Advisory committee urges continuation of Chandler Unified 15% override and narrows bond options to $271.5M and $199.4M

A citizens' advisory committee to the Chandler Unified School District recommended on May 1 that the governing board ask voters to continue the district's existing 15% maintenance-and-operations override and forwarded two reduced bond-authority options for board consideration.

The recommendation, presented to the full board during a study session May 7, follows the district's failed $487.45 million bond question in November 2024 and months of committee meetings. The committee voted to recommend continuation of the 15% M&O override and sent two bond options to the board: Option 2 at $271,500,000 and Option 3 at $199,400,000. The board will decide at a June 11 meeting whether to place the override and one of the bond options on this year's ballot.

Why it matters

The M&O override provides recurring operating revenue that the district uses largely for staff salaries and school programs. District staff told the board the override funds personnel and classroom services and said losing the continuation would force large cuts: roughly $16 million in the first year, about $32 million in the second year and as much as $45 million in the third year, according to figures presented to the board. The committee emphasized that continuation would replace—not add to—the dollars already in the budget.

What the committee recommended

- Continue the district's 15% maintenance-and-operations override. The Bond & Override Committee voted unanimously in favor of a recommendation that the board seek voter approval to continue the current 15% override.

- Forward…