Eastern Iowa districts consider ballot issues

Five Eastern Iowa school districts are seeking voter authorizations for levies and bonds in the upcoming Sept. 13, 2011, school board election.

The largest of these is at Independence school district, which is asking voters to authorize a $12.48 million 20-year bond to help construct a new $27.5 million junior/senior high school building.

Residential property owners will pay $120.42 in property tax for every $100,000 of assessed value, while commercial owners will pay $$405 for every $150,000 in order to pay off the bond. Lands zoned for agriculture will be taxed at $2.05 per acre.

This is the sixth attempt by the school district to pass a bond to finance a new secondary building, according to Superintendent Jean Peterson. It requires 60 percent of the voters' approval in order to pass.

The remainder of the construction will be financed through $9 million in local option sales tax and $6 million in gifts, grants and donations.

In addition to the Independence bond, several districts are seeking to renew taxes and levies on their ballots.

North Fayette schools are seeking to renew their instructional support levy, while the Highland school district in Washington county is renewing its physical plant and equipment levy.

Solon and Central City schools are seeking to pass a revenue purpose statement that will allow them to use state moneys from the Secure and Advanced Vision for Education sales tax, previously the School Infrastructure Local Option sales tax. The outcomes of those vote would not affect the collection of the statewide tax either way.