Letter to the Editor,
The woman behind the “NO” campaign for the Kyrene Bond/Override election is spending thousands of dollars on street signs around Ahwatukee, Chandler and Tempe spreading a series of lies and misinformation.
(She) claims Kyrene has a spending problem, not an income problem. This simply isn’t true. Arizona ranks 48th in the nation in education funding and relies heavily (nearly 95%) on the support of taxpayers through voter-approved bonds and overrides. If the Arizona Legislature properly funded our public schools, districts wouldn’t have to rely on bonds and overrides.
She also claims to want to keep Kyrene accountable. Kyrene School District follows strict guidelines for financial reporting to the State of Arizona. They received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 27 years straight. Additionally, taxpayers can review Kyrene’s annual budget reports online.
The most egregious claim is the bond/override will increase taxes. Once again, this is a falsehood. When it passes, it would be a continuation of the already existing bond and override that will allow the district to do much needed maintenance across all the schools, upgrade safety and security, replace their aging bus fleet, and invest in technology and equipment.
Kyrene schools consistently rank among the top schools in Arizona. Families choose to move into parts of Tempe, Chandler, and Ahwatukee because of the reputation of Kyrene School District. Our property values continue to increase because of their desirability.
We all benefit from great public schools. That’s why you should vote YES on Kyrene Bond & Override.
Sherri Johnson
