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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Voters to decide Tuesday on property tax levy vital to maintaining Cedar Rapids schools
North Linn asks voters to consider renewing property tax levy; Central City taking new Revenue Purpose Statement to voters
Sep. 5, 2024 5:30 am, Updated: Sep. 5, 2024 7:40 am
A school property tax levy — up for renewal next week for voters in the Cedar Rapids Community School District — has helped fund, among other projects, an expansion this summer of a health clinic at Jefferson High School.
The expansion to the clinic — called Metro Care Connection — almost doubled the space available to serve students by taking down a wall and joining it with the classroom next door. While the project was minimal in cost — about $4,790 — expanding the clinic will enable more students to be served this academic year.
“You want to have space for students to come and feel safe. Sometimes the conversations we have are very sensitive, and we don’t want them to feel like their information is being broadcast to anyone sitting outside the door,” said Sam Pape, a nurse practitioner with Metro Care Connection.
While expanding the clinic at Jefferson High is a start, Pape said there are more infrastructure needs, including physically accessible restrooms for people with disabilities or even students who are briefly injured and use crutches or a wheelchair.
A property tax called the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy on the ballot Tuesday is vital to the Cedar Rapids school district’s ability to fund school improvement projects, routine maintenance and unexpected maintenance costs, school officials say.
“Our kids deserve it,” Pape said. “Even here at Jefferson, there are so many improvements needed in terms of accessibility for our kids. It’s a huge deal, and it’s expensive.”
Metro Care Connection is a health center at Cedar Rapids’ schools providing primary health care services to the district’s students. The centers are located at Washington, Jefferson and Metro high schools but serve students PK-12. Services are provided to students regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
Students can access services like routine physical examinations, required for students to participate in sports through their schools, immunizations, treatment of minor illnesses such as an ear infection or strep throat, basic laboratory tests like throat cultures or a urine test, referral for complex medical conditions and health education and counseling.
What is PPEL?
Physical Plant and Equipment Levy — or PPEL — must be renewed by district voters every 10 years. It can be used for the purchase and improvement of grounds, purchase, construction and remodeling of buildings, major equipment purchases, including technology, and rental of land and equipment.
To pass, it requires a simple majority of voters who live within the Cedar Rapids school district. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the district. To find an assigned polling place, visit linncountyelections.org/lookup.
Other Linn County school districts going to voters next week on funding issues are North Linn in Coggon and Central City.
The North Linn Community School District, too, is asking voters to consider renewing PPEL, which brings in about $365,000 annually for the district of about 530 students.
The Central City Community School District is asking voters to consider a Revenue Purpose Statement, a ballot measure that broadly outlines how a school district will use proceeds from the existing sales tax fund Secure an Advanced Vision for Education. There are about 450 students in the Central City school district.
Cedar Rapids’ PPEL
In the next 10 years, PPEL — if approved by voters — is estimated to bring in almost $146 million in revenue to the Cedar Rapids district. Among the project it would help fund, about $19 million would be spent on transportation costs, $86 million would be spent on yearly projects and $30 million would be spent on new college and career pathways and academies at Kennedy, Jefferson and Washington high schools.
The tax rate for homeowners in the Cedar Rapids school district — which includes the current PPEL — will be $13.90 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, a decrease of about 83 cents from the current rate. For a homeowner with a $200,000 home, the property tax bill for schools would be $1,288 per year, or $107.33 a month.
If the levy is renewed, it would not increase the property tax levy rate for schools — the levy would simply continue.
If voters do not approve extending the levy, the school board itself can levy 33 cents for every $1,000 of assessed valuation without voter approval.
Yearly projects funded by PPEL include routine maintenance, but the bigger expense is for unexpected repairs to buildings. Other large annual expenses include improvements for safety and security, door and window repairs and replacements, roof replacements, concrete repair and replacement, upgrades to schools’ heating and cooling system and playground repairs.
Liz Mitchell, a member of the Parent Teacher Organization at Franklin Middle School and Kenwood Leadership Academy in Cedar Rapids, said she is voting “yes” on PPEL.
“I think Cedar Rapids has an impressive and strong history of supporting public education, and it’s important to continue to support educators, staff and students to have a safe and effective learning environment available to them,” Mitchell said.
North Linn’s PPEL
The North Linn school district also will ask voters to consider approving the maximum PPEL of $1.34 for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation. If the levy is renewed, it would not increase the property tax levy rate for schools — the levy would simply continue.
The district’s current levy rate is $14.10.
Leisa Breitfelder, the shared superintendent for North Linn and Central City school districts, said PPEL is a major source of funding for technology for North Linn schools.
PPEL helps the district purchase and lease computers for students and contract with information technology services, Breitfelder said. It also funds building maintenance and one of its biggest occasional purchases — school buses, she said.
Central City’s Revenue Purpose Statement
The Central City school district’s Revenue Purposes Statement outlines ways SAVE funds can be spent. This includes providing funds for:
- Building and furnishing a new school building or buildings;
- Building or furnishing additions to and remodeling, reconstructing, repairing and improving school buildings in the district;
- Purchasing and improving grounds;
- Furnishing and equipping district facilities;
- Leasing or lease-purchasing of buildings, equipment, including transportation and recreation equipment or technology;
- Demolition, cleanup and other costs necessitated by and incurred within two years of a disaster;
- And radon testing and mitigation.
Breitfelder said the most immediate need for the district right now is a new roof on its elementary school. If approved, the Revenue Purpose Statement would enable that project to be funded with SAVE.
“We are in desperate need of a new roof,” Breitfelder said. “This would allow us to get an architect started, plans drafted and get it to bid. We’re spending money right now on short-term fixes.”
Breitfelder said the leaky roof is “distracting” from learning. If the Revenue Purpose Statement is approved by voters, a new roof could be installed by next summer.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
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