Revenue Purpose Statement to Utilize SAVE Tax Funds
The Dubuque Community School District Board of Education is seeking voter approval of the Revenue Purpose Statement that will allow the district to 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.
IF APPROVED, THE REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO ACCESS FUTURE SAVE FUNDS, BUT WILL NOT CHANGE THE CURRENT SALES TAX RATE. The one-cent sales tax that funds SAVE will be collected across the state regardless of whether or not this measure is approved.
WHEN TO VOTE:
Tuesday, November 5
WHERE TO VOTE:
Voters can enter their home address on the Dubuque County Elections Polling Places website to determine the correct polling place.
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.
In the past 15 years, the SAVE Fund has funded many key infrastructure projects in the district, including:
- Construction of Roosevelt Middle School, Prescott Elementary School, and Carver Elementary School
- Renovations and Additions at Hempstead High School and Dubuque Senior High School
- Reconstruction of Dalzell Field
- Additions at Irving Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Sageville Elementary School, and Washington Middle School
Between 2013-2017, the fund provided $3.5 million annually to support technology infrastructure and device enhancements. Each year from 2017 through present, the fund provides $2.5 million in annual technology funding.
VIEW A VISUAL TIMELINE OF MAJOR SAVE-FUNDED PROJECTS
(SAVE-Funded Projects are listed in the blue portion on the top half of the document)
View a complete list of SAVE expenditures:
What will 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 access dollars beyond the current 2029 sunset of current SAVE Fund, districts must have a Revenue Purpose Statement approved by voters outlining how the funds may be used.
The statement reads on the ballot as follows:
SHALL THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEASURE BE ADOPTED:
Summary: To adopt a Revenue Purpose Statement specifying the use of revenues the Dubuque Community School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund.
In the Dubuque Community School District, the following Revenue Purpose Statement which specifies the use of revenues the Dubuque Community School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund shall be adopted.
To provide funds to acquire or install information technology infrastructure (including improving buildings or sites for the purpose of accessing broadband digital telecommunications) and school safety and security infrastructure.
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; to furnish and equip district facilities.
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, sharing or rental of facilities including a joint infrastructure project for the purposes of offering classes under a district-to-community college as authorized in Iowa Code Section 423F.3(3)(c), procuring or acquisition of libraries, or opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings.
To provide funds to purchase land as part of start-up costs for new student construction program or if the sale of the previous student construction was insufficient to purchase land, and to purchase construction materials and supplies for a student-constructed building or shed intended to be retained by and used by the District.
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.
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.
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, sales, service and use tax
revenue bonds issued under Iowa Code Section 423E.5 or Iowa Code Section 423F.4.
To provide funds for property tax relief; and
To provide funds for other authorized expenditures and purposes as now or hereafter
permitted by law and designated by the Dubuque 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 an Advanced Vision for Education Fund.
If approved, this Revenue Purpose Statement shall remain in effect until replaced or amended by the Dubuque Community School District.
Following are the legal notices and sample ballots for the November 5 School Elections, including the race for School Board as well as the ballot item for approval of the district’s Revenue Purpose Statement. These statements are applicable to residents in these counties who also reside in the Dubuque Community School District.
The legal notices below include a list of polling places.