Bond Election

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The bond election will be on the Nov. 7, 2023 ballot. Early voting ballots for the measure will be ready for mailing on Oct. 11, 2023.

Arizona Revised Statute 15-491 allows the governing board of a school district to call an election for voters to decide whether the bonds of the school district shall be issued and sold for the purpose of raising monies for purchasing or leasing school lots, for building or renovating school buildings, for supplying school buildings with furniture, equipment and technology, for improving school grounds, for purchasing pupil transportation vehicles or for liquidating any indebtedness already incurred for such purposes.

For information on registering to vote, how to request an early mail-in ballot, and where to find in-person Vote Centers visit elections.maricopa.gov.

Town Hall Meetings

Date	Presentation Time	Location	Room
Sept.12.2023	6 - 6:30 p.m.	North Canyon High - 1700 E. Union Hills Dr. Phoenix	Media Center
Sept.18.2023	6 - 6:30 p.m.	Paradise Valley High - 3950 E. Bell Rd. Phoenix	Media Center
Sept.20.2023	6 - 6:30 p.m.	Shadow Mountain High - 2902 E. Shea Blvd. Phoenix	Media Center
Sept.27.2023	6 - 6:30 p.m.	Horizon High - 5601 E. Greenway Rd. Scottsdale	Media Center
Sept.28.2023	6 - 6:30 p.m.	Pinnacle High - 3535 E. Mayo Blvd.Phoenix	Lecture Hall C

Bond Dollars at Work

Resources are acquired and prioritized to equitably advance the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals. Some of these projects are only possible with the support of voters through bonds and overrides.

Learn more about bond dollars at work

Bond Election Committee

The Bond Election Committee provides recommendations to district leadership about a possible need for a bond election. Elections are held at the discretion of the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board.

Learn more about the committee

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about the upcoming election?

Voters will decide on the Paradise Valley Unified School District bond question in this Vote by Mail election whether to approve the sale of a $340 million bond over four years to maintain existing facilities, comply with safety regulations, upgrade technology infrastructure, purchase school furniture, equipment, technology, and school buses. The bond will include funds for a potential new school only to be used if it is needed due to growth. The school district has solicited input from the community on the proposed projects and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout the planning and implementation process.

The election takes place on November 7, 2023.

What are bonds?

Bonds are a financial instrument used by school districts to raise funds for school-related projects. The school district borrows money from investors with the promise to pay back the borrowed amount over a set period of time, along with interest. Bonds can only be spent on capital items such as buildings and grounds, school furniture, equipment and technology, instructional materials, and vehicles. It cannot be spent on daily operations expenditures such as salaries.

Why is the election being held?

The school district needs to raise funds that help upkeep taxpayer assets. Projects include replacing, repairing and maintaining aging facilities, building new facilities to accommodate growth, and buying furniture, equipment, technology, and school buses. These projects will benefit students, teachers, and the community by providing modern, safe, and functional learning environments. Between 2007 and 2021, the State did not fully fund the capital formula created by the State as part of the settlement of a capital funding lawsuit. While the legislature has started funding this formula again, the per-student amount in the formula remained unchanged from 1998 through 2022.

How will the $340 Million of Bonds be spent?

Category	Amount
Construct, remodel, and improve school district facilities, buildings, and grounds (Admin and Non-Admin)	$250.8 Million
Technology Improvements (including infrastructure, hardware, and software)	$50.0 Million
Furniture and Equipment	$16.0 Million
Pupil Transportation Vehicles	$8.2 Million
Land (only if needed)	$15.0 Million

What happens if the bond is not approved?

How do bonds impact the property tax?

How will the school district ensure transparency and accountability?

The school district is committed to transparency in the use of bond funds and will provide regular updates to the community on projects funded by the bond. The school district is audited annually to ensure the bond funds are used appropriately and as intended. A new Bond Dollars at Work section of the district's website was added this year to allow community members to track the usage of bond dollars. Additionally, the Bond Committee will meet annually to review projects.

With declining enrollment, what do you do with the bond funds slated to build a new school and purchase land if a new school isn’t needed?

PVSchools acknowledges the importance of fiscal responsibility. If it is determined that a new school is not needed due to declining enrollment, we will not use those bond dollars.

The district takes great pride in its responsible management of taxpayer funds and the preservation of our valuable assets, including our school buildings. We are honored to receive annual recognition, including the prestigious Association of School Business Officials International Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Is there an immediate need for these bond funds within the district, or can the implementation of projects be postponed?

The need for these bond funds is based on an assessment of our school district's infrastructure, safety, and educational requirements. While the timing of these projects is always carefully considered, delaying them could lead to increased costs, safety concerns, and a less conducive learning environment for our students. By addressing these needs now, we aim to ensure that our schools remain safe, functional, and equipped to provide a high-quality education.

What has been the utilization of the previous bond that was approved by voters in November 2019?

The bond approved by voters in November 2019 was essential for several critical projects, including facility upgrades, technology improvements, furniture and transportation enhancements. You can visit the district’s new Bond Dollars at Work page to learn more about recent bond projects.

We extend our deep appreciation to the PVSchools voters for approving the November 2019 bond, which enabled the successful completion of many projects. Nevertheless, as we approach the final stages of expenditure for the 2019 bond, the district will require funding to facilitate forthcoming projects and initiatives. Similar to the maintenance and repairs needed for one's own home, our school district's facilities require ongoing attention, especially as our buildings age. On average, our elementary schools are 28 years old, middle schools are 32 years old, high schools are 37 years old and administrative buildings are 30 years old. The longer we delay addressing necessary projects, the greater the likelihood that they will incur higher costs and become more complex in scope.

Why is the district asking for $340,000,000?

PVSchools follows a regular pattern of seeking bond authorization from its community every four years. This pattern enables the district to continually support the maintenance and upkeep of its buildings, upgrade furniture and technology, and acquire new school buses in an ongoing cycle.

It's important to note that the current bond request is approximately 44% higher than the one in 2019. This increase is due to the fact that construction projects have experienced a general cost escalation of 20-40% since 2019. Furthermore, the construction industry anticipates annual price increases of 8-10% in the future. This means that by the end of the potential 2023 bond spending, projects could cost between 52-80% more than they did in 2019.

Moreover, the proposed $340,000,000 bond authorization would allow the district to maintain a tax rate similar to that of the 2019 bond. This estimated tax rate is approximately $47 annually per $100,000 of assessed property value.

*Last Updated August 21, 2023

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