Small Town News

Schools apply for override election

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The Camp Verde Unified School District is in the process of applying for an override election to be placed on the ballot in November.

Override elections are when a school district goes to the public for a certain percentage increase in the budget, a budget where without an override spending is constrained by state law. The extra money comes from an increase in property taxes. Camp Verde voters have fairly regularly rejected tax increases in recent years when the question is put on the ballot.

The move comes after financial strains have forced the district's Governing Board to make some tough choices when putting its budgets together over the past few years.

The board voted 3-2 to approve beginning the override process. Board members Helen Freeman and Judy Gilbert opposing the measure, with board members Trent Hackett, Rick Anderson and board President Tim Roth casting the deciding votes.

Hackett, the board member who brought the request to move forward with this issue to the table, said nothing was set in stone.

"We're not necessarily going to do anything with this," Hackett said. "I just wanted to keep the window open because the deadline is fast approaching."

Robin Bascom, school election coordinator with the Yavapai County Superintendent's Office, said she would need a copy of the minutes from the meeting, along with a resolution calling for the override election on her desk no later than Monday, July 9.

It's not required for the school district to have the exact wording it wants on the ballot at that time, however.

"That comes a little later," Bascom said.

Secretary to the Camp Verde district board Mary Hudson said as of now, the board hasn't decided how much of a budget increase they'd consider asking the voters for.

"The motion passed, but I haven't been given any numbers yet whether 5 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent or something like that," Hudson said.

Mark Lineberger can be reached at 567-3341 or email

CVEditor larsonnewspapers.com



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