When the funding provided by the state isn’t enough to meet the needs of all students, the state allows school districts to ask for local support through bonds and overrides. This requires Governing Board approval to be placed on the ballot for the community to vote.

Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Overrides are used to provide additional funding to support people and programs. School districts may ask for an increase of up to 15 percent of their revenue control limit for a term of seven years. Many districts will ask voters to approve a renewal in year 4 or 5 of an override to maintain a consistent level of funding. If not renewed, the amount decreases by 1/3 in the sixth year, 2/3 in the seventh year, and is fully eliminated in year eight. 

  
Bonds are similar to loans that are authorized by voters and used to purchase capital items and/or make capital improvements to existing facilities, such as building or renovating a school or purchasing school buses. The funding can only be used to fund projects that have a useful life longer than five years. They are repaid over a set period of time, and the district must provide the community with information on how the dollars are spent. Funds from a bond cannot be used for employee compensation.

In order to vote, you must be a registered voter in the state of Arizona. Register to vote. This election is a mail-in ballot election, with in-person voting also available between October 30 - November 7 Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm. On Election Day in-person voting is available 5:30am - 7pm. In-person voting can be done at Gilbert Public Schools Administrative Offices, 140 S Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296.

It is recommended that the last day for mailing your ballot is October 31st 2023.

To verify your voter registration or register to vote visit www.azsos.gov/elections

Arizona funds schools based on the number of students and the miles students are transported. It is formula based funding and a school district’s budget limit does not increase or decrease if the assessed value in the district changes. Arizona provides a specific dollar amount per student for maintenance and operational expenses (salaries, benefits, supplies, services, utilities) and for capital (furniture, equipment, technology, vehicles, textbooks, library books, instructional aids). The capital allocation has not been fully funded for several years.