North Butler Holds Community Meeting in Advance of September 14 Bond Vote

The North Butler Community School District held its final community meeting Tuesday night in advance of the September 14 bond issue vote. 

    Those in attendance at the Junior/Senior High School in Greene asked thoughtful questions. One question that came up was regarding how many Iowa school districts currently levy over a rate of $2.70, which is what North Butler is proposing with the upcoming bond vote.

    There are 101 districts statewide (about one-third of all districts) that currently have some level of voted bonding tax rate authority over $2.70. Twenty-five districts are issuing a bond levy above $2.70 this fiscal year. Districts that are not levying the higher rate now have simply paid off their bonds—or have paid them down to where the tax levy is now below $2.70 due to growth in property valuations.

    Another question was related to whether the district has done everything it could to maintain its facilities over the years. The fact is that wear and tear is natural in school facilities after many years of use. Additionally, when the schools merged in 2011, the board opted to use $200,000 per year in sales tax and/or PPEL funds to lower tax rates for property owners. While this reduced tax rates, it also meant the district did not have that money it could have used on its facilities.

    There will be two questions on the ballot in the September 14 special election. If both are approved with at least 60 percent voting yes, the district will be able to address its most pressing needs related to safety and security, creating more flexible spaces and protecting the investments community members have made in its facilities over the years. About two-thirds of the funds would cover improvements to classrooms and facilities in Allison and Greene. The other third would go toward a new competition facility for North Butler athletic teams and students.

    An approved bond would have a tax impact of an additional $17.40/month ($0.58/day) on a home with a $100,000 assessed value. The tax impact would be $4.79 per acre/year in Butler County and $4.73 in Floyd County for average agricultural land.

    The increase for Greene residents would be a little less, as the community has just paid off a previous bond. To that end, the impact for Greene residents would amount to an additional $15.17/month ($0.51/day) on a home with an assessed value of $100,000. It is worth noting that a tax levy rate can quickly decline over time as property values increase.

    In addition, property owners throughout the district, whether from the historic Greene or Allison-Bristow districts, will now pay the same tax rate from this point forward.

    Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14. Butler County residents may vote at the Greene Community Center; Courthouse Lower Level in Allison, AMVETS Building in Clarksville; American Legion Hall in Dumont; Aplington Community Center; or the Boyd Building in Shell Rock. Floyd County residents may vote at the Marble Rock Library.

                  For more information on North Butler’s needs and the solution on the ballot this Tuesday, please visit www.NorthButlerBond.org.