Updated at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4: Peoria Unified School District’s Proposition 428 budget override led 52.0% to 48.0% in Maricopa County’s latest unofficial results, reversing the direction of last year’s narrow defeat while ballots remain to be counted.
The figures come from the county’s 4:11 a.m. results release. The results are unofficial until canvassed, and the county says it expects to post additional results in the early and late evening after Election Day.
Proposition 428 would renew Peoria Unified’s maintenance and operations override at 13%. The district says the local funding supports salaries, full-day kindergarten, art and music, nurses, athletics, extracurricular activities, assistant principals and efforts to keep class sizes manageable.
A reversal from the 2025 vote
The early lead follows a 2025 override election in which the measure failed by 1,249 votes. The final 2025 tally was 22,395 no votes, or 51.43%, and 21,146 yes votes, or 48.57%.
Because that measure failed, the existing override entered a three-year phaseout. Peoria Unified says it cut $11 million from its maintenance and operations budget for the current school year. If Proposition 428 is ultimately approved, the district says the renewed override would provide about $32 million for people and programs.
The official ballot language estimates that the proposed budget increase above the alternate, no-override budget would be about $21.9 million in fiscal 2027-28. The difference reflects the remaining phased-down authority that would otherwise continue for one more year.
The district estimates an average annual tax rate of $1.10 per $100 of limited assessed value. Limited property value is the taxable figure calculated by the Maricopa County Assessor, not a home’s market price.
Property measure also leads
Peoria Unified voters also supported Proposition 429 by a wider margin in the same county release, with 68.6% voting yes and 31.4% voting no.
Proposition 429 would authorize, but not require, the Governing Board to sell, lease or exchange two district-owned properties: the District Administration Center at 6330 W. Thunderbird Road and Kachina Elementary School at 5304 W. Crocus Drive, both in Glendale.
The Maricopa County School Superintendent’s voter information says proceeds could be used to pay outstanding bonds, reduce the district’s secondary tax rate or fund capital expenses. Any later transaction would still require a separate board decision.
The two measures are districtwide questions, so the electorate extends beyond the city of Peoria into portions of Glendale and Surprise. County results will continue changing as officials process Election Day drop-offs and other ballots that require signature verification before tabulation.
Peoria Unified’s official election page provides the district’s resolutions, tax calculator and frequently asked questions for both propositions.
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