Several area school districts with revenue purpose statements on Sept. 8 ballot

Several Eastern Iowa school districts will have a revenue purpose statement on the Sept. 8 ballot.

This measure doesn't add or rescind any tax. It is, essentially, a formality.

A new law, approved by the state legislation last session, changed the School Infrastructure Local Option (SILO) sales tax from a local county tax to a statewide tax, Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE).

As a result, school districts need voter approval of the revenue purpose statements - the document that states how districts will spend the money. For districts with a current revenue purpose statement for SILO funds, the law requires that the current statement be replaced for SAVE funds.

“A new Revenue Purpose Statement is needed to give the school district the authority of use statewide sales tax revenues through 2029,” said Steve Graham, the Cedar Rapids school district's executive director of business services.

Voting “no” won't cancel the tax. Taxpayers will still pay the penny sales tax designated for schools.

The statewide penny sales tax will be collected through Dec. 31, 2029.

Linn-Mar voters renewed the district's revenue purpose statement on June 30.

Districts with revenue purpose statements on Tuesday's ballot:Allamakee School DistrictCedar Rapids School DistrictGladbrook-Reinbeck School DistrictMarion School DistrictMontezuma School DistrictMount Vernon School DistrictNorth Linn School DistrictOlin Consolidated School DistrictSouth Winneshiek School DistrictWest Branch School DistrictWest Central School District

Allamakee School District

Cedar Rapids School District

Gladbrook-Reinbeck School District

Marion School District

Montezuma School District

Mount Vernon School District

North Linn School District

Olin Consolidated School District

South Winneshiek School District

West Branch School District

West Central School District

Williamsburg School District