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

A citizens advisory group convened by Chandler Unified School District recommended continuation of the district's 15% maintenance-and-operations (M&O) override and forwarded two reduced bond packages to the Governing Board, district staff said at the May 7 study session.

The committee voted on May 1 to recommend a continuation of the 15% override and to send two bond options to the board: option 2, $271,500,000; and option 3, $199,400,000. District staff said the committee's recommendation reflects community feedback after the district's $487,450,000 bond failed in November 2024 and after several advisory meetings earlier this year.

Why this matters: If the governing board votes to place measures on the ballot the public will decide in a future election whether to continue the district's existing override and whether to authorize new bond debt. The override is the district's primary local revenue tool for salaries, programs and operations; staff told the board the current continuation would generate roughly $45.7 million in revenue and described illustrative homeowner impacts (staff said, for example, an override calculation would cost about $109 on a $100,000 home). The committee and staff also presented modeled tax-rate effects of the bond options.

District presentation and timeline Mrs. Berry, speaking for district administration, reviewed the override history and mechanics, saying the district has had a 15% continuation in place since February 2013 and that school boards are the entities authorized to call override elections. She reviewed how override dollars are used (maintenance and operations paid largely for staff and programs), how long an override lasts (seven years with a phase-down in years six and seven), and the trade-offs of calling an election this year versus waiting until 2026.

Committee deliberations A district committee that met four times this year heard staff presentations on history, needs, and voter feedback. Committee presenters told the board the group discussed a range of options and voted on May 1. The committee reported that: - The committee unanimously recommended a continuation of the 15% M&O override. - The bond committee unanimously recommended option 2 ($271,500,000) and recommended option 3 ($199,400,000) be forwarded as an additional alternative for the board to consider. Committee members discussed Hartford Elementary as a frequently cited community priority and said safety, aging facilities and targeted preventative maintenance drove much of the bond planning.

Tax and ballot mechanics District staff and advisors told the board they will finalize polling and tax-rate modeling with Stifel, the district's financial advisor, at a May 30 briefing. In the study-session presentation staff provided a sample worksheet showing the incremental tax-rate effect of each bond package (the presentation listed an illustrative additional average annual tax-rate impact of +$0.32 on the tax rate for the $271.5 million bond). Staff also explained the process for ballot language, the requirement that the board adopt a resolution to call an election, and that the board would prepare a single pro statement should it move forward.

What the board will decide next Board members were told the governing board will vote on June 11 whether to call elections for one or both measures (override continuation and a bond authorization) and, if so, to approve the ballot language and a pro statement. District staff emphasized that an election in 2025 could preserve full funding for five years if approved; waiting until 2026 would change timing and turnout considerations, the presentation said.

Quotes "We would recommend as an administration team, and I believe the committee would also recommend that we just continue with our existing 15%." ' Mrs. Berry, district administration "There was a lot of discussion around Hartford and the need for that to occur, because of the safety and security and the way that it's currently built." ' Committee member (speaking for the advisory group)

Ending The board did not vote on any measure during the May 7 meeting; it received the committee's recommendation and scheduled further financial modeling with Stifel for May 30. The board will take a formal vote on whether to call an election at its June 11 meeting.