The Litchfield Elementary School District is asking to sell $100 Million dollars in bonds. If passed, the Bonds will be paid back by tax payers for 15 years.

- 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.

• Check your voter registration status at ezaz.org/vote

- 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.

All registered voters that reside in the Litchfield Elementary School District will receive a ballot by mail with voting instructions in the envelope.

- Implemented an Equity Plan titled "Transformational Work Equity" that introduces race-based trainings for all staff, race-based disciplinary actions, race-based curriculums, and race-based hiring practices. - SOURCE 

- Has Equity Statement. It says, “We subscribe to author Ibram X. Kendi’s definition: ‘One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist. There is no in-between safe space of not racist.'” Ibram X has a book dedicated to Critical Race Theory - SOURCE 

- Equity teaches people and children that there is systemic racism, they are entitled to reparations and more because of the color of their skin. - SOURCE 

- Critical Race Theory teaches that systemic racism is part of American society - from education and housing to employment and healthcare. - SOURCE 

- Dedicated to teaching and implementing Social Emotional Learning. - SOURCE 

- CASEL, a leading organization for implementing SEL in schools, displays on their website a poster to illustrate what Social Emotional Learning is. “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

- 50% of students are proficient or highly proficient at English Language Arts 

- 44% of students are proficient or highly proficient at Math

Litchfield Elementary pays an average annual salary of $66,114 to teachers. The average annual salary in Litchfield Park is $57,000.

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

- The sale of $100 million in new bonds

- It is estimated that the Bonds would require an estimated average annual secondary tax rate increase of $0.41 per $100 of net assessed limited property value over the estimated 15-year life of the bond program. 

- 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

Litchfield Elementary spends $$10,198 per student per year.

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

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

- Decrease in Enrollment of 710 Students [Over 6% Drop] 

- Drop Out Rate Skyrocketed nearly 10 Times from 0.13% to 1.24% - 13% Drop in Math Proficiency 

- 6% Drop in English Proficiency 

- Total Students with Chronic Absenteeism Slightly Dropped 1,699 to 1,687 

- Total Students Reported as Harassed or Bullied Increased from 14 to 94 [An Instance More Frequent than Every Other Day Based on a 180 Day Arizonan School Year] 

- Reported Instances of Violence Remained the Same at 0

- 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.

It is a vote by the public to allow the School District to issue more debt for projects. The $100 million in bonds is NOT a continuation and is a separate item on the property tax statement.

- $48 Million to Construct New School #17 

- Various schools at or nearing capacity of max students 

- $40 Million for School Upgrades & Renovations 

- Provide for building modernization, repairs & upgrades 

- $7 Million for School Safety & Security 

- Implement new & uparade current satety measures 

- $5 Million for Technology & Student Transportation 

- Upgrade classroom equipment & continue safe and reliable transportation for students with school buses and other student transportation venicles

- If the bond measure 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