Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District to Hold Special Mail-In Ballot Election for Maintenance and Operation Override
By Superintendent Jessica Vocca
The Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District (COCSD) will hold a special mail-in ballot election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, for a Maintenance and Operation (M&O) Override. This will be conducted as a mail-in election, and all registered voters within the district will receive their ballots beginning October 8, 2025.
What is an Override?
An override allows school districts in Arizona to ask voters for approval to increase their annual operating budget beyond the state-imposed revenue control limit. Districts may request up to 15%, but in the effort of being fiscally conservative, the COCSD Governing Board is seeking only a 10% override.
Impact on Property Taxes
Overrides are funded through local property taxes, based on the assessed value of property (not market value). For Cottonwood-Oak Creek taxpayers, the estimated impact of continuing the override is:
For the average homeowner with a home valued at $100,000
At a tax rate of $0.4003 per $100 of assessed value (not market value)
The cost is about $3.34 per month (for the cost of one small brewed coffee a month you are making a huge difference in the lives of our students.)
This funding directly supports students in the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District.
Benefits of the Override
Approval of the override will provide the district with resources to:
Maintain manageable class sizes
Improve teacher retention
Support extracurricular programs that enhance student learning
Provide updated technology and instructional resources
Prevent cuts to essential services that affect student success
Consequences if the Override Does Not Pass
If the override is not approved, the district would be required to operate within the state’s base funding limits, which would result in:
Increased class sizes
Elimination of extracurricular activities
Reduction in staffing and instructional support
Outdated technology and fewer resources for students
More Information
Superintendent Vocca will be presenting at an upcoming Lunch & Learn session on September 30th, 2025 at the Verde Valley Senior Center, 500 E. Cherry St. in Cottonwood at 10:30AM.
For detailed information about the override proposal in the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District, please visit www.cocsd.us.
Community members may also contact the district’s administration office at (928) 634-2288 to schedule a presentation for your organization or ask questions.
Best,