About the Override & Bond
As our community continues to grow, we need strong schools to prepare our future workforce and support our families. Excellent schools help preserve property values, attract new businesses, and reduce crime—making our city safer and more family-friendly.
These proposals are supported by a broad coalition of community members who know that great schools are at the heart of a great city. The future of our community is in our hands. Join us in voting YES for Dysart—because strong schools mean a stronger Surprise.
About the Budget Continuation
If approved, the 15% M&O override continuation would maintain current funding levels to retain highly qualified teachers and staff and provide academic support programs for Math and Reading. Additionally, it would allow Dysart to maintain manageable class sizes, and continue funding for programs currently serving students such as Arts, Physical Education and Athletics, and full-day Kindergarten for the community. If the measure is not approved, the current override funding in place would begin to phase out by 33% each year for the next three years beginning in July 2026, along with associated programs, services, and staffing using this funding.
- Allows us to retain 150 of our teachers that help us maintain current class sizes at a cost of $11.2 million.
- Keeps our teacher salaries competitive so that we can attract and retain highly-qualified staff. The override covers a portion of teacher salaries at a cost of $2.6 million.
- Keeps our extra math and reading supports in place, including funding for our Math and Reading Interventionists and Teaching and Learning Specialists, and maintains arts, PE and athletics programs by funding salaries and stipends in these areas. The cost for funding these items is $10.7 million.
- Provides funding so Dysart can continue to offer full-day Kindergarten.
About the Bond
The estimated bond program would be $127 million to fund facility renovations at each site, school bus replacements, safety and security improvements, construction of a new elementary school in the Northwest Asante area, and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area.
The community committee evaluated the district’s needs and identified the following areas that bond funding would support, if approved.
- School safety improvements, including lockdown systems
Secure points of entry for safety, including gates, fencing and key card access
- Replace aging air conditioning systems
- Roof sealing and repairs
- Replacing school buses over 15 years old
- Construction of a new elementary school in the Northwest Asante area
- Land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area
Tax Rate Phase-In Plan
The Dysart community is scheduled to pay off the voter-approved 2006 bond in fiscal year 2028. If approved, the proposed 2025 bond would phase in over two years, so there is no expected tax rate increase associated with the proposed bond. After the 2006 bond is phased out, it is estimated that the community would actually see a decrease in their tax rate. The decrease will occur because the new bonds issued are for less than in 2006 and the population has increased dramatically since then, resulting in an increased number of taxable properties.
