We are pleased to add our voices to those supporting the proposed additional assistance budget override that will be placed before the Fountain Hills voters next month.

This issue does not constitute an increase in our local tax burden. It is simply a continuation of the existing override, which was originally approved by the voters in 1999 and has been renewed regularly since then. The current term of that override is expiring, and this new election will continue the annual assessment of the earlier overrides.

Superintendent of Schools Tom Lawrence says that 98 percent of this override income will go to classroom and similar expenses, such as computers, books and related items.

Our community has an obligation to provide a good education for our young people. Most of the funding for our schools comes from the state. The level of this funding is dismal. A smaller portion comes from local sources like this override.

In 2012, we ranked 48th out of our 50 states in the student per capita level of state funding. In that year, Arizona provided $9,059 per student to the school districts from all sources. This was $3,247 below the national per capital average of $12,306.

The failure to approve the November override will drop us further behind. This is not acceptable.