Sahuarita voters approve $50 million in bonds for schools

Sahuarita Unified School District voters voted to approve a $50 million bond issue.

With 95% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, 57% of votes counted support Proposition 401 while 43% were opposed.

Sahuarita Unified School District asked voters for approval to issue and sell $50 million in general obligation bonds for school improvements.

The 10 Sahuarita Unified schools, south of Tucson, serve about 6,300 students and the number is growing. The average age of the school buildings is 30 years and multiple buildings are more than 50 years old.

The estimated average annual bond tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation is $0.8100.

The tax impact on an owner-occupied residence valued by the county assessor at $250,000 is estimated to be $215 per year for 20 years, or $4,300 total cost.

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For a home valued by the assessor at $100,000, property taxes will increase by $81 per year, the district estimates.

Proposed spending breakdown: $9 million for safety and security, $7 million for technology and $34 million for renovations and construction.

Specific objectives include:

• Safety, including upgraded security cameras, ID connected access systems, enhanced digital public address (PA) systems, building and athletic field lighting, and ballistic resistant glass.
• Renovation, including playground and courtyard enhancements, shade structures, flooring, painting and weatherization, restroom facilities, HVAC replacements, enhancement of high school science laboratories, Main Campus cafeteria system adjustments, and stadium turf and track facilities.
• Construction, including new regular education classrooms, new special education classroom space, expansion of Early Childhood Center, expansion of NJROTC space, and a new Fine Arts Performing Theater.
• Technology, including infrastructure enhancement to expand capacity, cybersecurity tools, instructional classroom technology at all schools, and a 1:1 device ratio goal.
• Furniture and equipment, including updated chairs, desks, tables, and musical instruments.