2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §15-481; Version 2 Override election; budget increases; notice; ballot; effect
(L06, Ch. 354, sec. 12. Eff. 7/1/07)
A. If a proposed budget of a school district exceeds the aggregate budget limit for the budget year, at least ninety days before the proposed election the governing board shall order an override election to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as prescribed by section 16-204, subsection B, paragraph 1, subdivision (d) for the purpose of presenting the proposed budget to the qualified electors of the school district who shall by a majority of those voting either affirm or reject the budget. In addition, the governing board shall prepare an alternate budget which does not include an increase in the budget of more than the amount permitted as provided in section 15-905. If the qualified electors approve the proposed budget, the governing board of the school district shall follow the procedures prescribed in section 15-905 for adopting a budget that includes the authorized increase. If the qualified electors disapprove the proposed budget, the governing board shall follow the procedures prescribed in section 15-905 for adopting a budget that does not include the proposed increase or the portion of the proposed increase that exceeds the amount authorized by a previously approved budget increase as prescribed in subsection P of this section.
B. The county school superintendent shall prepare an informational report on the proposed increase in the budget and a sample ballot and, at least thirty-five days prior to the election, shall transmit the report and the ballot to the governing board of the school district. The governing board, upon receipt of the report and the ballot, shall mail or distribute the report and the ballot to the households, in which qualified electors reside, within the school district at least thirty days prior to the election. Any distribution of material concerning the proposed increase in the budget shall not be conducted by children enrolled in the school district. The report shall contain the following information:
1. The date of the election.
2. The polling places and times they are open.
3. The proposed total increase in the budget which exceeds the amount permitted pursuant to section 15-905.
4. The total amount of the current year's budget, the total amount of the proposed budget and the total amount of the alternate budget.
5. If the override is for a period of more than one year, a statement indicating the number of years the proposed increase in the budget would be in effect and the percentage of the school district's revenue control limit that the district is requesting for the future years.
6. The proposed total amount of revenues which will fund the increase in the budget and the amount which will be obtained from a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within the school district for the first year for which the budget increase was adopted.
7. The proposed amount of revenues which will fund the increase in the budget and which will be obtained from other than a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within the school district for the first year for which the budget increase was adopted.
8. The dollar amount and the purpose for which the proposed increase in the budget is to be expended for the first year for which the budget increase was adopted.
9. At least two arguments, if submitted, but no more than ten arguments for and two arguments, if submitted, but no more than ten arguments against the proposed increase in the budget. The arguments shall be in a form prescribed by the county school superintendent and each argument shall not exceed two hundred words. Arguments for the proposed increase in the budget shall be provided in writing and signed by the governing board. If submitted, additional arguments in favor of the proposed increase in the budget shall be provided in writing and signed by those in favor. Arguments against the proposed increase in the budget shall be provided in writing and signed by those in opposition. The names of those persons other than the governing board or superintendent submitting written arguments shall not be included in the report without their specific permission, but shall be made available only upon request to the county school superintendent. The county school superintendent shall review all factual statements contained in the written arguments and correct any inaccurate statements of fact. The superintendent shall not review and correct any portion of the written arguments which are identified as statements of the author's opinion. The county school superintendent shall make the written arguments available to the public as provided in title 39, chapter 1, article 2. A deadline for submitting arguments to be included in the informational report shall be set by the county school superintendent.
10. A statement that the alternate budget shall be adopted by the governing board if the proposed budget is not adopted by the qualified electors of the school district.
11. The full cash value, the assessed valuation, the first year tax rate for the proposed override and the estimated amount of the secondary property taxes if the proposed budget is adopted for each of the following:
(a) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is the average assessed valuation of property classified as class three, as prescribed by section 42-12003 for the current year in the school district.
(b) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is one-half of the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.
(c) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is twice the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.
(d) A business whose assessed valuation is the average of the assessed valuation of property classified as class one, as prescribed by section 42-12001, paragraphs 12 and 13 for the current year in the school district.
12. If the election is conducted pursuant to subsection L or M of this section, the following information:
(a) An executive summary of the school district's most recent capital improvement plan submitted to the school facilities board.
(b) A complete list of each proposed capital improvement that will be funded with the budget increase and a description of the proposed cost of each improvement, including a separate aggregation of capital improvements for administrative purposes as defined by the school facilities board.
(c) The tax rate associated with each of the proposed capital improvements and the estimated cost of each capital improvement for the owner of a single family home that is valued at eighty thousand dollars.
