Dear Parents and Community Members, At a Regular Board Meeting on June 5, 2013, the Florence Unified School District Governing Board adopted a resolution asking the voters in our community to authorize a 12% Maintenance and Operation Override. The election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 for voters who are registered by October 7th and reside within the district boundaries. This election will be an all-mail ballot. Your ballot will be mailed to you by first class mail beginning October 10, 2013, and you can return in it the pre-stamped envelope that will be enclosed. The proposed override funds cost an estimated 39 cents per day for an average home in our district and will allow the district to: 1) eliminate pay-to-participate fees for each sport, 2) provide free all-day kindergarten, 3) maintain art, music and physical education programs, and 4) lower class sizes for higher academic achievement. As noted by Pinal County Assessor Doug Wolf, “Property values are highest in areas with the best schools.” What is a Budget Override? School districts in Arizona are allowed by state law to increase their Maintenance & Operation (M&O) budgets each year by up to 15% of the revenue control limit imposed by the state legislature. About half of the school districts in Arizona (representing 70-80% of the state’s students) presently have a budget override in place. Our Past History: We are grateful for the generosity and vision of the FUSD community. Because you have approved overrides for the district in the past, our schools have improved dramatically. Giving the best to our children is not inexpensive, but it is worth 39 cents per day! How long do override funds last? An override lasts for seven years. The district receives full funding for five years. The last two years the funding decreases. In year six the funding would be eight percent, and in year seven the funding would be four percent of the district’s revenue control limit.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:17:47 +0000