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 entrances to the campus, and widening lanes between Harrison and Ivanhoe. Moore said the Higley Road construction phase is planned for summer 2026, with the most disruptive work slated for the December 2026 break after students are out. “You can’t really put a price on a student's life,” Moore said when describing the safety rationale for the project.

Moore presented fiscal details behind the proposed budget. Key figures discussed by staff include a proposed M&O budget of approximately $117,090,813 for FY2026, an anticipated budget‑balance carryforward of about $17,000,000 at the end of FY2026, an estimated $9,200,000 deficit between the FY2025 revised budget and the FY2026 proposed budget, and a projected average daily membership (ADM) decrease of roughly 300 students (about a 3% decline). Moore also noted a statutorily required 2% inflation adjustment tied to the GDP price deflator and lower Arizona State Retirement System contribution rates for employers and employees.

Board members raised questions about the levy process, the timeline for state budget action, and enrollment declines. Member Van Hook urged stronger termination and accountability procedures for staff departures, arguing the district should avoid allowing employees to “quietly resign without proper accountability” because that practice can put students at risk if misconduct is not documented.

Several board members expressed support for the Williams Field improvements and gratitude that the Town of Gilbert is researching possible financial participation. Board discussion clarified that the adjacent‑ways levy in the proposed budget is a one‑time levy for FY2026; staff explained that including the levy in the proposed budget gives the district the authority to assess the tax for that fiscal year and that the levy’s $0.19 figure affects the primary tax rate only for the levy year.

After board discussion, President Wade moved to approve the proposed FY2026 expenditure budget as presented; the motion was seconded and carried 5–0. Later in the meeting the board considered a separate resolution adopting the governing board’s official argument in support of the M&O override election. Board members debated wording and formatting changes to the argument; a motion to adopt the board’s argument passed 3–2.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the consent agenda (items 5.1–5.26) 5–0; approved the FY2026 proposed expenditure budget (action item 6.1) 5–0; and adopted the governing board’s override argument (action item 6.2) by a 3–2 vote. The proposed $2,000,000 adjacent‑ways levy is included in the FY2026 proposed budget and would increase property tax by about $0.19 per $100,000 assessed value for FY2026 if adopted as proposed.

The district indicated that, because the Arizona state budget and the K‑12 funding picture remained unsettled at the time of the meeting, staff will present the same proposed budget for adoption on June 24 and may bring back an early revision in September if the state budget produces material changes to aid or other funding. Moore said state aid payments for June had not been released by the Arizona Department of Education and that the district’s reserves were sufficient to cover payroll in June and July should that state payment be delayed.

The board also used the consent agenda to approve personnel actions, accept donations from local PTOs and partners, and introduce Brian Bannock as the new principal of Higley High School, a position Bannock was described as filling after serving two years as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Higley High.