MASON CITY – The Mason City school board will decide at a meeting tonight whether to call for an election for the continuation of two taxes on property owners.
The election to decide on the continuation of two taxes on property owners would be held April 3, 2018, id the board approves.
The school board will determine at Monday night’s meeting if it is consistent with the ten-year finance plan to fund the ongoing programs and services of the School District and it is in the best interest of the School District to continue participation in an Instructional Support Program (ISP) as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.21, and to provide additional funding therefor for a period of ten (10) years commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
The additional funding for the Instructional Support Program for a budget year shall be determined annually, and shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total regular program district costs for the budget year and moneys received under Section 257.14 as a budget adjustment for the budget year.
Moneys received by the District for the Instructional Support Program may be used for any general fund purpose.
The Instructional Support Program shall be funded by instructional support state aid and a combination instructional support property tax levied annually upon the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and an instructional support income surtax imposed annually, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each budget year to be imposed upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31, 2019, and each year thereafter.
A special election is called of the qualified electors of the Mason City Community School District, in the County of Cerro Gordo, State of Iowa, on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. The following Proposition is approved, and the Secretary is authorized and directed to submit and file the Proposition for the Ballot with the Cerro Gordo County Commissioner of Elections at least 46 days prior to the election.
The second proposed tax, the Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax (PPEL) would fund the purchasing and improving of school grounds; constructing schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; purchasing of buildings; purchase, lease or lease- purchase of technology and equipment; paying debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of libraries; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; renting facilities under Chapter 28E; purchasing transportation equipment for transporting students; lease purchase option agreements for school buildings or equipment; purchasing equipment authorized by law; or for any purpose or purposes now or hereafter authorized by law. This tax would also be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, to levy annually, a voter-approved physical plant and equipment property tax not to exceed Sixty- Seven Cents (.67) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district commencing with the levy for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, or each year thereafter.
The meeting is at 5:30 PM at the Administrative Center board room.
They have mismanaged our money. They reported a 700,000 dollar shortfall not too long ago. Also if you look at the results by the states standards the school district is not fairing well on teaching their students. Therefore throwing more money at it is not the answer. Vote no
is there a need for the building tax?? they have built or re-build all the buildings so far so no need for money for that, I don’t like the other one that puts the money in the “general fund” that is where the monies came from for those that retired or were forced to retire or leave. tax money for raises and unheard of retiring monies, I don’t think so. be like the rest of us, do a good job and make a profit for the boss and he will give u a raise, not get one because everyone else is getting one.,
You are right all the schools have been refurbished. Now they want the money to add a new gym at the high school. The school board needs to learn to manage their budget like everyone else.
if the books were being “cooked” how come no one has been prosecuted for it???
The school and anybody who works there, lives on your tax dollar. They are NOT going to give up 1 cent without a fight.
you will see the taxes extended, and then a request for raises for all! They don’t care if money has been miss spent? They can ALWAYS get more
I’ll be surprised if they dropped one if not both…It would be a show of good faith considering they have been caught cooking the books. Tonight’s vote will show the public how crooked or not, with how the board responds.