George and Little Rock, Iowa — Voters in the George-Little Rock School District will be going to the polls on Tuesday, February 6th to decide whether to continue a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (or “PPEL,” pronounced “pepple”).
George-Little Rock business manager Cathy Bonestroo tells KIWA that the PPEL has been in place for a number of years, and is up for renewal. According to the ballot language that voters will see on Tuesday, if approved, the PPEL would be authorized for another ten years at not more than a dollar and thirty-four cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Plus, it would also reauthorize a PPEL income surtax of not more than six percent, determined by the George-Little Rock Board of Directors each year.
The revenue raised by the tax can be used for several uses, mostly related to buildings and grounds. Some of the items include asbestos projects, the purchase and improvement of grounds, surfacing and soil treatment of athletic fields, exterior lighting, demolition work, energy conservation, purchase or lease of technology, purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students, and several other uses.
Iowa Code says, however, that PPEL revenues may not be used for employee salaries or travel; supplies; printing costs or media services; or for any other purpose not expressly authorized by Iowa Code.
According to Carrie Johnson, election clerk at the Lyon County Auditor’s office, the polls will be open on Tuesday, February 6th from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Full text of question to be on ballot:
Shall the Board of Directors of the George-Little Rock Community School District be authorized for a period of ten (10) years to levy and impose a physical and plant and equipment tax of not exceeding one dollar and thirty-four cents ($1.34) per $1,000 of assessed valuation, and be authorized annually, in combination, to levy a physical plant and equipment property tax with the levy of property taxes for collection commencing in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, and to impose a physical plant and equipment income surtax upon each individual income taxpayer resident in the school district on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with calendar year 2020 or, each year thereafter (the percent of income tax not to exceed six percent (6%) determined by the Board of Directors each year) to be used for asbestos projects (279.52), the purchase and improvement of grounds, including the legal cost relating to the property; acquisition, costs of surveys of the property, costs of relocation assistance under state and federal law, and other costs incidental to property acquisition; improvement of grounds, which includes grading, landscaping, paving, seeding, planting of shrubs and trees; constructing sidewalks, roadways, retaining walls, sewers and storm drains, and installing hydrants; surfacing and soil treatment of athletic fields and tennis courts; exterior lighting, including athletic fields and tennis courts; furnishing and installing flagpoles, gateways, fences, and underground storage tanks which are not parts of building service systems; demolitions work; and special assessments against the school district for public improvements, as defined in Iowa Code 384.37; purchase, lease or lease-purchase of single unit of equipment or technology exceeding $500 in value; payment of debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of library facilities; repairing, remodeling, reconstruction, improving or expanding or schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; the rental of facilities under Chapter 28E; purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students; purchase or lease-purchase option agreements for school buildings; or equipment purchase for recreational purposes, it being understood that if this proposition should fail to be approved, such failure shall not be construed to terminate or restrict authority previously granted by the electors to levy a special tax for any one or more of the foregoing purposes.
