewed recent local voting history and program impacts. Voters approved a continuation of an M&O override in 2020 to fund full-day kindergarten, arts and athletic programs, and maintain class sizes; the district's current override provides approximately $25,500,000 to its maintenance-and-operations budget. The presenter also noted the last Dysart bond approved by voters was in February 2006.

The staff member provided proportions the district uses for planning: about 95% of district spending is drawn from M&O and about 5% from capital, though those proportions can change with enrollment, voter action on overrides or bonds, or changes in state and federal funding. The presenter said these funds can fluctuate year to year depending on enrollment and policy actions.

The presentation also included district performance context: Dysart is an A-rated district in Arizona and was described as the "best public school district in the West Valley" for three consecutive years; the district was said to include Freedom Traditional Academy, described in the presentation as the No. 7-ranked K-8 school in Arizona, and several schools with A and B ratings statewide.

To learn more, the presenter directed listeners to dysart.org/budget or to contact the district by phone, adding, "It's your money, and we want you to understand how we use it to best meet the needs of all students."