The Queen Creek Unified School District governing board is scheduled to vote on a proposed budget of $126.2 million for the 2026-27 school year. The vote will take place during the board’s upcoming meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at the district offices located at 20217 E. Chandler Heights Road.
The proposed budget sets the maintenance and operation limited expenditure at $121.2 million. An additional $5 million carried forward from the current year brings the total limit to $126.2 million. This figure represents a decrease of approximately 1% from the current expenditure limit of $127.5 million.
The unrestricted capital outlay fund is projected at more than $14 million, with an additional $3 million carryover from the current year, totaling $17 million. This amount is down nearly 3% from the current year’s capital outlay of $17.5 million. These funds are designated for items such as library books, textbooks, furniture, technology hardware and software, and construction projects.
Under the proposed budget, the average annual teacher salary will rise to $66,694, up from $65,386 during the 2025-26 school year. The budget also incorporates the teacher base salary of $54,500 that was approved by the governing board earlier this spring.
The district may also receive a share of a $53 million carryover from the state’s school safety program. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced on June 30 that the funds will ensure all 560 first-position requests for armed school officers are funded in the upcoming school year. Horne stated in a press release from the Arizona Department of Education that school safety is a priority and that he is committed to providing armed officers to every school that makes a request.
The state is also providing funding to support 523 mental health professionals in schools across Arizona. According to the release, the safety legislation provides dollars for both categories depending on the choice of the district or charter school.
