Higley Unified School District board members were divided after voters appeared to reject the district’s 15% maintenance and operations budget override renewal.

Updated unofficial results as of Nov. 5 from the Maricopa County Elections Department show the override renewal failing with 7,246 “no” votes (55.92%) to 5,711 “yes” votes (44.08%).

The margin of defeat widened compared with last year’s failed attempt, when the measure lost by about 300 votes, fewer than 1% of the vote.

A separate measure authorizing the district to sell, lease or trade district-owned property passed with 8,390 “yes” votes (66.12%) to 4,299 “no” votes (33.88%).

The override would have continued about $14 million a year in local funding that supports teacher pay, academic programs and smaller class sizes — rough

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