Scottsdale Unified would have to cut $14.9M in non-classroom spending if Prop 320 passes

If voters approve Proposition 320, the Scottsdale Unified School District says it would have to increase classroom spending by $14.9 million at the expense of other budget items.

Prop 320 is a Nov. 3 ballot measure that would require districts in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties and districts with more than 7,500 students to spend 60% of their operating budgets on direct classroom instruction.

Based on its 2024-25 budget of $250 million, Scottsdale Unified said it spends 54% of its budget on classroom instruction.

During an Oct. 6 meeting of the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board, Superintendent Scott Menzel outlined the types of expenditures that could face cuts if Prop 320 passes.

“What it [classroom spending] doesn’t include would be guidance counselors, speech pathologists, nurses, social workers, … equipment repair, building maintenance, custodial cost, security, school resource officers, … food service,” he said.

The ballot measure would force districts to raise classroom spending by at least 0.5% each year until it reaches 60%. For Scottsdale Unified, that means at least $1.25 million would have to move from other expenses to the classroom. At that rate, it would take years 12 years to reach full compliance.

Districts that fail to comply if the ballot measure passes could lose 25% of their state-financed classroom site fund.

“Classroom site fund in Scottsdale pays for about 8% of our teachers’ base salary. It pays for all of their performance pay, which was over $4,000 last year, and it covers the longevity payment in their agreement,” Menzel said.

Supporters of Prop 320 say shifting more money into classroom spending would increase teacher pay. Opponents say it would force districts to cut back on essential spending and intrude upon local control.

Scottsdale Unified has been closing schools to address budget concerns

Scottsdale Unified is already dealing with a budget crunch as enrollment and funding declines.

Earlier this month, the board voted to close Copper Ridge K-8 School and Laguna Elementary School after the 2026-27 school year, a move projected to save more than $2.5 million.

That came after Echo Canyon School and Pima Elementary School were closed after the 2025-26 school year.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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