Facts about Bonds
What is a bond?
Bonds fund capital projects including construction and equipment - they cannot be used for staffing. The bond is focused on student and teacher safety including investments in school security, renovations to facilities in need of repair, and classroom space and school construction.
Why is the bond necessary?
The bond is necessary to conduct preventative Maintenance on Chandler’s school buildings, to Modernize our facilities, and to Maximize our ability to be innovative and prepared for the future.
What will the CUSD bond do for our students?
The bond will meet CUSD's needs in the following ways:
How does Arizona fund schools?
Arizona funds its schools based on the number of students and the miles that students are transported. It is formula-based funding, and a school district’s budget limit does not increase or decrease if the assessed value in the district changes. Arizona provides a specific dollar amount per student for maintenance and operational expenses (salaries, benefits, supplies, services, utilities) and for capital (furniture, equipment, technology, vehicles, textbooks, library books, instructional aids).
What is the tax impact of a successful election?
Since the district is requesting a continuation of the existing bond we do not expect a tax rate increase. The current tax rate is $1.18.
Has CUSD demonstrated that they have been good stewards of taxpayer money?
According to the Arizona Auditor General’s office, CUSD has the highest dollars in the classroom of its peer districts. CUSD administrative costs and administrators per student are the lowest compared to its peers. The district annually has audits and is recognized for financial excellence in reporting by the Arizona Association of School Business Officials.
How does the teacher pupil ratio in CUSD compare to other districts?
CUSD has an average teacher to pupil ratio of 24. In a self-reported study, Chandler had one of the lowest teacher pupil ratio of the surrounding districts.
How large is CUSD?
How is the community included in the district’s budget and financial decisions?
Taxpayers can count on the district to use funds wisely and for the items that voters have approved. The district utilizes a citizen’s budget committee to verify expenditures for maintenance and operation. When the district is considering a bond issue, a citizen’s growth committee is formed to help determine the must-have capital items. Please let us know if you want to participate.
Why not pressure the legislature to sufficiently fund public education rather than holding a bond election?
Arizona is considered to fund education among the lowest levels in the country. In fact, census bureau data ranks Arizona 49th in per pupil funding. Chandler Unified, along with school districts across Arizona, are advocating for state commitment to adequately fund public schools. However, what is extremely important to remember is that Chandler Unified has approximately 45,000 students enrolled right now... and they deserve a quality education today. They can’t wait for other funding to possibly become available sometime in the future.
Property values are increasing. Doesn't that mean more tax dollars for schools?
No. When the property values within the boundaries of CUSD increase from the previous year, it does not result in more money to the district. Voters can provide additional funding through approval of the bond.
Many community members donate $400 to a school each year to obtain the Arizona tax credit. Why doesn’t the district just find new ways to get more people to donate?
By statute, tax credit must be used for extracurricular support for students. The District could not legally use it for regular expenditures such as new teachers, salaries, benefits, supplies or utilities. Tax credit is important for providing those out of school day opportunities for students, but it doesn’t provide more money for the district to spend. Expenditures in the classroom are prohibited by statute.
Bonds fund capital projects including construction and equipment - they cannot be used for staffing. The bond is focused on student and teacher safety including investments in school security, renovations to facilities in need of repair, and classroom space and school construction.
Why is the bond necessary?
The bond is necessary to conduct preventative Maintenance on Chandler’s school buildings, to Modernize our facilities, and to Maximize our ability to be innovative and prepared for the future.
What will the CUSD bond do for our students?
The bond will meet CUSD's needs in the following ways:
- Provide for more pupil transportation.
- Improve instruction by funding the purchase of furniture, additional classroom equipment, and modern technology.
- Technology: Network hardware, wireless expansion and refresh, student and staff devices, co-curricular technology equipment, audio visual equipment, and future innovative technology.
- Funds the purchase of land, new roofs, new flooring, new construction, and improvements and renovations:
- Junior High Cafeteria remodels.
- Knox & CHS cafeteria remodel, rebuild, and repurpose.
- Resurfacing several parking lots.
- Provides funding for grounds improvements including improved energy management, safety measures, shade structures, surfacing projects, sidewalks, additional trees, courtyards, irrigation, and fencing projects.
- Safety measures include fire panels, fire protection upgrades, additional security cameras, and other safety measures.
How does Arizona fund schools?
Arizona funds its schools based on the number of students and the miles that students are transported. It is formula-based funding, and a school district’s budget limit does not increase or decrease if the assessed value in the district changes. Arizona provides a specific dollar amount per student for maintenance and operational expenses (salaries, benefits, supplies, services, utilities) and for capital (furniture, equipment, technology, vehicles, textbooks, library books, instructional aids).
What is the tax impact of a successful election?
Since the district is requesting a continuation of the existing bond we do not expect a tax rate increase. The current tax rate is $1.18.
Has CUSD demonstrated that they have been good stewards of taxpayer money?
According to the Arizona Auditor General’s office, CUSD has the highest dollars in the classroom of its peer districts. CUSD administrative costs and administrators per student are the lowest compared to its peers. The district annually has audits and is recognized for financial excellence in reporting by the Arizona Association of School Business Officials.
How does the teacher pupil ratio in CUSD compare to other districts?
CUSD has an average teacher to pupil ratio of 24. In a self-reported study, Chandler had one of the lowest teacher pupil ratio of the surrounding districts.
How large is CUSD?
- CUSD has 43,000 students.
- CUSD has 80 square miles within district boundaries.
- CUSD has 1,000 acres of district land.
- CUSD has 5.5 million square feet of school space. This is equivalent to the size of 36 Costcos. CUSD is bigger than many small cities and towns in the US.
- CUSD is the second largest district in Arizona.
- CUSD is Chandler's second-largest employer.
How is the community included in the district’s budget and financial decisions?
Taxpayers can count on the district to use funds wisely and for the items that voters have approved. The district utilizes a citizen’s budget committee to verify expenditures for maintenance and operation. When the district is considering a bond issue, a citizen’s growth committee is formed to help determine the must-have capital items. Please let us know if you want to participate.
Why not pressure the legislature to sufficiently fund public education rather than holding a bond election?
Arizona is considered to fund education among the lowest levels in the country. In fact, census bureau data ranks Arizona 49th in per pupil funding. Chandler Unified, along with school districts across Arizona, are advocating for state commitment to adequately fund public schools. However, what is extremely important to remember is that Chandler Unified has approximately 45,000 students enrolled right now... and they deserve a quality education today. They can’t wait for other funding to possibly become available sometime in the future.
Property values are increasing. Doesn't that mean more tax dollars for schools?
No. When the property values within the boundaries of CUSD increase from the previous year, it does not result in more money to the district. Voters can provide additional funding through approval of the bond.
Many community members donate $400 to a school each year to obtain the Arizona tax credit. Why doesn’t the district just find new ways to get more people to donate?
By statute, tax credit must be used for extracurricular support for students. The District could not legally use it for regular expenditures such as new teachers, salaries, benefits, supplies or utilities. Tax credit is important for providing those out of school day opportunities for students, but it doesn’t provide more money for the district to spend. Expenditures in the classroom are prohibited by statute.