Revenue Purpose Statement Vote to Utilize SAVE Tax Funds
The Waukee Community School District (CSD) will go to voters for a proposed Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) that describes how the District will utilize funds made available through the Iowa Legislature’s extension of the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund, commonly referred to as the One-Cent Sales Tax. The District’s current RPS expires on January 1, 2031.
The proposed RPS will allow the District to continue using future SAVE funds for school infrastructure through the calendar year 2050 when the SAVE law expires. It will not change the current sales tax rate. Citizens will continue to pay the one-cent sales tax even if the proposed RPS is not approved.
In May 2019, HF 546 was signed into law extending the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) law through the calendar year 2050. SAVE allows school districts to borrow against statewide penny sales tax revenue to help fund school infrastructure projects.
On August 26, 2019, the Waukee Board of Education passed a resolution to call an election on November 5, 2019, to include the question of adopting a new RPS. Approval of the new RPS will not affect the sales tax rate. Rather, adoption of the proposed RPS will allow the Waukee CSD to use SAVE funds to support current facility needs and to provide funding for future building needs per the District’s long-range facility plan for the full term of the SAVE authorization.
What are SAVE Funds used for in the district?
The Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund is a statewide tax that provides funding to specifically support school infrastructure and technology needs.
Since 2011, the SAVE Fund has funded more than $100 million for key infrastructure projects in the district, including:
Construction of Woodland Hills, Grant Ragan, and Radiant Elementary Schools, Timberline School, and Waukee Innovation and Learning Center.
HVAC upgrades to current schools.
Renovations and additions to Waukee Stadium.
Additionally, provides funding to support information technology infrastructure.
What will the approval of this measure allow?
In order to complete large capital projects in a timely manner, the district often utilizes low-interest borrowing strategies to utilize future SAVE funds today. In order to use SAVE funds for school infrastructure projects beyond the sunset of their current Revenue Purpose Statements, districts must have a new Revenue Purpose Statement approved by voters outlining how the SAVE funds may be used.
Summary: To renew the Revenue Purpose Statement specifying the use of revenues the Waukee Community School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund.
In the Waukee Community School District, the following Revenue Purpose Statement which specifies the use of revenues the Waukee Community School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund shall be adopted.
To provide funds for property tax relief.
To provide funds to acquire or install information technology infrastructure (including improving buildings or sites for the purpose of accessing broadband digital telecommunications) and school safety and security infrastructure.
To provide funds to build and furnish a new school building or buildings; to build and furnish addition(s) to school buildings in the District; to remodel, repair, expand, and improve the school buildings in the District; to purchase and improve grounds; for demolition work; to furnish and equip district facilities.
To provide funds for the purchase buildings, equipment, or technology repair as authorized by law, to implement energy conservation measures, sharing or rental of facilities including a joint infrastructure project for the purposes of offering classes under a district-to-community college as authorized in Iowa Code Section 423F.3(3)(c), procuring or acquisition of libraries, or opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings.
To provide funds to purchase land as part of start-up costs for new student construction program or if the sale of the previous student construction was insufficient to purchase land, and to purchase construction materials and supplies for a student-constructed building or shed intended to be retained by and used by the District.
To provide funds to make payments to a municipality or other entity as required under Iowa Code Section 403.19(2).
To provide funds for demolition, cleanup, and other costs if such costs are necessitated by, and incurred within two years of, a disaster.
To provide funds to establish and maintain public recreation places and playgrounds; provide for supervision and instruction for recreational activities; or for community education purposes.
To provide funds for the payment of principal and interest or retirement of general obligation bonds issued for school infrastructure purposes, energy improvement loans, loan agreements authorized by Iowa Code Section 297.36, sales, service and use tax revenue bonds issued under Iowa Code Section 423E.5 or Iowa Code Section 423F.4; and
To provide funds for other authorized expenditures and purposes as now or hereafter permitted by law and designated by the Waukee Community School District.
It is understood that if this proposition should fail to be approved by the voters, such failure shall not be construed to terminate or restrict authority previously granted by the voters to expend receipts from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund.
If approved, this Revenue Purpose Statement shall remain in effect until replaced or amended by the Waukee Community School District.
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