Sunnyside Unified School District No. 12

Sunnyside Unified School District No. 12

Voting without knowing what's on your ballot is like lighting your money on fire.

What is the upcoming election about?

Sunnyside Unified School District is asking for two different types of Overrides.

- For Prop. 498 Sunnyside Unified is asking for an 8% Maintenance and Operation Budget Override of $8,072,542

- For Prop. 499 Sunnyside Unified is asking for a 10% District Additional Assistance Override of $7,000,000

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?

To vote in this school district election, you must be 18 years of age, living within the boundary of the school district, and be registered to vote at least 29 days prior to Election Day, before midnight on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. If you do not know if you are eligible to vote, please contact the Pima County Recorder’s Office at (520) 724-4330.

REGISTERING TO VOTE:

There are different ways to register to vote:

• Go to the Pima County Recorder’s Office located at 240 N. Stone Avenue

• Visit the Pima County Recorder’s website and download/print a voter registration form at: http://www.recorder.pima.gov/regvote

• You can also register at: http://servicearizona.com & click on “Voter Registration.”

ACCESSIBILITY FOR VOTERS:

• County election officials will accommodate special needs of voters. If special assistance for voters with disabilities is required, please call (520) 724-4330 or 711 (TDD) at least 72 hours prior to Election Day.

• A large print copy of this Information Pamphlet will be available at all replacement ballot centers.

What policies did Sunnyside Unified District implement with my tax dollars?

- Allows boys to use girls' restroom, locker, and any other program/space. - SOURCE

- Dedicated to teaching and implementing Equity. - SOURCE

- Equity teaches people and children that there is systemic racism, they are entitled to reparations and more because of the color of their skin. - SOURCE

Aren’t Sunnyside Unified schools doing a good job?

- 70.93% Graduation Rate

- 19% of students are proficient or highly proficient at English Language Arts

- 12% of students are proficient or highly proficient at Math

Aren’t Sunnyside Unified Teachers underpaid?

Sunnyside Unified pays an average annual salary of $58,360 to teachers. The average annual salary in Tucson is $45,000 as of September 14th, 2023 per Zippia.

What are taxpayers in the Sunnyside Unified School District being asked?

Voters will be asked to say yes or no on two measures:

- The 8% Maintenance and Operation Budget Override of $8,072,542

- 10% District Additional Assistance Override of $7,000,000

What are the current tax rates for the overrides?

Prop. 498 - Sunnyside Unified School District

- 8% M&O Override

- The estimated cost to an owner of a home with a limited property value of $100,210 would be approximately $136 per year.

Prop. 499 - Sunnyside Unified School District

- $7,000,000 or 10% District Additional Assistance Override

- The estimated cost to an owner of a home with a limited property value of $100,210 would be approximately $118.14 per year.

- Both show 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://www.to.pima.gov/propertySearch/

Is Sunnyside Unified School District underfunded?

Sunnyside Unified spends $11,676 per student per year.

If the overrides fail, 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 Sunnyside Unified Public Schools?

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

- Drop in Enrollment of 1,569 Students [Nearly 10% Drop]

- Nearly 7% Drop in Graduation Rate

- Nearly 25% Increase to the Drop Out Rate from 4.38% to 5.44%

- 15% Drop in Math Proficiency

- 8% Drop in English Proficiency

- Total Students with Chronic Absenteeism Increased from 6,443 to 9,204 [More than 63% of Enrolled Students]

- Total Students Enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement Course Decreased from 800 to 669

- Total Students Reported as Harassed or Bullied Skyrocketed from 0 to 44

- Reported Instances of Violence Stayed the Same at 0

This will result in a tax increase.

- If the measures pass, the current Secondary tax rates will increase

- If the measures pass, 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?

Sunnyside Unified is legally allowed to call the for overrides for additional funding.

What does Sunnyside Unified Schools intend to use the additional funds for?

The 8% Maintenance and Operation Budget Override are expected to fund the following programs in the first year the budget override will be in effect:

• Maintain school safety and security

• Maintain critical positions that directly support academic growth

• Strengthen programs that prepare students for workforce and college opportunities

• Continue to provide support for all students through Music, Art, Dance and Athletic programs

• Retain and attract quality teachers and staff with competitive salaries

• Maintain a competitive, decompressed classified employee salary schedule in compliance with minimum wage standards

The 10% District Additional Assistance Override will help with:

- Critical safety and security improvements and the modernization of aging school buildings

- Maintaining attractive athletic and fine arts facilities

- Providing classroom technology, curriculum, furniture, and equipment to support increased student achievement

- New school buses and service vehicles to maintain a safe, reliable and cost effective fleet

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

- If the override measures are defeated, your landlord’s taxes will not go up 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://www.to.pima.gov/propertySearch/

Where can I vote in this election?

WAYS TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT

1. MAIL your ballot using the Yellow Postage Paid Envelope by Tuesday, October 31, 2023, OR

2. DROP OFF your ballot by Tuesday, November 7, 2023, by 7 pm at any of the following Ballot Replacement Sites.

You can also get a REPLACEMENT BALLOT at one of the locations listed below or by calling the Pima County Recorder’s Office at 520-724-4330.

Ballot Replacement & Drop-Off Locations

(Don’t Forget to Bring your ID!) (Visit recorder.pima.gov/VoterID to learn what identification is needed to vote in person)

Location Address Dates / Times

Pima County Recorder’s Office – Downtown 240 N. Stone Ave

10/11/2023 to 11/06/2023 8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri

Tuesday, 11/07/2023 Election Day 6 am – 7 pm

Pima County Recorder’s Office - Ballot Processing Center 6550 S. Country Club Rd

10/11/2023 to 11/06/2023 8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri

Tuesday, 11/07/2023 Election Day 6 am – 7 pm

Tucson City Clerk Elections Center 800 E. 12th Street

10/11/2023 to 11/06/2023 8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri

Tuesday, 11/07/2023 Election Day 6 am – 7 pm

Fellowship Bible Church 6700 E. Broadway Blvd

10/11/2023 to 11/06/2023 8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri

Tuesday, 11/07/2023 Election Day 6 am – 7 pm

Drop-Off Only Locations

(No ability to print a new ballot.)

Location Address Dates / Times

Pima County Recorder’s Office – Eastside 6920 E. Broadway Blvd.

10/11/2023 to 11/06/2023 8 am – 5 pm, Mon – Fri

Tuesday, 11/07/2023 Election Day 6 am – 7 pm

Location Address Dates / Times

Tucson City Housing & Community Development 310 N. Commerce Park Loop ELECTION DAY ONLY