Court ruling stymies Peoria (Ariz.) plans for bond funds

From The Arizona Republic: The Peoria (Ariz.) Unified School District had been considering using $10.4 million in leftover bond money for much-needed school maintenance and bus repairs. But the district's plans unraveled last week after a ruling in a lawsuit against Cave Creek Unified School District. A judge blocked Cave Creek from spending unused bond funds on cafeteria renovations at a high school because the bonds authorized by voters in 2000 were for a new school. The judge's decision also declared unconstitutional part of a state law that authorized Arizona school districts to spend unused bond money on other construction projects.

EARLIER...from The Arizona Republic: A judge in Arizona has ruled that school districts may not spend unused bond money on construction projects that were not authorized by voters when the bonds were approved. Judge Eileen Willett's ruling stops Cave Creek Unified School District from spending $13 million in leftover bond money to renovate the cafeteria at Cactus Shadows High School. The Goldwater Institute sued the school district in April and contended that the school district could not spend the money on the renovation because the funding was, as written on voters' ballots, intended for a new school building.