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Fowler Elementary No. 45

Voting without knowing what's on your ballot is like lighting your money on fire.

What is the upcoming election about?

The Fowler Elementary School District (FESD) is asking for a continuation of a 15% budget override for $3,500,000.

What are the significant dates for the election?

- If you aren't already registered to vote, the last day to register in order to be eligible to vote in this election is Tuesday, October 10th, 2023.

- Ballots will be mailed on October 11, 2023. The last day to request early ballot October 27 

- VOTED BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 7 p.m., November 7th. MAIL ballots by October 31st.

Who can vote in this election?

All registered voters that reside in the FESD will receive a ballot by mail with voting instructions in the envelope.

What policies did Fowler Elementary School District (FESD) implement with my tax dollars?

Dedicated to and Implementing Social Emotional Learning - SOURCE - SOURCE 

- Those dedicated to teaching Social Emotional Learning [SEL] believe “Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a process through which children and adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness. We need SEL skills for ourselves, our relationships, and our work. In OUSD, we believe that strengthening these skills enhances our ability to effectively and ethically connect across race, class, culture, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, learning needs, and age.” - SOURCE 

- SEL uses emotional responses to generate student attention to drive learning. - SOURCE

Aren’t Fowler Elementary schools doing a good job?

- 19% of students are proficient or highly proficient at English Language Arts 

- 13% of students are proficient or highly proficient at Math

Aren’t Fowler Elementary Teachers underpaid?

Fowler Elementary pays an average annual salary of $52,415 per teacher. The average annual salary in Phoenix is $48,000.

What are taxpayers in the Fowler Elementary School District being asked?

Voters will be asked to say yes or no on one measure: 

- A 15% Budget Override

What are the current tax rates for the override?

- The total 15% budget override amount for the first year of the proposed continuation is estimated to be $3,500,000 and would be funded in that year by an estimated $0.72 tax rate per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes which is approximately equal to the current secondary tax rate for the existing budget override. 

- Shows up on your tax bill as secondary property tax. 

- Property taxes combined add up to thousands of dollars! 

- To view your current property tax liability, visit https://treasurer.maricopa.gov/Parcel/ParcelSearch.aspx

Is Fowler Elementary School District (FESD) underfunded?

Fowler Elementary spends $12,408 per student

If the override fails, how will my taxes be affected?

- Without passage of the override, the district will have to reduce the operational budget. 

- Once any outstanding Bonds and Overrides are repaid, you won't have to continue paying Secondary property taxes related to the bond. 

How has more funding impacted Fowler Elementary Public Schools?

Comparing to the 2018-2019 School Year Performance to the 2021-2022 School Year Performance 

- Over 15% Drop in Enrollment 

- Drop Out Rate More than Tripled from 1.69% to 5.27% 

- 13% Drop in Math Proficiency 

- 11% Drop in English Proficiency 

- Reported Instances of Violence More than Halved from 61 to 23 

- Total Students Reported as Harassed or Bullied Quadrupled, going from 6 to 24 

- Total Students with Chronic Absenteeism was slightly reduce, going from 741 to 664

School officials claim this is a just a continuation and there will be no new taxes. Is this accurate?

- Once any outstanding Bonds and Overrides are repaid, you won't have to continue paying Secondary property taxes related to the bond. 

- If the measure passes, the current Secondary tax rates will remain the same; however; 

- If the measure passes, the total amount of taxes paid will likely go higher if there is continued inflation related to property values.

Why do we have an override continuation election?

Fowler Elementary is legally allowed to call the override a continuation even though we will vote to approve it as if it is new.

What does Fowler Elementary Schools intend to use the additional funds for?

The override funds will be used for the following: 

- Maintain staffing levels, specifically student-teacher ratios 

- Maintain class sizes in all grade levels 

- Maintain school-based student services (library and health services) 

- Retain assistant principal positions at all schools 

- Maintain music, art, PE, and other special area programs 

- Maintain band programs 

- Maintain salary for all staff 

- Maintain the ability to accept students that reside outside the district boundaries

I’m renting. Why should I care about this election?

- If the override is defeated, your landlord’s taxes will go down and could mitigate future rent increases. 

- Irrespective of being a property owner, we all want to see the kids receive a quality education. 

- To view your current property tax liability, visit https://treasurer.maricopa.gov/Parcel/ParcelSearch.aspx

The information above may have been compiled from the following additional sources:

Please Note: EZAZ.org takes no position for or against the items on your ballot. Vote your conscience.

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