Vote YES for Smaller class sizes. Vote YES for Teacher Salaries.
vote YES
The Buckeye Elementary School District is proudly recognized by the State of Arizona as a “highly-performing district.” Strong, successful schools help raise property values and attract new families and businesses. BESD plays a vital role in making our community safe, welcoming, and family-focused.
What is on the ballot?
The Governing Board of the Buckeye Elementary School District has called for an election to be held on November 4, 2025 to request voter authorization for a 10% Maintenance and Operations override. These funds would be used to support the following:
Special area classes such as physical education
Class Size Reduction
Competitive Teacher Salaries
Technology
Essential Programs
Art
Music
Full-Day K
Why Vote Yes?
Protect our quality of life
Our schools play an important role in the growth and success of our community. Investing in our school system ensures that our community has the excellent, comprehensive education necessary to protect our quality of life.
Build strong communities
BESD has been recognized as a “highly-performing district” by the State of Arizona. Strong local schools improve our property values. People want to move into communities with excellent schools and businesses want to locate in places that have safe and well-maintained schools. BESD is a key reason we enjoy such a safe, family-friendly community.
Restore critical funding
Buckeye Elementary School District has had to cut funding by over $4 million resulting in increases in class sizes, charging of athletic and extracurricular fees, cutting four district positions, and charging for field trips and club participation. We need to restore this funding.
Maintain competitive teacher salaries and essential programs
This proposal ensures more money into the classroom with ZERO for administration. The funds would be dedicated to supporting physical education, class size reduction, competitive teacher salaries, technology, art, music, and full-day kindergarten.
Supporting Fiscal Responsibility
We can trust the Buckeye Elementary School District to spend money wisely and ensure the money makes it directly into the classroom. The district has earned certificates of excellence in financial reporting from AASBO International as well as the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from Government Finance Officers Association.
Arizona School Business Officials International
Certificate of Excellence
Financial Reporting, 2012-Present
Government Finance Officers Association
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence
Financial Reporting, 2012-Present
The Cost
If approved, the override would result in an estimated average annual tax rate of $1.09 per $1,000 of a property’s Limited Property Value (LPV) for residential property owners. Please note: Value for tax purposes is the limited value of your property as it appears on your tax bill and does not necessarily represent the market value. Voters can look up their home value on the county assessor site and apply the costs above to their limited property value.
*Your limited assessed valuation is based on Maricopa County Assessor data, NOT real estate websites such as Realtor.com, Redfin, and Zillow.
Community Support
The override has strong support from the community, including:
Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn
"Our schools play a critical role in shaping the future of Buckeye. They don’t just educate our children — they attract families, support local businesses, enhance public safety, and strengthen property values. Simply put, strong schools build strong communities. That’s why I support the budget override for Buckeye Elementary School District."
Ronald Washington Local Realtor & Parent
"As a local realtor serving the Buckeye area, I’ve seen time and again what drives families to choose our community. One of the top deciding factors is our schools. I have been involved in the Buckeye community for many years and am a proud father of four and foster parent. My children have thrived in Buckeye Elementary School District, and it’s our turn to support them."
Deanna Kupcik Buckeye Valley Chamber Of Commerce
“The Buckeye Elementary School District needs your help to maintain valuable funding for the students of our community. An M & O Override would generate $4.5 million per year, which is used for staff salary and benefits. Voting in favor of the override will greatly benefit our community and students.”
Jay Broadbent, Woodruff Leavitt Insurance Group
"Our schools are more than just classrooms – they are the heart of our community. They produce future leaders, workers, and neighbors. As a business owner, I know firsthand how important it is to have well-educated, well-prepared individuals entering the workforce. Strong schools create a strong local economy and help attract new families and businesses, which benefits all of us."
Stephanie Leyva, Co-Owner, Casa de Leyva
"I fully support the Buckeye Elementary School District override. As a parent, small business owner, and longtime resident, I understand how important our local schools are – not only for our children’s future but for the health and success of the community as a whole. Great schools attract families, grow businesses, and create the kind of environment where people want to stay and invest."
Rachel Lee, Village Community and Recreation Center
"We have worked alongside other amazing teachers and staff – it’s clear that they not only care for our students, but our entire community. Sadly, over the past few years, the district has had to cut $4 million from its budget. It has caused larger class sizes, extracurricular fees, cutting jobs, and charging for field trips. We must restore this funding."
Former Mayor Jackie Meck
“This override won’t fund administration or bureaucracy. It will restore critical teaching positions, keep class sizes manageable, and fund programs that help kids thrive — from art and music to technology and P.E. BESD has been recognized as a “highly-performing district” and has earned the public’s trust. Let’s keep it that way. Please join me in voting yes on the override.”
United Buckeye Fire Fighters
“We are not only first responders in times of crisis, but also active participants in building a stronger, more connected Buckeye. We recognize that our community’s quality of life is made up of many things, but two of the biggest contributing factors are public safety and access to quality education. We understand that in order to build for the future, we must support our local schools. As such, we encourage you to vote yes on the Buckeye Elementary School District Override.”
Vice Mayor Craig Heustis
“Our district has a proven track record of fiscal responsibility, earning multiple awards for financial transparency. We can trust Buckeye Elementary to manage these resources wisely. A YES vote means safer neighborhoods, stronger families, and a better Buckeye for everyone.”
Councilmember Jamaine Berry
“We all benefit from excellent schools, whether we have children enrolled or not. They drive economic growth, boost home values, and make our neighborhoods safer. Let’s reinvest in the future of Buckeye. Please vote YES.”
Councilmember Clay Goodman
“Great schools make great communities, and this override is essential to maintaining the high standards that make Buckeye such a special place to live. Without these additional funds, our schools have been forced to make painful cuts like larger class sizes, reduced extracurricular opportunities, and fewer classroom resources…Please join me in voting “Yes” to protect our schools and the future of Buckeye."
Rick Duncan, President, Duncan & Son Lines
"We have worked alongside other amazing teachers and staff – it’s clear that they not only care for our students, but our entire community. Sadly, over the past few years, the district has had to cut $4 million from its budget. It has caused larger class sizes, extracurricular fees, cutting jobs, and charging for field trips. We must restore this funding."
Erin Kuiper
“During my childhood, growing up on a dairy farm right here in Buckeye, I learned innumerable lessons in hard work, dedication, commitment, and resilience. These are lessons that have served me well my entire life, even now as a local small business owner, and the next generation deserves to learn, too. Buckeye Elementary School District is leading the way in supporting the next generation in Buckeye, and I’m proud to support their override campaign this fall.”
Larry Tracey, President/CEO, Success Training Services
“As a proud member of this community, I fully support the Buckeye Elementary School District override. Our schools are the heart of Buckeye’s development and success. Ensuring their excellence directly protects the quality of life we all enjoy. Over the years, our district has faced over $4 million in funding cuts, forcing larger class sizes, fees for sports and clubs, and the loss of key positions. This override will restore essential funding without adding a penny to administration.”
Cassie Wilkins, Executive Director, All Faith Community Services
“Strong schools strengthen our entire community by attracting families, supporting property values, and keeping our neighborhoods safe and vibrant. Buckeye Elementary has earned high performance ratings and top financial reporting honors. We can trust them to spend wisely. Let’s invest in our children, our schools, and our future. Please vote ‘Yes.’”
...and many more!
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