Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Learn what Proposition 423 does, why it is back on the ballot, and what is at stake for Vail students.
What is a school district maintenance and operations override?
It is authorization from voters to raise local property taxes to provide funding above the state’s base level for the local school district. It can be used only for maintenance and operations, 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 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. Arizona base funding provides a minimum level of education funding. All Tucson-area districts have at least one override, and 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 current tax rate?
No. Proposition 423 continues the current override; it does not raise the current tax rate.
What does the override currently fund?
- Dedicated music, art, PE, and advanced courses for students
- Additional classroom teachers to help control class sizes
- 172 teaching positions
- 20% of all teaching positions in VUSD
How does VUSD’s per-pupil spending compare to other districts?
VUSD receives $7,220 in base state funding per student—$4,077 less than the state average of $11,297. With the 12.5% voter-approved override, VUSD funding is $8,023 per student, still $3,274 less than the state average.
Why does VUSD receive less funding than other districts?
Vail’s relatively low free and reduced lunch rate means fewer federal dollars. VUSD also does not qualify for desegregation funds or the small-school funding weight Arizona provides to small school districts and charter schools.
What happens if the override is not renewed?
If Proposition 423 does not pass, the teaching positions and programs funded by the override phase out over two years.
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