Maintenance and Operations Overrides are used to provide additional funding to support people and programs. School districts may ask for an increase of up to 15 percent of their revenue control limit for a term of seven years. Many 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 sixth year, 2/3 in the seventh year, and is fully eliminated in year eight. The Higley Unified School District has had an override in place since 2019.
Bonds are similar to loans that are authorized by voters and used to purchase capital items and/or make capital improvements to existing facilities, such as building or renovating a school or purchasing school buses. Any debt issued for capital items with a shorter useful life (i.e., furniture, technology or equipment) must be repaid within five years. All other capital improvements can be repaid over a set period of time not to exceed 20 years, and the district must provide the community with information on how the dollars are spent. Funds from a bond cannot be used for employee compensation.