Proposition 412: Amphitheater district bond

Voters in the Amphitheater Unified School District will be deciding on Proposition 412, an $84 million bond package for school improvements.

Bond elections allow school districts to obtain funding for capital needs, including maintenance, renovations, transportation and instructional technology.

Amphi is one of Tucson’s largest school districts, serving about 13,500 students across 22 schools. The district includes parts of Tucson, Oro Valley and Catalina.

Revenue and cost

The bond would bring $84 million into the district over the next five to seven years with no additional cost to taxpayers. The estimated cost to an owner of a home with a limited property value of $250,000 would remain at about $81 per year.

And during the lifetime of the bond program over the next seven to 10 years, the district tax rate will actually decrease.

What will it fund?

If approved by voters, the bond would fund much-needed improvement to the district’s schools, including:

• Restoring or replacing roofing and weatherproofing buildings.
• Replacing failed or deteriorated heating and cooling systems with energy-efficient systems.
• Replacing aged electrical systems and critical features such as fire alarms, intrusion alarms, intercoms and public address systems.
• Restoring or replacing safety fencing, gates, walkways, shade covers, bleachers, parking lots and more.
• Replacing special equipment used to support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Purchasing school buses and instructional technology for students.
• Restoring athletic fields, playgrounds, drainage, irrigation and water well systems.
• Improving overall school safety.

What happens if it’s not approved?

If Prop 412 is not approved, the existing bond is set to expire and the district will be unable to make the above improvements. It will also have to make cuts to programs and staff.

What are supporters saying?

Seven letters of support were submitted for the proposition, with no letter-writers opposing the measure.

Beth Lake, co-chair of Leap Ahead for Amphi, wrote that drastic cuts by the state legislature over the last 15 years have rendered the district unable to fund improvements to things as basic as air conditioners, buses, computers textbooks and athletic facilities.

“In this day and age, when our students could be better protected by enhanced school security, the funding limitations facing schools keep those improvements out of reach,” she wrote. “Our community’s children have gone without in many respects for too long. That’s wrong, but we have an opportunity to do something locally to fix that.”

Retiree Sandi Wheeler noted that opportunities like these to increase public school funding without adding to local taxes are rare.

“There’s no extravagance in what Amphi asks for. We’re not talking icing on the cake. This is for basics – eggs and butter, if you will,” she wrote. “And in asking us for this vital help, they promise not to add to our taxes (a promise they have to keep, by the way). I say that deserves our support.”

Other letter writers included Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield and Oro Valley Police Chief Kara Riley, who wrote that it’s the community’s collective responsibility to ensure that schools have the necessary resources.

“Ensuring our schools remain a place where learning and growth can occur without fear is crucial for our community,” Riley wrote.

Proposition 413: Amphitheater district override

Amphi voters will also be deciding Proposition 413, a continuation of the existing 13.5% override to the district’s Maintenance and Operation Budget.

Arizona law allows school districts to increase their maintenance and operations budgets each year up to 15% of the limit imposed by the state legislature. Voter-approved overrides are effective for seven years, with a phasedown period in the final two years.

Revenue and cost

The override continuation would add an additional $4 million each year to the district’s $115.9  million budget, starting in the 2025-26 fiscal year with no additional cost to taxpayers. The estimated cost for a home with a property value of $298,120 will remain at about $185 per year.

What will it fund?

If approved, Prop 413 will help fund full-day kindergarten; class size reduction and maintenance in core areas; art, music and physical education at elementary schools; expanded higher level classes and programs at middle and high schools; year-round intervention for struggling learners; competitive salaries and benefits for staff.

What happens if it’s not approved?

If Prop 413 is not approved by voters, the existing 10% and 3.5% overrides will phase out by reducing by one-third in fiscal year 2025-26 and another one-third in fiscal year 2026-27. As a result, the district will have to cut programs and staff.

What are supporters saying?

Ten letters of support were submitted for the proposition, with no letter-writers opposing the measure.

The Amphitheater governing board wrote that the override is essential to maintain vital programs at district schools, saying that most of the current override has been in place for nearly 20 years. 

Michelle Crow, an Amphi alum, wrote that her professional career has focused on advocating for better policies to improve conditions for Arizona’s children, including increased funding for public schools.

“For many decades, school funding in Arizona has lagged far behind most of the country. Even after recent state increases targeted at teacher pay, Arizona still remains among the lowest states for education funding,” she wrote. “For no new tax increase, we can make a real difference locally for our youngest children that will have lasting impact. “

Darlene Rowe, a teacher and vice president of the Amphi Education Association said  she’s witnessed the impacts of more than $1 billion in state budget cuts to public education, more than $110 million in Amphi alone.

“I’ve seen student learning opportunities suffer and I’ve watched schools across our community struggle to compete for teachers,” she wrote. “Thankfully, such budget cuts were tempered by Amphitheater’s budget override, which we are called upon as a community to support. The best teachers, the best programs and the best schools will bring the best future to our community.”

Voting

More information about both propositions can be found in the voter information pamphlet or on Amphi's bond and override election website.

The deadline to request a ballot by mail is October 25 and the last day to mail in your ballot is October 29. Election day is Tuesday, November 5.

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. She previously worked for the Arizona Daily Star and has been reporting on Southern Arizona for a decade. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.