Voters approve Iowa City schools referendum

IOWA CITY -- Voters overwhelmingly approved two measures Tuesday that will extend the Iowa CIty school district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy to 2035 and the 1 percent local-option sales tax to 2051.

Fifty percent voter approval was required for the measures to pass.

The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy — or PPEL —does not increase the property tax rate.

Renewing the levies provides funding for the district’s “facilities master plan 2.0,” which includes dozens of projects, such as additions to schools, technology upgrades and possible purchase of grounds in the future.

The money also pays for maintenance of current buildings and school vehicles and buses. PPEL also can be used to rent land and equipment.

The sales tax, known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education — or SAVE — also can be used for community education programs and is funded by a statewide sales tax allocated by the state of Iowa to school districts based on certified enrollment.

New elementary schools, additions to existing elementary schools and continued renovations at Iowa City High School are just a few of a long list of projects the Iowa City Community School District hopes to complete with funds from the renewed taxes.

Other projects the district is prioritizing are technology upgrades, security improvements and HVAC replacements.

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