RENEW Alhambra DAA Override

 

What is a District Additional Assistance (DAA) budget override?

Arizona law allows school districts, with voter approval, to increase their District Additional Assistance (DAA) budget by up to 10 percent of the district's Revenue Control Limit (RCL). The Revenue Control Limit is a state formula used to determine a school district's budget authority. A District Additional Assistance (DAA) override provides a local funding source for capital expenditures that support safe, functional, and well-maintained schools.

Is this a new override?

No. This measure asks voters to continue the District's existing District Additional Assistance (DAA) override. As stated in the official ballot language, the proposed override represents a continuation of the District's existing budget override authority and resulting tax. If approved, the District would continue funding classroom technology, student transportation, and school facilities improvements.

Why does the District ask voters to approve a DAA override?

While the State provides District Additional Assistance funding, those funds alone are not sufficient to fully address the District's ongoing capital needs. A DAA override provides a local funding source for capital expenditures that support safe, functional, and well-maintained schools. Continuation of the override allows the District to maintain these capital investments for students and staff.

How are DAA override funds used?

The DAA budget override allows the District to continue funding capital expenditures in three primary areas:

• Classroom Technology – Purchasing and replacing student and staff technology devices and instructional technology.
• Student Transportation – Purchasing replacement school buses to maintain a safe and reliable transportation fleet.
• School Facilities Improvements – Maintaining and improving schools and district facilities, including instructional materials, furniture, equipment, facility maintenance, and other capital improvements that support safe, functional learning environments.

How long are override funds available?

Arizona law authorizes a District Additional Assistance override for seven years. Voters must reauthorize the override at the end of that period for the District to continue receiving this locally approved funding.

What is Alhambra District's history of overrides?

For more than 30 years, Alhambra voters have supported district overrides, allowing the District to maintain safe schools, modern classrooms, reliable transportation, and technology that supports student learning. Community support has helped the District continue investing in students while maintaining its commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship.

How have DAA override funds benefited Alhambra students?

DAA override funding has enabled the District to:

• Purchase and replace classroom technology used to support teaching and learning.
• Replace aging school buses to provide safe, reliable transportation for students.
• Maintain and improve school facilities to provide safe, functional, and well-maintained learning environments.
• Continue investing in the capital resources that support students and staff.

What happens if the override is not renewed?

If voters do not renew the override, the District will lose more than $5 million annually in locally authorized DAA funding based on current funding levels. Without these funds, the District would need to significantly reduce or delay investments in classroom technology, student transportation, and school facilities improvements. This would affect the District's ability to maintain the capital resources that support safe, functional, and well-maintained schools.

How does the override affect my tax rate?

The proposed DAA override represents a continuation of the District's existing budget override authority and resulting tax, as stated in the official ballot language. The estimated first-year secondary tax rate needed to fund the proposed DAA override is $1.60 per $100 of net assessed valuation. Actual property tax impacts vary based on a property's net assessed valuation and other taxing jurisdictions.

How much does the DAA override cost the average homeowner?

Based on the preliminary 2026–2027 net assessed valuation, the estimated annual cost of the override is:

• $67 for a home with one-half the district's average assessed valuation.
• $134 for a home with the district's average assessed valuation.
• $267 for a home with twice the district's average assessed valuation. Actual property tax impacts vary based on a property's net assessed valuation.