PPEL will go toward needed repairs

On Tuesday, Cedar Rapids voters will have the opportunity to vote to increase the funding level of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). If you research what the moneys will go for, you will see words such as repair, upgrade, resurface, replace, refinish and reconstruct. In other words, much needed maintenance and repair as needs are rapidly outpacing money and labor.

Some people cite the Educational Leadership and Support Center as reason to vote 'no” on this proposal, feeling that money should have been 'spent on the schools.” A good chunk of that was funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be used to either repair five older flooded district support buildings or build new. The school board held hearings and decided the most economical solution was to build one new structure to house five departments. That consolidation saves the district more than $1 million in operational costs a year. Could that money or the infrastructure funds have been used to deal with the maintenance issues our schools face? No, as they were designated for different purposes. However, having a modern, consolidated structure does enable the district to better meet certain other needs of staff and students. That has value.

Vote yes for the PPEL.

Anne Salamon

Cedar Rapids