PVUSD Taxpayers

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

According to the 2018-19 PVUSD Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), PVUSD received $342,687,722 in total revenues, an over $20 million increase from the prior fiscal year.

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According to the Arizona Auditor General Office School District Report - Fiscal Year 2018-19 for PVUSD, PVUSD had 30,358 students that school year - that's a per pupil funding of $11,288 or $338,646 for a classroom of 30 students.

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The Arizona Auditor General Office School District Spending Report - Fiscal Year 2019 for PVUSD can be found here:

https://www.azauditor.gov/sites/default/files/Paradise%20Valley%20USD.pdf

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Budget Overrides are used to provide additional funding to school districts.  There are three types of overrides.

• A maintenance and operations override (M&O) supports things such as teacher salaries, benefits, supplies and general operations.

• A special override supports specific programs, such as full-day kindergarten, art, music, physical education, etc.

• A capital (DAA) override funds equipment, furniture, technology, vehicles, etc.

School districts may ask for an increase of up to 15% of their budget for their M&O override, up to 5% for a special override and up to 10% for a capital override (M&O and special overrides combined cannot equal more than 15%).  Overrides are approved for a term of 7 years.  Many school districts will ask voters to approve a renewal in year 4 or 5 of an override to maintain a consistent level of funding.  If not renewed, the amount decreases by 1/3 in the 6th year and 2/3 in the 7th year.

PVUSD approved an M&O Override in 2017 and a capital (DAA) override in 2019.  With these overrides and approved bonds,  PVUSD has nearly double the tax rate than neighboring Scottsdale USD and almost 4x Cave Creek USD.

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Underutilized PVUSD Campuses

In recent years, Paradise Valley USD has closed several low attended schools.

 

Foothills Elementary Campus

The Foothills Elementary campus located near 44th Street and Grovers Avenue, just south of Union Hills Drive, was closed in 2014.  The Foothills campus is estimated to be around 9 acres and has the potential to bring in around 4 million dollars to the district.  According to district public records requests in December 2019, the district has incurred over $410,000 in electricity costs for this campus since Foothills was closed in 2014.  In summary, the district could bring in 4 million dollars by selling the property, be able to eliminate annual electricity costs around $78,000, and generate thousands of dollars in annual property tax revenue.

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Aire Libre Elementary Campus

The Aire Libre Elementary campus located near 21st Street and E Sandra Terrace, just south of Bell Road, was closed May 2019.  The district received an offer to sell this property for $3,615,000 in 2018 that the district declined to pursue.  According to the district, the Aire Libre campus is now only used by the district for Mascot Childcare Camp when PVUSD schools are not in session.  According to district public records requests in February 2020, the district has incurred over $20,000 in electricity costs for this campus since Aire Libre was closed in May 2019.

$1 a Year Leases

In November 2018, the district signed a lease for the Foothills school building with the Arizona Challenger Space Center for just $1/year. The lease is scheduled to end June 30, 2020 and is subject to 2-year renewals with the written agreement of both parties.

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In July 2019, the district signed a lease for a couple Aire Libre classrooms with Everybody Matters for just $1/year. 

 

Gift of Public Funds

Both the subsidized rent and utilities are a gift of public funds in violation of Article 9, Section 7 of the Arizona Constitution. Instead of continually asking taxpayers to pay more through bonds and overrides, the district should focus on properly managing the resources already entrusted to them by the taxpayers. The district has clearly failed its fiduciary responsibility to district taxpayers.