$156 million sought by district in override and bonds
by Brian DiTullio

CCUSD – Voters in the Cave Creek Unified School District now can obtain an informational pamphlet about the upcoming capital override and bond election.

The district recently released the pamphlet to answer questions about why CCUSD is seeking the extra money and what it will be used for.

The pamphlet states CCUSD is seeking a $32.6 million capital override fund to “purchase major capital equipment including textbooks, technology equipment, service vehicles, furniture and other equipment. As required by Arizona law, bond funds cannot be used for equipment expenditures, and the district cannot make these purchases from the annual Maintenance and Operations budget.”

The $32.6 million would be expended over the seven‑year life span of the override, according to the district, of which $23 million would go toward acquiring new technology. About $4 million of that money would be used to furnish and equip a planned new high school and augment Cactus Shadows High School.

Funding to build the new high school on the district’s south campus would come from a $123.4 million bond initiative. Those monies also would go toward renovating almost every building in the school district, to include replacing outdated air conditioning units, new roofing and shade structures, upgrading fields, refurbishing the Fine Arts Center on the north campus, mitigating the high‑voltage power lines at Sonoran Trails Middle School and other related needs.

Superintendent Tacy Ashby states in a letter to parents and community members that a committee was formed and spent the last year “researching best practices, surveying shareholders and listening and responding to community needs.”

“The committee ultimately brought forth a proposal for the CCUSD Governing Board to vote on,” Ashby continued, “with the recommendation demonstrating a need to upgrade facilities of the district and bring equity to all schools. This was done by surveying all schools as to their needs and looking at necessary renovations.”

A breakdown of allocations shows $45 million going toward the new high school, $10.7 million for Black Mountain Elementary renovations, $16.4 million toward Desert Arroyo Middle School

renovations, $26.6 million for Cactus Shadows High School renovations, and the balance to other schools in the district at varying levels.

According to CCUSD, the net result of the two ballot issues will be the same tax rate as presently in effect, due to reductions made this year to less than 65 cents per $100 of secondary assessed valuation. A homeowner with a home valued at $300,000 in 2007 would expect to pay $194, the pamphlet states.

The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 6 General Election is Oct. 8. Go to  www.servicearizona.com for complete voter registration information.