Take the FUSD override quiz

Feb 22, 2010 — The Arizona Daily Sun

Hillary Davis

Feb. 22, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- In the spirit of school, we present you this quiz to see how much you know about the proposed Flagstaff Unified School District budget override.

Here's a few basics: Ballots for the tax initiative have been distributed to about 40,000 registered voters inside the FUSD boundaries and are due back by March 9. If the override is approved, it would raise up to an amount equivalent to 15 percent of FUSD's state-set revenue control limit next year -- an amount still unknown as state lawmakers wrestle with Arizona's budget deficit. District estimates go as high as about $8 million per year.

QUESTIONS 1. About how much will the override cost the average FUSD homeowner?

A) $55 B) $80 C) $180 D) $400 2. What is FUSD's current M&O budget?

A) $44 million B) $64.4 million C) $77.2 million D) $110 million 3. Families and taxpayers in which communities have a say in this election?

A) Flagstaff B) Kachina Village C) Leupp D) All of the above 4. What is not included in M&O?

A) Teacher salaries B) Sports programs C) Secretary salaries D) Textbooks 5. How is the override related to school closures?

A) It isn't -- schools will close next year regardless, assuming board approval B) If it passes, FUSD will not close any schools next year C) If it passes, FUSD will only close a high school neat year D) If it passes, FUSD will only close an elementary school True/false 6. FUSD broke the law to have this election.

7. This is a tax increase.

8. The majority of Flagstaff area residents already rejected this tax in November.

9. The money being spent on new fields is part of the general (M&O) fund.

10. Override money will be spent on school board member salaries.

Bonus question: If approved, how long would the override be in effect?

ANSWERS 1. C) $180 The average home in the Flagstaff area is worth $304,810. Assuming a secondary assessed value of $30,481 (10 percent assessment ratio), the estimated total tax burden would be $178.92 annually.

Source: Voter informational pamphlet, compiled and issued by the Coconino Co. Superintendent of Schools 2. B) $64.4 million Administrators have cited this figure (rounded) on multiple documents and presentations. It was revised on Dec. 15, 2009.

One place to find it: A slideshow titled "FY2010-11 Budget Outlook" on the FUSD Web site.

Source: FUSD; Daily Sun archives 3. D) All of the above Flagstaff Unified School District sprawls well outside of Flagstaff proper. A map produced by Coconino County shows FUSD bound approximately by Bellemont, Gray Mountain, Birdsprings and Clints Well (inclusive).

Although the November override election was conducted by mail, county elections staff tracked turnout by precinct. Their records showed activity in Flagstaff, Mormon Lake, Kachina Village, Munds Park, Cameron, Doney Park, Leupp, Fort Valley and more.

Source: Coconino County 4. D) Textbooks Textbooks are purchased with "soft capital" funds. Soft capital also includes items like computers and school buses. It is funded by state and property tax dollars.

Source: FUSD; Daily Sun archives 5. A) It isn't -- schools will close next year regardless, assuming board approval FUSD officials have publicly said several times that a combination of state budget cuts and dwindling enrollment will require the closing of schools, even if the override passes. Administrators and board members have been working on a closure plan since last fall, and will vote on a final plan in March.

6. False The Arizona Legislature amended a law regarding school budget overrides, allowing districts where overrides were rejected in November 2009 to try again in March 2010. This was meant to be a one-time exception.

District lawyers contacted the office of Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, who interpreted the law favorably toward FUSD conducting another election in March. Five districts in the Phoenix area and one in Nogales also sought Goddard's opinion.

March is legally the next election cycle. FUSD did not break the law, nor did it ask that the law be tweaked for its benefit.

Source: Daily Sun archives; Attorney General Opinions 2009: No. I09-010 (R09-042, R09-043, R09-044 ), Dec. 9 (see online at www.azag.gov/opinions/2009.html) 7. True If approved, the override would result in an estimated total tax burden of about $180 annually for the owner of a median value home (a little more than $300,000.) This year's bill will be about $100, so the increase is about $80.

Source: Daily Sun archives 8. False It only received the majority of votes actually cast. The county distributed 41,590 ballots to registered voters in FUSD boundaries -- Flagstaff and beyond -- for the November election. It received 13,110 ballots back for a voter turnout of about 32 percent. Of those who voted, 6,874 (about 17 percent of all eligible voters) voted no, or 52 percent of the tally.

Source: Coconino County Elections 9. False The money paying for new sports fields, running tracks and other building remodels comes from voter-approved bonds. The bond election was handily passed in 2006.

Because the bond money was approved specifically for construction projects, state law prohibits the dollars from being spent on other areas even if there are other needs-- like teacher pay or arts programming, for example.

Source: Daily Sun archives. See also Title 34 of the Arizona Revised Statures for more on Public Buildings and Improvements.

10. False Board members are volunteers. They are not paid to serve on the board.

Source: Coconino County; FUSD Bonus: The override, if approved, would be in effect for seven years -- full strength for five, with one-third phase-downs in the sixth and seventh years. It would run out completely after seven full years, if not renewed by another vote.

Source: Voter informational pamphlet, compiled and issued by the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools

Newstex ID: KRTB-0065-42271890