Phoenix Elementary board approves two overrides and voter authorization to sell or lease two sites for November ballot

The Phoenix Elementary District governing board voted May 8 to place three election measures on the Nov. 4 ballot: a district additional assistance (DAA) capital override, a 15% maintenance and operations (M&O) override and voter authorization to sell, lease or exchange two district parcels, Dunbar and Heard.

Election counsel James Gill of Gust Rosenfeld told the board the DAA ballot language must use the word “increase” because state statute requires that wording, but that the voter information pamphlet will explain the measure is a continuation of the existing capital override. “You’ll have the opportunity to provide a pro statement,” Gill said, referring to the August 8 deadline for pro/con statements that he described to the board. Chief Financial Officer Aaron Whittle described the stakes: if voters do not approve the M&O override, the district could lose about $5.1 million in operating revenue over coming years and up to roughly $8 million when measured against both operating and capital packages discussed at the meeting.

Board members asked detailed questions about legal limits, timelines and community engagement. Gill said county deadlines require the district to finalize certain decisions by mid-June and that the county will administer an all-mail election for an “off-year” contest. He also advised the board that, under state rules, the board may submit a pro statement for the overrides but not for the site-sale question. Whittle briefed the board on how the overrides relate to the district’s revenue control limit, transportation funding, and the phasing schedule for existing overrides.

The site-sale measure asks voters to authorize the district to sell, lease or exchange specified parcels “or any portion thereof.” Gill explained that the authorization to sell does not expire under current law, while a voter-approved long lease authority typically would be limited to 20 years unless the lease is to another school. The board and administration debated whether to include all five candidate parcels staff initially proposed; after questions and requests for more community engagement, the board narrowed that item to two parcels and then voted to place those two — Dunbar and Heard — on the ballot.

Board concerns cited in the public conversation included the community’s desire for earlier and clearer engagement before property decisions reach voters, and questions about whether adding a site-sale item could affect the overrides. Gill and district staff said they had not seen a site-sale item fail in recent years and that combining measures into one pamphlet can be administratively efficient. The board also heard that a public information pamphlet will explain the purpose of each measure in plain language.

Votes at a glance: the board adopted the DAA resolution, the M&O resolution and the amended site-sale resolution (limited to Dunbar and Heard) by roll-call votes. The board will finalize pro statements and other election materials before the statutory deadline the county requires.

What this does next: If voters approve the overrides and the site-sale authorization, the district will gain authority to continue the existing capital override amount for seven years, continue the 15% M&O override (which would prevent a phase-down), and have voter authorization to sell, lease or exchange the two identified parcels. Any specific sale, lease or exchange proposal would require subsequent board approval and public process before the district acts.