Revenue Purpose Statement
In May 2019, the governor signed into law an extension of the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) program, commonly known as the statewide penny tax, through January 1, 2051. SAVE allows North Polk, along with all public school districts in Iowa, the opportunity to borrow against the revenue each district is expected to receive through the statewide penny sales tax for schools. These funds are used to finance school infrastructure and technology projects.
To access these funds, each Iowa school district was required to have its voters approve a revised Revenue Purpose Statement reflecting the legislative changes. This vote was not on the tax itself, but rather on how the district would utilize the funds generated by the tax. The original Revenue Purpose Statement was approved in 2009. On November 5, 2019, district voters approved the revised statement with an 89.4% approval rate.
The revised Revenue Purpose Statement is intended to be used in the following manner:
In the North Polk Community School District, the following Revenue Purpose Statement, which specifies the use of revenues the North Polk School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure and Advanced Vision for Education Fund, shall be adopted:
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To provide funds to acquire or install information technology infrastructure (including improving buildings or sites for the purpose of accessing broad digital telecommunications) and school safety and security infrastructure.
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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, reconstruct, repair, expand, and improve the school buildings in the District; to purchase and improve grounds; for demolition work; and to furnish and equip district facilities.
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To provide funds for the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of buildings, equipment (including transportation and recreation equipment), or technology, and to repair transportation equipment for transporting students as authorized by law; to implement energy conservation measures; for the sharing or rental of facilities, including a joint infrastructure project for offering classes under a district-to-community college agreement as authorized in Iowa Code Section 423F.3(3)(c); procuring or acquiring libraries; or opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings.
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To provide funds to purchase land as part of start-up costs for new student construction programs, or if the sale of the previous student construction was insufficient to purchase land, and to purchase construction materials and supplies for a student-construction building or shed intended to be retained by and used by the District.
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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.
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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.
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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, and sales, service, and use tax revenue bonds issued under Iowa Code Section 423E.5 or Iowa Code Section 423F.4.
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To provide funds for property tax relief; and
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To provide funds for other authorized expenditures and purposes as now or hereafter permitted by law and designated by the North Polk Community School District.
It being 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 and Advanced Vision for Education Fund.
If approved, this Revenue Purpose Statement shall remain in effect until replaced or amended by the North Polk Community School District.