C. For the purpose of this section, the school district may use its staff, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources only to distribute the informational report at the school district office or at public hearings and to produce such information as required in subsection B of this section, provided that nothing in this subsection shall preclude school districts from holding or participating in any public hearings at which testimony is given by at least one person for the proposed increase and one person against the proposed increase. Any written information provided by the district pertaining to the override election shall include financial information showing the estimated first year tax rate for the proposed budget override amount.
D. If any amount of the proposed increase will be funded by a levy of taxes in the district, the election prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as prescribed by section 16-204, subsection B, paragraph 1, subdivision (d). If the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues from other than a levy of taxes the elections prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be held on any date prescribed by section 16-204. The elections shall be conducted as nearly as practicable in the manner prescribed in article 1 of this chapter, sections 15-422 through 15-424 and section 15-426, relating to special elections, except that:
1. The notices required pursuant to section 15-403 shall be posted not less than twenty-five days before the election.
2. Ballots shall be counted pursuant to title 16, chapter 4, article 10.
E. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify his desired choice. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection P of this section and the following statement:
Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within this school district for the year for which adopted and for ____ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on an estimate of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed increase in the school district's budget would require an estimated tax rate of _______________ dollar per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate which will be levied to fund the school district's revenue control limit allowed by law.
F. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues from other than a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. The ballot shall also contain:
1. The amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget.
2. A statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection P of this section.
3. The following statement:
Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by this school district with revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the year for which adopted and for ______ subsequent years and shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state.
G. Except as provided in subsection H of this section, the maximum budget increase which may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection E or F of this section or the combination of subsections E and F of this section is ten per cent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for the budget year.
H. Special budget override provisions for school districts with a student count of less than one hundred fifty-four in kindergarten programs and grades one through eight or with a student count of less than one hundred seventy-six in grades nine through twelve are as follows:
1. The maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsections E and F of this section is the greater of the amount prescribed in subsection G of this section or a limit computed as follows:
(a) For common or unified districts with a student count of less than one hundred fifty-four in kindergarten programs and grades one through eight, the limit computed as prescribed in item (i) or (ii) of this subdivision, whichever is appropriate:
(i)
Small School Support Level Weight Phase Down
Student Student for Small Isolated Reduction
Count Count Limit School Districts Base Level Factor
- 125 x 1.358 + (0.0005 x x $ = $
(500 - Student Count))
Small Isolated
Phase Down Phase Down School District
Base Reduction Factor Elementary Limit
$150,000 - $ = $
(ii)
Small School Support Level Weight Phase Down
Student Student for Small Reduction
Count Count Limit School Districts Base Level_ Factor
- 125 x 1.278 + (0.0003 x x $ = $
(500 - Student Count))
Small
Phase Down Phase Down School District
Base Reduction Factor Elementary Limit
$150,000 - $ = $
(b) For unified or union high school districts with a student count of less than one hundred seventy-six in grades nine through twelve, the limit computed as prescribed in item (i) or (ii) of this subdivision, whichever is appropriate:
(i)
Small School Support Level Weight Phase Down
Student Student for Small Isolated Reduction
Count Count Limit School Districts Base Level Factor
- 100 x 1.468 + (0.0005 x x $ = $
(500 - Student Count))
Small Isolated
Phase Down Phase Down District
Base Reduction Factor Secondary Limit
$350,000 - $ = $
(ii)
Small School Support Level Weight Phase Down
Student Student for Small Reduction
Count Count Limit School Districts Base Level_ Factor
- 100 x 1.398 + (0.0004 x x $ = $
(500 - Student Count))
Small
Phase Down Phase Down School District
Base Reduction Factor Secondary Limit
$350,000 - $ = $
(c) If both subdivisions (a) and (b) of this paragraph apply to a unified school district, its limit for the purposes of this paragraph is the combination of its elementary limit and its secondary limit.
(d) If only subdivision (a) or (b) of this paragraph applies to a unified school district, the district's limit for the purposes of this paragraph is the sum of the limit computed as provided in subdivision (a) or (b) of this paragraph plus ten per cent of the revenue control limit attributable to those grade levels that do not meet the eligibility requirements of this subsection. If a school district budgets monies outside the revenue control limit pursuant to section 15-949, subsection E, the district's limit for the purposes of this paragraph is only the ten per cent of the revenue control limit attributable to those grade levels that are not included under section 15-949, subsection E. For the purposes of this subdivision, the revenue control limit is separated into elementary and secondary components based on the weighted student count as provided in section 15-971, subsection B, paragraph 2, subdivision (a).
