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Marshalltown Community School District residents will vote Tuesday, March 5, 2024, on the district's Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).
This is a voter-approved levy that generates funds that can only be used for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases, and improvements. More than 83% of Iowa school districts rely upon a voted PPEL, which must be approved by a district's voters every 10 years.
In the past five years, Marshalltown CSD has used $5.95 million worth of PPEL funds for school security upgrades, roof replacements, boiler repairs, technology infrastructure and equipment, concrete and sidewalk improvements, and annual replacement of buses and small vehicles, among other crucial needs.
"Like many school districts throughout Iowa, PPEL funds represent an important part of our budget and allow us to address a variety of building and equipment needs," said Dr. Theron Schutte, Superintendent. "We are asking our voters to consider the PPEL on March 5 and allow the district an opportunity to continue making investments that provide our students with a quality educational environment, now and in the years to come."
Marshalltown CSD's current voted PPEL of $0.67 will sunset in June 2025 without voter approval. If the measure on the ballot is approved in March, the voted PPEL would be in place through 2035 at a rate of $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property value.
The district is positioned financially to increase the voted PPEL levy without having to raise the district's overall tax levy of $15.99 per $1,000 of taxable property value as part of a continued effort to respect the needs of the district's property taxpayers. The tax rate peaked at $18.35 in 2021 and has been declining ever since.
A 2018 study identified long-range facility needs throughout Marshalltown CSD at an estimated cost of $54 million. This includes roof, window and door replacements, tuck pointing, HVAC maintenance, elevator repairs, ADA compliance, and educational space updates, among other projects.
Safety and security assessments performed by the state and the district's insurance company identified needs at multiple buildings. The estimated cost for existing technology needs--including audio-visual enhancements in classrooms, phone and intercom upgrades, and annual computer replacement cycles is $3.5 million.
The district also does not have enough storage capacity for its transportation fleet, meaning more than $2 million worth of vehicles are kept unprotected in the open and susceptible to weather damage or vandalism. The estimated cost to address that issue is $1 million.
According to Randy Denham, Director of Business Operations, the district faces more than $1 million in annual repair and maintenance expenses related to building and grounds, security, transportation and technology.
"Significant investments have been made to the district's facilities and equipment over the years, and the PPEL is a cost-effective way of protecting those investments and assets while minimizing the impact on our local property taxpayers," Denham said.
For more information on voted PPELs and their role in funding Iowa schools, please visit https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/operation-support/business-finance/levies-funds#physical-plant-amp-equipment-levy/.
Voters will need to show a valid ID before casting their ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. Voters can find their polling locations at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections.