What is the Maintenance and Operation (M&O) Budget?

The M&O Budget is the main operating budget for the school district. It includes salaries, benefits, supplies, repairs and utilities. The M&O budget is formula driven and is based on the Average Daily Membership. (ADM), which, more simply, means the number of students in school on the 100th day of the school year. THe formula used to award these funds sets the amount of funding allowed per child at $4976, 30% of which is raised by local property taxes.

What is an M&O Override? An M&O Override is a ballot question from school districts requesting voter permission to exceed the limiting state budget formula by no more than 10%. This 10% is funded by property taxes. In this district's case, there WOULD NOT BE ANY NEW TAXES. Rather, it would be a continuation of the override the AJUSD is currently operating under.

How long is the Override effective?The 10% Override allows the District to exceed the limiting state formula-driven budget by 10% for a period of 7 years. In years 6 & 7 , the Override phases out and declines to zero if not re-approved by voters.

Has AJUSD ever held an Override election? Yes the District has been on a 10% Override since 1999. VOters renewed the Overridd in 2003. CUrrently, 85% of the school districts in Arizona are on Overrides including the neighboring districts of Queen Creek, JO COmbs, Mesa, Higley and Chandler.

Since 1999, Overrid funding has provided the support for:

• Staffing to reduce student/teahcer ratios (20 teachers)
• Music programs for grades 4-12 (6 teachers)
• Certified librarians (2 librarians and 1 aide)
• Athletics at middle and high schools (6 PE teachers)
• Instructors for NJROTC program (2 instructors)
• Counseling services at the elementary schools (2 counselors)
• Technical support (2computer techs)
• Summer school (staffing four sites)
• Custodial services (9 custodians)
• On Campus Suspension (4 staff members)
• Transportation
• High School Security (3 security officers)

What will happen if the Override fails? In july of 1008-2009, the budget will have to be reduced by $950,000. At this time, no new staff will be added and vacated positions in areas currently funded by Override dollars will not be filled. Summer school programs will not be possible and after-school activity buses will be eliminated or drastically cut.

The following year, a further increase in class sizes can be expected as staffing is further reduced. Teachers will be responsible for classroom maintenance. A pay-to-play fee schedule will be introduced to fund all athertic programs. The extended day will be eliminated and other student services will be curtailed to meet budget limitations.

Will passage of the Override impact the school tax rate? No. The District is not asking for more, or new funding. Voter approval to continue the current override funding is the ballot issue. In fact, the school tax rate for 2006-2007 represented a decrease of $2.01 since voters approved the first override.

How does this rate compare to other Arizona School Districts? THe following is a compariative list of other school district tax rates for 2006-2006

School District Tax Rates

• Apache Junction - 5.99
• Deer Valley 6.04
• Mesa 6.37
• GIlbert 6.82
• Coolidge 7.08
• Maricopa Unified 7.99
• San Manuel 9.85
• Queen Creek 10.04