Regional, Iowa (RI) – A bill under review in the Iowa House would give the state’s smallest school districts a bit more budget flexibility.
The bill is designed for districts with fewer than 200 students for three-consecutive years. It would let them redirect property taxes for equipment and technology as well as sales tax money that’s currently designated for construction projects — if 60 percent of voters in the school district approve the transfers.
Representative Austin Harris, a Republican from Moulton, is the bill’s author.
The redirected tax money could not be used for salaries and benefits, but could be spent on things like utilities, textbooks or transportation costs.
Margaret Buckton, a lobbyist for Rural School Advocates of Iowa, says the bill cuts a good balance between ensuring kids get a good education and ensuring tax dollars are spent appropriately.
The Farm Bureau opposes the bill, because it expands what property taxes could be used for. It appears the bill would apply to fewer than 20 school districts in the state.
