The oldest project in the queue had been waiting since September 2023. The state Legislature has provided $200 million annually for the grant program in recent years, but School Facilities Oversight Board Chairman Scott Thompson said that level of funding is not enough to keep up with needs.

“I don’t think anybody that’s involved, whether it’s staff or the board, likes where we’re at, but we’re just trying to do the best with the dollars we have,” Thompson said.

In Mesa, Carson Junior High has dealt with roof leaks for years. The problem worsened in September 2025, when the roof deteriorated to the point that it was leaking badly, said Tyler Moore, chief business officer for Mesa Public Schools. The district’s request for roof repairs was expedited after the situation became an emergency.

Mesa Public Schools has more than $1 billion in needed repairs and replacements across its buildings, Moore said. The district also has applied to replace a boiler that is more than 40 years old.

Thompson warned that the annual allocation is inadequate and said he worries about the consequences if critical work remains delayed. The grants are administered by the Arizona Department of Administration’s School Facilities Division and overseen by the School Facilities Oversight Board.

The funding dispute is also playing out in court. School districts and education agencies sued Arizona in 2017, alleging the state had unconstitutionally underfunded school facilities. A judge ruled for the districts earlier in 2026, but the case remains in litigation as lawmakers appeal.

Some districts have sought voter-approved bonds to pay for projects. Mesa previously pursued a bond measure that failed, and its school board voted to try again in 2026. Moore said the underlying needs remain regardless of whether a bond passes: “The projects don’t go away. There’s still a need for those projects.”