Highland voters to decide continuing PPEL levy

RIVERSIDE - The Highland Community School District is asking voters to consider continuing the district's Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.

Superintendent Ken Crawford said the fund is important for keeping the school infrastructure up to date.

'I cant emphasize enough how important this is to the functioning and the running of our school district,” he said.

The school board has set a voting date for March 2 and the deadline to register is Friday. A PPEL has a 10-year term.

The PPEL up for vote has the same property tax rate of $1 per $1,000 assessed valuation as the previous PPEL approved in 2011. Crawford said this provides the school with around $325,000 a year.

He said this vote will not change the amount of taxes people pay. The current tax rate of $13.09 will stay.

'This is just saying yes to wanting that dollar inside still,” he said.

According to the resolution approved by the board, the PPEL is used for:

' Purchasing and improving grounds

' Constructing, purchasing, repairing, reconstructing, improving or expanding school buildings,

' Purchasing technology and equipment,

' Purchasing libraries,

' Paying debts for constructed buildings,

' Paying expenditures for energy conservation,

' Renting facilities and

' Purchasing transportation or equipment.

A few examples of what the funding has been used for in the past is: building the athletic complex, constructing the current wastewater project, building the bus barn, buying buses, building a greenhouse and updating the school boilers.

Crawford said some of the purchases are not 'glamorous” but are essential to the school.

The PPEL requires a 50 percent yes vote.

In 2000 into 2001, it took the school four tries to get the PPEL passed. At the time, the school was attempting to increase the levy from 33 cents to 99 cents. The first three attempts failed by about 30 votes.

Crawford said he encourages everyone to get out and vote on March 2.