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.
WHEN TO VOTE: Tuesday, November 5
WHERE TO VOTE: Voters can enter their home address on the Dallas County Voting Location Maps to determine the correct polling place.
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.
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