Tucson Voters Will Decide on School Property Sales
Proposition 426 asks residents to approve the sale of six district properties in Tucson.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Administration
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Tucson voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide on Proposition 426. The measure asks the community to authorize Amphitheater Public Schools to sell six district-owned properties.
Why it matters
The district aims to reduce the financial burden of maintaining these empty sites, which currently require ongoing spending for security, air conditioning, and upkeep.
Amphitheater Public Schools is looking to divest from six total properties, a list that includes four elementary schools that were closed due to low enrollment. One of these sites, Holloway Elementary, is currently being used for Sunday church services.
The players
Amphitheater Public Schools
This is a public school district based in Tucson, Arizona, responsible for managing the educational facilities currently slated for sale.
The details
The district has consolidated operations, closing Copper Creek Elementary in 2025 and four additional school sites in 2026. Arizona law mandates that districts receive voter approval before they can sell off school properties, necessitating this ballot initiative.
Timeline
Copper Creek Elementary closed in 2025.
Four school sites closed in 2026.
Voters will decide on Proposition 426 on November 3, 2026.
Culture Shift
This move reflects a broader trend of school districts nationwide consolidating real estate assets as they face declining student enrollment figures. Districts are increasingly forced to re-evaluate the utility of legacy buildings that no longer serve the needs of the current student population.
If the proposition passes, the district can move forward with selling the properties, potentially changing how those sites are utilized within their neighborhoods. Residents will directly determine the fate of these public assets and the future maintenance costs tied to them.
The takeaway
Voters now face the choice of whether to allow the district to offload these assets or continue covering their maintenance costs. Understanding the impact of school site closures is key to participating in this upcoming local election.
What happens next
Proposition 426 will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026, governing board election.
Further reading
Learn more about local government policies at Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kold.
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Should your local school district have the power to sell closed school properties to voters?
