Mesa Public Schools board calls special $449 million bond election

The Mesa Public Schools governing board called for a special $449 million bond election to help pay for repairs and upgrades to aging district facilities, the board announced. The measure, the board said, would fund only capital projects and could not be used for salaries.

The board presented the bond as a partial response to what it described as $1.4 billion in identified capital needs across the district. "The proposed $449 million bond program would address a portion of the district's $1.4 billion in identified capital needs," the board said.

According to the announcement, most of the proposed funding would go toward core facility systems, including air conditioning, roofing, plumbing and electrical systems. The board also said additional allocations would support safety and security upgrades, technology infrastructure, site-based projects and career and technical education programs.

Board officials emphasized the legal restriction on uses of bond proceeds, saying that "bond funds may only be used for capital projects and cannot be used for salaries." That restriction, they noted, limits the district to investing proceeds in physical improvements rather than personnel costs.

The board said the bond will be placed on the general-election ballot on Nov. 3, 2026. The transcript did not include details on whether a formal vote to place the measure passed at the meeting or the vote tally; the board's announcement in the record is the basis for the timing and size of the proposal.

If approved by voters, the district would proceed with the capital projects outlined; if not approved, the projects would not be funded through this bond. The board did not provide a more detailed listing of specific school-by-school projects or a proposed tax-rate impact in the transcript excerpt provided.