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Inside
This Week
Budget $16M lower than last year’s plan BY MARK MORAN Tribune Contributing Writer
NEWS .................... 4
Times Media acquires SoCal publications
COMMUNITY .......... 14 Pop-up boutique’s ethics reflected in products
SPORTS ................. 18
Mental health stigmas remain among HS athletes
OPINION ................... 9 COMMUNITY ............. 14 BUSINESS ................ 16 SPORTS .................... 18 GET OUT .................... 20 CLASSIFIEDS ............. 22
Sunday, August 6, 2023
P
lanning conservatively for at least 600 new students in its schools this year, and assuming a 2.9% inflation rate, the Queen Creek Unified School District governing board passed a budget approaching $113 million for the 2023-3024
school year, $16 million less than last year’s spending plan. The $112,785,296 budget includes a previously approved 15%, maintenance and operations budget override, which is responsible for more than $14 million in this year’s budget. It would cover salaries, academic programs, an already up and running class-
room size reduction strategy. “The M&O override is a huge chunk of our budget at $14 million,” explained the district’s chief financial officer Jessica Johnston at the July 11 school board meeting when the spending plan was unanimously approved.
see BUDGET page 3
Horseshoe Park plan questioned BY MARK MORAN Tribune Contributing Writer
A
Queen Creek consultant has proposed plans to transform Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre from a seasonal venue into a year-round operation, capable of hosting events without being deterred by the seasonal heat. “What does that require? Climate control,” said Brian Dygert, 4D Production LLC, principal. “Everybody in the country has the same components. It’s just a different season. Ours is heat. So, what do we need? Air conditioning.”
see HORSESHOE PARK page 8
A draft horse team pulls its “rig” through one of the covered arenas at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center. (4D, Brian Dygert/Submitted)
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