Tolleson Union High School District board approves M&O override and special bond election for ballot

At a virtual meeting of the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board, members voted to place both a maintenance and operations (M&O) override election and a special bond election on the ballot. The board approved each measure with a recorded roll call showing three votes in favor, one vote against and one absence.

The votes matter because the M&O override would allow the district to seek additional property-tax revenue to support operations if approved by voters, and the special bond election would ask voters to authorize debt for capital projects. The district serves, according to the meeting’s land acknowledgment, about 14,000 students across its high schools.

Board member Miss Sun moved to approve the M&O override election and Member Chapman seconded the motion. During the roll call on the M&O override, Dr. Luna Najera voted no. Board members Devin Del Palacio and Chapman voted yes; Sun also voted yes. The roll call record indicated one member was absent. The board took the same motions and roll-call pattern for the special bond election; Dr. Luna Najera again registered a no vote and other present members voted yes.

A public commenter criticized the board for holding the votes without discussion. The commenter said, “Wow. Mister Everybody on this board should be ashamed of themselves for not even engaging in a discussion,” and stated they were a no on the bond measure. The meeting transcript records the board chair noting that the agenda item was open for discussion before the motions were called, and the motions were made and seconded without extended debate.

The actions taken at the meeting were procedural approvals to place the two measures on a ballot; no ballot language, tax-rate estimates or project lists were provided in the discussed motion text on the record. The transcript did not specify a ballot date, estimated tax impacts, or a detailed list of planned capital projects tied to the special bond. The transcript also did not identify which board member was absent during the roll calls.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn. The board did not record further deliberation on the ballot measures at this session; any additional details, including final ballot language, estimated tax impacts and project lists, may appear at a future board meeting or in posted election materials.