Letter to the Community - August 12, 2024

Dear Tolleson ESD Families & Community,

We just concluded our first week of school, and it was amazing to have the students back! Thank you for sharing your treasures with us!

In our communication this week, I would like to share factual information regarding the Maintenance & Operations Budget Override and District Additional Assistance Override that will be on the November 5 election ballot for our district. We hope that you will share this important factual information with those who reside in the Tolleson ESD education community. The two ballot initiatives are described below:

2024 Maintenance & Operations Budget Override $2,910,044

An M&O override is a percentage of up to 15% of the revenue control limit and is in effect for seven years with a phase down in years six and seven. An M&O override enables a school district to generate additional revenue to provide supplementary programs not provided by the state’s based funding allocation. The programs to be funded include:

• Full-day kindergarten
• Art, band, physical education, and technology classes
• Alternative education programs
• Expanded athletics
• Counselors for JAG (jobs for Arizona graduates) leadership
• Social worker

The continuation of the 15% M&O override will not increase property taxes that will continue at a rate of $98.00 annually for each $100,000 of assessed home value.

2024 District Additional Assistance Override $1,750,000

The district additional assistance override is limited to the lesser of specified dollar amount or 10% of the revenue control limit and is in effect for seven years. It enables school districts to generate additional revenue to provide for capital items not provided by the state’s based funding allocation. The capital items to be funded include:

• Classroom technology
• Curriculum materials and textbooks
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program equipment
• Band instruments, uniforms, and equipment
• Student safety and security – locking, student ID, public address systems, field and parking lighting, classroom doors, motion detectors, and fencing

The property tax impact $59.00 for every $100,000 of assessed home value.

For more information, please visit our Elections page.

If you have questions about these ballot initiatives, please contact me or reach out to one of our governing board members. They are listed on our Governing Board page.

Thank you for your attention to this important information. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Lupita Hightower
Treasure Hunter & Superintendent
Tolleson Elementary School District