Revenue Purpose Statement on Board Election Ballot
Sept. 9, 2008
by Curtis Barclay
What is the “Revenue Purpose Statement” on the School Board Election Ballot?
By Curtis Barclay, Superintendent
On September 9, 2008, the annual School Board Election will be held. Polls in Malvern will be open from 12 p.m. (noon) until 8:00 p.m. in the evening. There will be two seats on the Board of Education up for election this year. Current members Rebecca Bell and Gary Hustak are running unopposed. This year the ballot will also include a “Revenue Purpose Statement”. The purpose of this article is to explain the “Revenue Purpose Statement” so that voters can make an informed decision when they go to the polls.
Several years ago the voters of Mills County approved a 1% sales tax that generated funds for school infrastructure improvements. When the original election was held it included a “Revenue Purpose Statement”, as the law required, which specified how this money could be spent by the school district. The “Revenue Purpose Statement” that was approved was a broad statement that allowed the funds to be spent for all legal purposes. This includes constructing or refurbishing school buildings and grounds, the purchase of major pieces of equipment, school busses, and technology systems, and other very restricted uses. None of this funding can be used to pay the salaries of school employees or day-to-day educational expenses such as textbooks.
During the 2008 session of the Iowa Legislature this 1% sales tax was made statewide until 2028. Since all 99 Iowa counties had passed a county initiative, the legislators believed it was reasonable to make it statewide. This new legislation equalizes the money generated per student across the state. Now every student in the state of Iowa will generate the same funding regardless of where he/she lives. Previously, students living in Des Moines, for instance, generated a great deal more funding than students who live in Mills County.
The “Statewide Penny Legislation”, as described above, maintains the same narrow uses of the funds. As before, these funds can be used for constructing or refurbishing school buildings and grounds, the purchase of major pieces of equipment, school busses, and technology systems, and other very restricted uses. None of this funding can be used to pay the salaries of school employees or day-to-day educational expenses such as textbooks. Also, as before, a “Revenue Purpose Statement” will need to be passed by the voters to support this spending.
The “Revenue Purpose Statement” that the Malvern Board of Education has placed on the September 9th ballot is a broad statement that allows the district to spend the funds on the legal purposes described above through 2028 as per the legislation. Passage of this statement does not incur any additional cost on the taxpayers of the school district. It only specifies how the 1% sales tax that that you are already paying can be spent. Again, these funds can’t be spent on any employee salaries or day-to-day educational expenditures.
The “Revenue Purpose Statement” that the voters of Mills County approved is still in place for a few more years. Passage of this ballot’s “Revenue Purpose Statement” gives the Board a better ability to do long range planning as they evaluate several major projects currently under consideration. One of these projects is the air conditioning of the current school buildings.
The Malvern Board of Education encourages you to vote on September 9th and to support the “Revenue Purpose Statement” that is on the ballot. If you would like for me to speak to groups to explain this in more detail, or if you have any questions, I can be reached at the Malvern CSD District Office, 712-624-8700. Members of the Malvern School Board would also be happy to discuss this issue with district patrons.
