Frequently Asked Questions Override

Our community approved a 15% override in November 2019, which was in effect starting in the 2020-2021 school year. That override will begin a phase down in the 2025-2026 school year if the request in November 2024 fails. The 15% Budget Continuation Override, if approved, will begin in the 2024-2025 school year and will continue until the 2028-2029 school year.

Below is a table showing the override percentages and dollar values for some of the local East Valley school districts that we compete for high quality personnel. Note that all have a 15% override in place except for Apache Junction. Note the relationship between the dollar value and the student count applicable to each school district.

FISCAL YEAR 2023 COMPARISON OF EAST VALLEY OVERRIDE AMOUNTS

If the override does not pass Gilbert Public Schools would have to cut $35.8 million from the budget over 3 years, starting in school year 2025-2026.  

During the first year, about $ 11.9 M will have to be cut. Strategies used in the past included pay reductions, decreases in gifted education access, increases in class sizes, freezing of staffing positions and pay freezes. Any reductions will be determined collaboratively with the District leadership team inclusive of school based leaders and will ensure that educational priorities continue to be funded.

The override currently funds competitive salaries, safety and security personnel to include social workers, mental health counselors and campus security specialists as well as class size reduction allocations. Programs restored after the 2015 successful override election continue to be funded.

No, this 15% budget override continuation maintains the present tax rate paid today by GPS residents and commercial property owners.

The Override is funded from the secondary tax rate along with the Bond debt service. The tax rate associated with the 15% Override is $1.2988 per $100 of assessed value. 

Based on an assessed home value of $251,560, the average assessed value in GPS, the homeowner impact would be as follows:

• Current monthly cost (15% override) = $27.23
• Current annual cost (15% override) = $326.73

FISCAL YEAR 2023 COMPARISON GPS TAX RATE TO PEER DISTRICTS

Currently, Gilbert Public Schools has some underutilized schools. GPS leadership to include the Governing Board has been proactive in “right sizing” the District. Gilbert Public Schools actively monitors efficient use of space and takes action when required. During the Spring of 2022, the Neely Traditional School site was purchased by the Town of Gilbert and the Traditional school was moved to the former Houston Elementary. Houston Elementary boundary was then incorporated into the Burk elementary boundary.

GPS regularly reviews enrollment trends and considers boundary changes and repurposing spaces. Today, as space becomes available, there is an opportunity to provide self-contained special education classrooms to meet demand, and to expand community preschool offerings district-wide. As of school year 2023-2024, the special education population represents about 15% of the total enrollment up from about 11.5% in 2018.

These two terms are used interchangeably but the ballot will look like:

• Budget Override Continuation,  yes
• Budget Override Continuation, no