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Fountain Hills board votes to call M&O override election after financial presentation
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Summary
After a presentation by Stifel on projected levy amounts and voter costs, the Fountain Hills Unified School board voted unanimously to call a maintenance-and-operations override election and agreed to draft a 200‑word pro statement for the voter pamphlet.
The Fountain Hills Unified School Board voted unanimously to call a special maintenance-and-operations (M&O) override election after receiving a fiscal presentation from Stifel on estimated levies and homeowner impacts.
Jack Reeper of Stifel reviewed the district’s current override approved in 2021 and presented estimates for fiscal 2027, saying the district could see an estimated maximum override amount of "$1,174,000 or very similar tax rate, of 17¢." He explained that the estimates use limited assessed values (which grow slowly) rather than current market values, and that population and enrollment changes and the revenue-control limit affect the required levy and resulting tax rate.
Jim Geele of Gus Rosenfeld, the district’s election counsel, advised the board on statutory constraints for election communications under Arizona law, saying the district may provide neutral factual information but that board members seeking to persuade voters must speak as private citizens. He said he would provide memos summarizing the do’s and don’ts under Arizona Revised Statutes §15-5-11.
Board members questioned which assessed-value base the illustrative examples used and whether the sample properties in the presentation would match voters’ bills. Reeper acknowledged pages shown were illustrative for the board’s discussion and said the official voter information pamphlet will include the district’s finalized M&O budget estimates.
Chair moved the resolution calling the special M&O override election and setting the deadline to submit arguments for and against the election to the Maricopa County School Superintendent as Aug. 7, 2026, at 5 p.m.; a board member seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The board discussed the required 200-word pro statement that will appear first in the voter pamphlet. Members agreed to collect suggested language and designate a lead author to compile comments via Krista for review; the board will consider a short approval resolution at its next meeting.
Next steps: counsel will provide written guidance on permissible board communications, administration will prepare the formal budget estimates for the voter pamphlet, and the board will review and vote on a pro statement at a future meeting.