2. If a school district utilizes the provisions of this subsection to request an override of more than one year, the ballot shall include an estimate of the amount of the proposed increase in the future years in place of the statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, as prescribed in subsections E and F of this section.
3. Notwithstanding subsection P of this section, the maximum period of an override authorized pursuant to this subsection is five years.
4. Subsection P, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section do not apply to overrides authorized pursuant to this subsection.
I. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-482 and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection Q of this section, and the following statement:
Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within this school district for the year for which adopted and for _____ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on an estimate of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed increase in the school district's budget which will be funded by a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within this school district would require an estimated tax rate of __________ dollar per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate that will be levied to fund the school district's revenue control limit allowed by law.
J. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-482 and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection Q of this section and the following statement:
Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by this school district with revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the year for which adopted and for _____ subsequent years and shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state.
K. The maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection I or J of this section, or a combination of both of these subsections, is five per cent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for the budget year. For a unified school district, a common school district not within a high school district or a common school district within a high school district that offers instruction in high school subjects as provided in section 15-447, five per cent of the revenue control limit means five per cent of the revenue control limit attributable to the weighted student count in preschool programs for children with disabilities, kindergarten programs and grades one through eight as provided in section 15-971, subsection B.
L. If the election is to exceed the capital outlay revenue limit and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. An election held pursuant to this subsection shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget and the following statement:
Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within this school district for the year in which adopted and for _____ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on an estimate of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed increase in the school district's budget would require an estimated tax rate of _______________ dollar per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate which will be levied to fund the school district's capital outlay revenue limit allowed by law.
M. If the election is to exceed the capital outlay revenue limit and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues from other than a levy of taxes upon the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. An election held pursuant to this subsection shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget and the following statement:
Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by this school district with revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the year in which adopted and for ______ subsequent years and shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state.
N. If the election is to exceed a combination of the revenue control limit as provided in subsection E or F of this section, the revenue control limit as provided in subsection I or J of this section or the capital outlay revenue limit as provided in subsection L or M of this section, the ballot shall be prepared so that the voters may vote on each proposed increase separately and shall contain statements required in the same manner as if each proposed increase were submitted separately.
O. If the election provides for a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, at least thirty days prior to the election, the department of revenue shall provide the school district governing board and the county school superintendent with an estimate of the school district's assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes for the ensuing fiscal year. The governing board and the county school superintendent shall use this estimate to translate the amount of the proposed dollar increase in the budget of the school district over that allowed by law into a tax rate figure.
P. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of the revenue control limit as provided in subsection E or F of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. Any additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board may, however, levy on the assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes of the property in the school district the additional increase if adopted under subsection E of this section for the period of one year, two years or five through seven years as authorized. If an additional increase is approved as provided in subsection F of this section, the school district governing board may only use revenues derived from the school district's prior year's maintenance and operation fund ending cash balance to fund the additional increase. If a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for the budget year or budget year and subsequent years, as provided in subsection E or F of this section, the governing board may request a new budget increase as provided in the same subsection under which the prior budget increase was adopted which shall not exceed the maximum amount permitted under subsection G of this section. If the voters in the school district authorize the new budget increase amount, the existing budget increase no longer is in effect. If the voters in the school district do not authorize the budget increase amount, the existing budget increase remains in effect for the time period for which it was authorized. The maximum additional increase authorized as provided in subsection E or F of this section and the additional increase which is included in the aggregate budget limit is based on a percentage of a school district's revenue control limit in future years, if the budget increase is authorized for more than one year. If the additional increase:
1. Is for two years, the proposed increase in the second year is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase.
2. Is for five years or more, the proposed increase is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase in the following years of the proposed increase, except that in the next to last year it is two-thirds of the initial proposed percentage increase and it is one-third of the initial proposed percentage increase in the last year of the proposed increase.
