What is the upcoming election about?

The Littleton Elementary School District is asking for a 7 year, 15% Budget Override.

What are the significant dates for the election?

- If you aren't already registered to vote, the last day to register in order to be eligible to vote in this election is Tuesday, October 10th, 2023.

• Check your voter registration status at ezaz.org/vote

- Ballots will be mailed on October 11, 2023. The last day to request early ballot October 27 

- VOTED BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 7 p.m., November 7th. MAIL ballots by October 31st.

Who can vote in this election?

All registered voters that reside in the Littleton Elementary School District will receive a ballot by mail with voting instructions in the envelope.

What policies did Littleton Elementary School District implement with my tax dollars?

- Allows boys in Girls Scouts, girls in Boy Scouts, and access to its programs, services, activities, or in any aspect of their operations and provides equal access to other designated youth groups. - SOURCE

Aren’t Littleton Elementary School District schools doing a good job?

- 28% of students are proficient at English Language Arts 

- 19% of students are proficient at Math

Aren’t Littleton Elementary School District Teachers underpaid?

Littleton Elementary pays an average annual salary of $56,165 to teachers. The average annual salary in Avondale is $57,000.

What are taxpayers in the Littleton Elementary School District being asked?

Voters will be asked to say yes or no on one measure: 

- The 15% budget override

What are the current tax rates for the override?

- The estimated average annual tax rate for the proposed Override authorization is an estimated continuation of a tax rate of $1.47 per $100 of assessed valuation. 

- Shows up on your tax bill as secondary property tax. 

- Property taxes combined add up to thousands of dollars! 

- To view your current property tax liability, visit https://treasurer.maricopa.gov/Parcel/ParcelSearch.aspx

Is Littleton Elementary School District underfunded?

Littleton Elementary spends $$11,769 per student per year.

If the override fails, how will my taxes be affected?

- Without passage of the override, the district will have to reduce the operational budget. 

- Once any outstanding Bonds and Overrides are repaid, you won't have to continue paying Secondary property taxes related to the bond. 

How has more funding impacted Littleton Elementary School District?

Comparing to the 2018-2019 School Year Performance to the 2021-2022 School Year Performance 

- Drop in Enrollment of 385 Students [Over 6% Drop] 

- Nearly 6% Increase to the Drop Out Rate from 1.37% to 1.45% 

- 6% Drop in Math Proficiency 

- 2% Drop in English Proficiency 

- Total Students with Chronic Absenteeism More than Doubled from 639 to 1,229 [This is nearly 25% of Enrolled Students] 

- Reported Instances of Violence More than Doublied from 62 to 133 [More frequent than One Every Other Day Based on a 180 Day Arizonan School Year] 

- Total Students Reported as Harassed or Bullied Remained at 0

School officials claim there will be no new taxes. Is this accurate?

- Once any outstanding Bonds and Overrides are repaid, you won't have to continue paying Secondary property taxes related to the bond. 

- If the measure passes, the current Secondary tax rates will remain the same; however; 

- If the measure passes, the total amount of taxes paid will likely go higher if there is continued inflation related to property values.

Why do we have an override continuation election?

Littleton Elementary is legally allowed to call the override a continuation even though we will vote to approve it as if it is new.

What does Littleton Elementary School District intend to use the additional funds for?

- Tuition-free full-day kindergarten and student support programs 

- Lower class sizes to support effective levels of instruction 

- Teacher and staff salary levels that attract and retain quality staff 

- Special programs such as music, art, and physical education 

- After school programs such as athletics and clubs.

I’m renting. Why should I care about this election?

- If the override measure is defeated, your landlord’s taxes will go down and could mitigate future rent increases. 

- Irrespective of being a property owner, we all want to see the kids receive a quality education. 

- To view your current property tax liability, visit https://treasurer.maricopa.gov/Parcel/ParcelSearch.aspx