Vote YES on Proposition 423Continue the override already in place—no increase to the current tax rate.
Citizens of Vail for EducationYes for Vail KidsCitizens of Vail for Education · COVE

Proposition 423

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a school district maintenance and operations override?

It’s authorization from voters to raise local property taxes to provide funding above the state’s base level for the local school district. It can only be used for maintenance and operations and staff and programs, not buildings or construction. It is not a loan. This November, that authorization is on the ballot as Proposition 423.

Why does an override need to be reauthorized if voters already approved it?

Override funding is not permanent. It must be reauthorized by voters every five years, or it phases out over the following two years along with the teachers (and programs) it supports. The override that was approved in 2021 is set to expire. VUSD is seeking a continuation of that 12.5% override.

Do all school districts have overrides?

Not all, but most do. Funding in Arizona has been near the bottom for decades, providing students funding for a bare minimum education. All districts in Tucson have at least one override… some have two. Many have a 15% budget override, the state maximum. VUSD’s 12.5% override is among the lowest in the Tucson area.

Will reauthorizing the override raise the tax rate?

No. This is continuation of the current override.

What does the override currently fund?
  • Dedicated music, art, PE, and advanced courses for students
  • Additional classroom teachers to help control class sizes
  • 172 teachers are funded by the current override
  • 20% of all teaching positions in VUSD
How does VUSD’s per-pupil spending compare to other districts?

$7,220: VUSD’s base state funding per student, $4,077 LESS than the state average of $11,297. With the 12.5% voter approved override, VUSD’s funding is $8,023 per student, $3,274 LESS than the state average.

Why does VUSD get less funding than other districts?

Vail’s relatively low free and reduced lunch rate means less federal dollars, and we do not qualify for desegregation funds or the small school funding weight Arizona provides to small school districts and charters.

What happens if the override isn’t renewed?

If Prop 423 does not pass, the teachers and programs the override funds will phase out after two years.