Q. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of the revenue control limit as provided in subsection I or J of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. Any additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board, however, may levy on the assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes of the property in the school district the additional increase if adopted under subsection I of this section for the period of one year, two years or five through seven years as authorized. If an additional increase is approved as provided in subsection J of this section, the increase may only be budgeted and expended if sufficient monies are available in the maintenance and operation fund of the school district. If a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for the budget year or budget year and subsequent years, as provided in subsection I or J of this section, the governing board may request a new budget increase as provided in the same subsection under which the prior budget increase was adopted that does not exceed the maximum amount permitted under subsection K of this section. If the voters in the school district authorize the new budget increase amount, the existing budget increase no longer is in effect. If the voters in the school district do not authorize the budget increase amount, the existing budget increase remains in effect for the time period for which it was authorized. The maximum additional increase authorized as provided in subsection I or J of this section and the additional increase that is included in the aggregate budget limit is based on a percentage of a school district's revenue control limit in future years, if the budget increase is authorized for more than one year. If the additional increase:
1. Is for two years, the proposed increase in the second year is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase.
2. Is for five years or more, the proposed increase is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase in the following years of the proposed increase, except that in the next to last year it is two-thirds of the initial proposed percentage increase and it is one-third of the initial proposed percentage increase in the last year of the proposed increase.
R. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of the capital outlay revenue limit as provided in subsection L of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. The additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board may, however, levy on the assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes of the property in the school district the additional increase for the period authorized but not to exceed ten years. For overrides approved by a vote of the qualified electors of the school district at an election held from and after October 31, 1998, the period of the additional increase prescribed in this subsection shall not exceed seven years for any capital override election.
S. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of the capital outlay revenue limit as provided in subsection M of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. The additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board may only use revenues derived from the school district's prior year's maintenance and operation fund ending cash balance and capital outlay fund ending cash balance to fund the additional increase for the period authorized but not to exceed ten years. For overrides approved by a vote of the qualified electors of the school district at an election held from and after October 31, 1998, the period of the additional increase prescribed in this subsection shall not exceed seven years for any capital override election.
T. In addition to subsections P and S of this section, from the maintenance and operation fund and capital outlay fund ending cash balances, the school district governing board shall first use any available revenues to reduce its primary tax rate to zero and shall use any remaining revenues to fund the additional increase authorized as provided in subsections F and M of this section.
U. If the voters in a school district disapprove the proposed budget, the alternate budget which, except for any budget increase authorized by a prior election, does not include an increase in the budget in excess of the amount provided in section 15-905 shall be adopted by the governing board as provided in section 15-905.
V. The governing board may request that any override election be cancelled if any change in chapter 9 of this title changes the amount of the aggregate budget limit as provided in section 15-905. The request to cancel the override election shall be made to the county school superintendent at least ten days prior to the date of the scheduled override election.
W. For any election conducted pursuant to subsection L or M of this section:
1. The ballot shall include the following statement in addition to any other statement required by this section:
The capital improvements that are proposed to be funded through this override election are to exceed the state standards and are in addition to monies provided by the state.
___________ school district is proposing to increase its budget by $__________ to fund capital improvements over and above those funded by the state. Under the students first capital funding system, _________ school district is entitled to state monies for building renewal, new construction and renovation of school buildings in accordance with state law.
2. The ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.
3. At least eighty-five days before the election, the school district shall submit proposed ballot language to the director of the Arizona legislative council. The director of the Arizona legislative council shall review the proposed ballot language to determine whether the proposed ballot language complies with this section. If the director of the Arizona legislative council determines that the proposed ballot language does not comply with this section, the director, within ten calendar days of the receipt of the proposed ballot language, shall notify the school district of the director's objections and the school district shall resubmit revised ballot language to the director for approval.
X. If the voters approve the budget increase pursuant to subsection L or M of this section, the school district shall not use the override proceeds for any purposes other than the proposed capital improvements listed in the publicity pamphlet, except that up to ten per cent of the override proceeds may be used for general capital expenses, including cost overruns of proposed capital improvements.
Y. Each school district that currently increases its budget pursuant to subsection L or M of this section is required to hold a public meeting each year between September 1 and October 31 at which an update of the progress of capital improvements financed through the override is discussed and at which the public is permitted an opportunity to comment. At a minimum, the update shall include a comparison of the current status and the original projections on the construction of capital improvements, the costs of capital improvements and the costs of capital improvements in progress or completed since the prior meeting and the future capital plans of the school district. The school district shall include in the public meeting a discussion of the school district's use of state capital aid and voter-approved bonding in funding capital improvements, if any.
Z. If a budget in excess of the capital outlay revenue limit was previously adopted by the voters in a school district and will be in effect for the budget year or budget year and subsequent years, as provided in subsection L or M of this section, the governing board may request an additional budget in excess of the capital outlay revenue limit. If the voters in a school district authorize the additional budget in excess of the capital outlay revenue limit, the existing capital outlay revenue limit budget increase remains in effect.
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