Higley Unified board adopts FY2026 proposed budget and approves override argument; one‑time levy proposed for Williams Field traffic work

The Higley Unified School District Governing Board on June 24 adopted a proposed expenditure budget for fiscal year 2026 and included a one‑time $2,000,000 adjacent‑ways levy to fund traffic improvements near Williams Field High School. The board also voted 3–2 to adopt the district’s official argument in support of a special maintenance and operation (M&O) budget override that will appear on the ballot.

Board President Wade opened the public hearing and turned the presentation over to district staff member Mister Moore, who described the proposed FY2026 budget and the district’s recommendation to include a one‑time adjacent‑ways levy of $2,000,000. Moore said the levy would carry an estimated tax impact of $0.19 per $100,000 in assessed value for fiscal 2026 and described the levy as a one‑time action in the proposed budget.

The levy, Moore said, is targeted chiefly at traffic flow improvements related to Williams Field High School. Moore described a schematic — which he said had verbal approval from the Town of Gilbert — that includes adding a traffic signal at Harrison, reconfiguring medians on Higley Road, creating a two‑lane queuing route through the pool parking area and new…