Pima County expects to spend $2.1M on education vote

A special election to add $3.5 billion for Arizona schools over 10 years is expected to cost Pima County more than $2.1 million.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry has asked that the Elections Department and county recorder be reimbursed for the expense, which was not budgeted.

Any funds not reimbursed by the state will come out of the county’s contingency fund, Huckelberry said.

The Elections Department estimates its cost of conducting the special election at $1.2 million, while the county recorder anticipates spending more than $930,000 on costs associated with voter registration.

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The May 17 election is the result of a settlement between the Arizona Education Association, Arizona school districts, other education groups and the state, which was sued after failing to adjust the base level per-pupil funding according to inflation, as required.

Five years later, Gov. Doug Ducey signed a plan proposed by legislative Republicans to settle the matter. The plan, which requires voter approval, calls for taking a chunk of money from the state’s land trust.

The $3.5 billion that would be paid out is only a fraction of what they are owed, school officials say.