Paradise Valley board approves two November override arguments and adopts 2026-27 budget after truth-in-taxation hearing

Paradise Valley Unified School District’s governing board on June 18 approved two separate written arguments the district will submit in support of November 2026 ballot measures and adopted the district’s fiscal year 2026‑27 budget following a truth-in-taxation hearing.

At the start of the meeting the board considered Resolution No. 604, the proposed 200-word argument in support of a special maintenance and operation (M&O) override. Board member Ms. Wani proposed removing an opening clause referencing the “recently approved budget” and replacing it with wording that starts: “Arizona state funding for public education remains well below national averages and does not account for rising costs for inflation.” That amendment was moved, seconded and approved; the amended resolution then passed on a 4–1 vote.

Minutes later the board approved Resolution No. 605, the district’s argument supporting an additional-assistance override for the same November election. That motion also passed 4–1.

During a publicly noticed truth-in-taxation hearing, Ms. Bergin reviewed the FY 2026‑27 budget materials and updated slides to reflect a recently passed state budget. She noted a projected base funding amount of $5,215.53 per student, an adjacent-ways levy request of roughly $2.1 million, and an estimated combined tax rate moving from 5.0886 to 4.9201 (an estimated reduction of about $0.17 per $100,000 of assessed value, with the adjacent-ways portion equating to roughly $1.93 additional per $100,000 of assessed value under the accounting method described).

Ms. Bergin also described a state Senate continuing resolution (SCR 1032) that would, if enacted and implemented as drafted, require 60% of operational expenditures to be classified as direct instructional expenses. Under the district’s current reporting methodology, Paradise Valley reports about 55.5% in classroom instruction versus a statewide average near 52.1%; the district may need to reassess budget and program categories if the definition adopted by the Office of the Auditor General differs from the district’s current classroom-spending methodology.

After questions about classroom site fund treatment, adjacent-ways projects (including bus and fire-lane work and site sealing), and project cost differences between sealing and full replacement, the board voted unanimously by roll call to adopt the FY 2026‑27 budget and the expenditure of insurance proceeds.

The board also approved several consent items later in the meeting — including a revised high-school course catalog and acceptance of donations — all by unanimous votes.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

Outcome: Two ballot-argument resolutions adopted (Res. 604 amended and passed 4–1; Res. 605 passed 4–1). FY 2026‑27 budget adopted unanimously.