Higley Unified board approves FY2026 proposed budget, includes $2 million adjacent-ways levy for Williams Field traffic improvements

Higley Unified School District’s governing board on Monday approved a proposed fiscal year 2026 expenditure budget that includes a one-time $2,000,000 adjacent-ways levy intended to fund traffic-flow and safety improvements near Higley High and Williams Field campus.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the proposed budget, which district staff presented as the next step toward the district’s formal adoption on June 24. The presentation emphasized uncertainty in the state K–12 budget, a possible missed June state-aid payment and the district’s cash reserves to cover payroll in that event.

The proposed levy would be collected as a one-time increase to the primary property tax rate and was presented as producing an estimated 19¢ per $100,000 in assessed value for fiscal 2026. "What that means is we will potentially miss that June state aid payment, which is cash for our district," district staff said during the presentation, noting reserves would cover payroll if the state payment does not come through.

Why it matters: District officials said the $2 million levy would pay for a traffic-flow redesign intended to reduce dangerous drop-off queues on Higley Road at Higley High/Williams Field campus. The project plan discussed by staff includes adding a traffic signal at a north entrance by the pool parking lot, creating two travel lanes behind…