After chopping $11 million dollars from its 2026 fiscal year budget in operational expenses in the form of staffing cuts, pay freezes, furlough days and fee increases in programming due to voter rejection of a Maintenance and Operations Override in November 2024, Deer Valley Unified School District is trying again for voter approval of the M&O Override in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election.
What the M&O Override Provides
The renewal of the Maintenance & Operations Override is a homeowner tax that had been in place for 30 years in DVUSD to help bridge the gap in state funding received to cover the district’s fixed costs and basic needs, including staff salaries and programming such as fine arts and elective courses, along with full-day kindergarten. The November election marks DVUSD’s third attempt in asking for local taxpayer support. Voters chose not to renew it during the 2023 and 2024 election cycles.
M&O overrides are common and in place in other comparable school districts around the state, but expire every five years and can only be renewed through an election with support of the local taxpayers. The last taxpayer 15 percent budget override was approved in 2019 and expired in December 2024.
PHOTOS COURTESY DVUSD
A “yes” vote would allow DVUSD to continue to provide programs like free, full-day kindergarten. Funding would also secure the district’s gifted program, athletics, fine arts and physical education programs, and help maintain low class sizes.
School Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch told Valley Vibe, the override provides $33 million in revenue for the district and helps fund 8 percent of teacher and staff salaries, all-day kindergarten, athletic and fine arts support, and student supports such as counselors, nurses, and academic interventions.
“DVUSD continues to break records for state championships in academics, athletics, and the fine arts, climbing to the top of the stateʼs education mountain,” Dr. Finch told Valley Vibe in an email. “The last two years DVUSD collected over 70 State Titles in the fine arts, academics, and athletics while maintaining our A-rating from the state. We had a record 27 A-rated schools again this year with 88 percent of our 42 schools being rated either A or B by the state. Without our approval from our community, DVUSD risks the chance of not being able to stay on top of the educational mountain in the near future,” he added.
If approved, funds will allow DVUSD the following:
- Attract and retain highly qualified teachers & stay competitive with neighboring districts
- Preserve fine arts, elective courses, gifted programs and athletic programs (art, music, band, and physical education)
- Maintain low class sizes
- Provide counselors and specialists/support staff
- Provide free, full-day kindergarten
A “yes” vote would approve the continuation of the district’s existing Maintenance and Operations 15 percent budget override. The district estimates the cost of the override at $21 per month on a home with an assessed value of $500,000.
Should the Override not be renewed this election cycle, DVUSD will be forced to cut another $22 million over the next two years.
A ‘No’ Vote Means Millions More in Budget Cuts
The $11 million in forced budget cuts effective with the 2025-26 school year was the first of the cuts. Should the override not be renewed this election cycle, DVUSD will be forced to cut another $22 million over the next two years, with all override funding ending by fiscal year 2027-28.
“Since we are in the people business and more than 80 percent of our budget is human, more and more staff will have to be reduced, which will drive up classroom sizes, and reduce our levels of service. We anticipate that other options to shrink our services to students, staff, and community will have to continue to be trimmed and/or fees raised to keep the same level of service that our customers have become accustomed to over the 90-year history of DVUSD,” Finch said.
Info www.dvusd.org/override.com
A Second Ballot Question to Sell Land
Over 20 years ago, DVUSD received a land parcel donation from a developer near 83rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road. The district has since determined that the site is no longer needed for a future school, and is asking voter permission to execute a sale of that parcel.
If approved by voters, state law designates the sale proceeds cannot be used for operating expenses such as salaries or classroom supplies.
Funds may be allocated for capital purposes, such as facility improvements, safety upgrades, or other long-term infrastructure needs.
“This measure ensures responsible asset management without impacting the district’s day-to-day operational budget,” Dr. Finch told Valley Vibe.
Potential Future Growth Plans
DVUSD anticipates a future need for at least two new K-8 schools and new high school on the west side of I-17, south of Loop 303, near the TSMC chip plant and the proposed NorthPark by Pulte Homes, a master-planned community roughly the size of Anthem. [See “Explosive Growth Prompts Need for Schools,” Valley Vibe, August 2023.]
The district is in discussions with the State Land Department regarding the school sites. DVUSD has held a reservation with the State Land Department for a future high school near I-17 and Jomax Road, but with the close proximity of that site to Sandra Day O’Connor High and the shift in the city’s growth plans, the district has stated they would forgo the I-17 and Jomax location in exchange for a usable 60-plus acre parcel south of the 303 Freeway and west of I-17.
No Building Bond on the Ballot
Not on the ballot this election cycle is the special bond question to fund the construction of future schools. Dr. Finch said the decision to remove the Bond from the ballot was partly his decision with support by a majority of the Governing Board. He said DVUSD is closely monitoring the future growth, but the construction zone around the TSMC chip plant is behind schedule as the state and city are still working on sewer and water solutions.
“The Board listened to the community and will wait for a bond proposal later as the TSMC factories and developments take shape on the west side of the I-17 over time,” Finch told Valley Vibe in a previous email.
Important Dates
| Voter Registration Deadline | Monday, Oct. 6 |
| Ballots Mailed to Taxpayers | Wednesday, Oct. 8 |
| Last Day to Request a Ballot | Friday, Oct. 24 |
| Last Day to Mail in Your Ballot | Tuesday, Oct. 28 |
By Karen Goveia
editor@valleyvibenews.com