By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

After some brief discussion and a unanimous vote, the Fountain Hills Unified School District board eliminated one item from its 2025 list of concerns.

The board voted to not go to voters for an override property tax levy extension this fall. While the board technically won’t have to decide on whether to go for the same extension in 2026 until next spring, all indications from the board are that they’ll proceed with a November 2026 override vote.

Board Vice President Madicyn Reid wasn’t the only board member to mention voter fatigue as a factor in the postponement, with a brutal 2024 presidential election year and many school-related votes in the recent past.

FHUSD asked voters for a bond in 2023, which failed, and this past November got voters to approve a land sale.

“I don’t think it’s worth risking our relationship with voters or our reputation with the community, with the fiscal responsibility we’re trying so hard to build,” Reid said. “With the past experiences of these kinds of elections, we’ve seen them fail.”

Board Member Bernie Hoenle said it’s important to show voters the district has a plan and is sticking to it. He and Reid also both mentioned the about-$40,000 cost of a district holding a stand-alone election in an odd-numbered year, where FHUSD will likely be able to share that cost with at least one other local government for a November 2026 election.

At its March 5 meeting, the board heard pros and cons of both 2025 and 2026 override elections from Superintendent Dr. Cain Jagodzinski.

He mentioned voter fatigue and the cost of an odd-year election as factors, also pointing out the district would have a year and a half to show stability, good fiscal choices and progress on several academic fronts by waiting until November 2026.

Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.