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Williams voters approve school district budget override
Matt Ryan retains seat on Coconino County Board of Supervisors

Voters in Williams passed a new budget override for Williams Unified School District. District officials said had the bond not been approved, the district would have lost $372,000 and been forced to eliminate several sports programs and staff positions. Ryan Williams/WGCN

Voters in Williams passed a new budget override for Williams Unified School District. District officials said had the bond not been approved, the district would have lost $372,000 and been forced to eliminate several sports programs and staff positions. Ryan Williams/WGCN

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Voters passed a budget override for the Williams Unified School District (WUSD) Nov. 6 with a convincing 55.71 percent of the total vote.

The previous 10 percent Maintenance and Operations (M&O) budget override has been in effect for the past 10 years.

Rachel Savage, WUSD superintendent, called voter approval of the override "a big win."

"The bottom line is we are so grateful," she said. "This was the last hurdle for this district to really move forward."

According to WUSD officials, if taxpayers did not approve the override renewal, the district would have lost about $372,000, potentially eliminating certain educational programs, physical education classes, junior varsity athletics and staff positions.

Out of a total 1,734 votes cast, 966 were in favor of the override with 768 votes against.

Natalie Mann, Williams Education Association president, said she is "thrilled to death" that the override passed.

"I am so proud of the Williams community because they've always been supportive of Williams schools," she said, adding that several overrides for districts around the state did not pass.

Coconino County Supervisor Matt Ryan won another term representing Williams, Munds Park and Flagstaff. Ryan won close to 64 percent of the vote, defeating challenger Jack Darum.

"I'm excited to be working on behalf of the community again," Ryan said. "I look forward to continuing finishing off the Cataract Lake as one of our current projects in the greater Williams area."

Former Flagstaff City Councilmember Art Babbott defeated Gail Dent for the seat representing northwest Flagstaff, Fort Valley, Baderville and remote parts of western and central Coconino County.

Babbott won almost 80 percent of the vote.

Mandy Metzger, Liz Archuleta and Lena Fowler retained their seats unopposed.

In the race for County Recorder, Democrat Patty Hansen won close to 67 percent of the votes against Independent challenger Troy Troutman of Williams.


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