What is the upcoming election about?

The Phoenix Union School District is asking to sell $475 Million dollars in bonds.

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.

• 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.

Who can vote in this election?

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

What policies did Phoenix Union School District implement with my tax dollars?

- Allows for illegal immigrants to be enrolled - SOURCE 

- Publicly outspoken against the banning of boys playing in girls sports - SOURCE 

- In May, a 15 year old student brough AR-15 to school - SOURCE 

- Took officers off school campus and voted in June to bring them back. But police officers will not be at every school. - SOURCE 

- Has at least 37 teachers who have signed a pledge to teach Critical Race Theory (CRT) and all other social justice-oriented curriculum to children, regardless of the law or the wishes of parents. - 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 justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) - 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 

- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion teaches students and people that white people are oppressors. - SOURCE 

- Justice in this scenario stands for Defunding the Police. - SOURCE

Aren’t Phoenix Union schools doing a good job?

- 75.5% Graduation Rate 

- 15% of students are proficient or highly proficient at English Language Arts 

- 12% of students are proficient or highly proficient at Math

Aren’t Phoenix Union Teachers underpaid?

Phoenix Union pays an average annual salary of $69,911 to teachers. The average annual salary in Phoenix is $48,000.

What are taxpayers in the Phoenix Union School District being asked?

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

- The sale of $475 million in new bonds

What are the current tax rates for the bond?

- Estimated average annual Bond Tax Rate per $100 of Assessed Valuation: $0.4538. The tax impact over the term of the bonds on an owner-occupied residence valued by the County Assessor at $250,000 is estimated to be $122.42 per year for 18 years or $2,203.56 total cost. 

- 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 Phoenix Union School District underfunded?

Phoenix Union spends $14,798 per student per year.

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

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 Phoenix Union Public Schools?

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

- 6.58% Drop in Graduation Rate 

- 54% Increase to the Drop Out Rate from 4% to 6.16% 

- 11% Drop in Math Proficiency 

- 6% Increase in English Proficiency 

- Total Students with Chronic Absenteeism Skyrocketed more than 11 Times from 872 to 9,603 

- Total Students Enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement Course Decreased from 2,339 to 2,724 

- Reported Instances of Violence Decreased from 593 to 327 [Nearly 2 Instances per Day Based on 180 Days per Arizonan School Year] 

- Total Students Reported as Harassed or Bullied Decreased from 22 to 12 

- Increased Enrollment of just over 1%

School officials claim 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.

What is a bond election?

It is a vote by the public to allow the School District to issue more debt for projects. The $475 million in bonds is NOT a continuation and is a separate item on the property tax statement.

What does Phoenix Union Schools intend to use the additional funds for?

The Bonds will fund the following types of improvement projects: 

- Construction and renovation of school buildings 

- Expansion of the District’s portfolio of schools and innovative models accessible across PXU’s footprint 

- Improvement of school grounds such as athletics and performing arts facilities 

- Maintain state-of-the-art technology for students and staff 

- Support campus facility safety 

- Purchase of land and new construction, expand and upgrade the District’s digital networks 

- Increase cybersecurity 

- Purchase flexible furniture 

- Replace aging buses while expanding its alternative-fuel/electric fleet.

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

- 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