On Tuesday, Nov. 4, a special election will be held to authorize the Superior Unified School District to adopt a general maintenance and operation budget that includes a 15 percent increase in the district’s annual budget. Your vote “Yes” will allow the district to increase its budget by an estimated $430,657 each year; but your “yes” vote will not increase your property taxes.
It is an embarrassment to all of us that Arizona ranks 49th out of 50 in state public school funding.
One of the most important attractions, if not the most important, that Superior can offer its residents and attract new families to come to Superior is a good school system. Please remember that you only get out of a project what you put it to it. Public schools in rural Arizona do not receive adequate funding to cover the cost of salary increases, increases in health benefits, and inflation costs. This lack of funding is increased by decreased federal funding to programs such as Title I and special education.
This special election does not consist of a new tax to Superior property owners because this override election is to continue a tax that has been in place for over 25 years. Voting “Yes” will keep allow the district’s current staff to maintain its programs, provide tuition free preschool and help our Superior students.
I pay my property taxes in Superior, am a graduate of its school system and want our school district to continue to improve for the benefit of our children, with no additional annual costs to any of us. The most important thing in our life is our children. I submit some of our obligations as a parent are to protect and provide good opportunities for our children. I urge you to vote “Yes” on your mail-in ballot for the Nov. 4 election.
/s/ Jerry Chilton Jr.