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Residents approve overrides

Voters here supported continuing two overrides that allow the Grand Canyon Unified School District to raise more funds for education.

They passed both budget overrides for Grand Canyon School by a 64-36 margin in Tusayan and by more than 75 percent among voters in the park. The votes continue overrides that are coming to the end of their five-year life. In this year's budget., combined, they added $1.44 to the tax rate.

According to Superintendent Sheila Breen, the extra funding means the district can continue to provide the same services.

"The passage of the override means that we anticipate continuing the programs we have in place the school," she said. "We would certainly have to reduce staffing without the override."

The overrides have helped support extra staffing at the elementary level as well as after-school and tutoring programs.

Override Question one passed 77-43 in Tusayan and 427-136 at Grand Canyon. It allows the district to exceed the budget ceiling by 10 percent and to raise nearly $200,000 in extra revenue through property taxes.

Question two passed 77-44 in Tusayan and 439-123 at Grand Canyon. This override allows the district to raise the budget ceiling by 5 percent, using those funds for kindergarten-grade three early childhood education. It raises about $62,000 a year.

Even with the overrides, next year could be a leaner one, Breen warned.

"We hope to maintain staffing levels as well, but that will depend on how the legislature addresses the budget deficit this year," she said.


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