Winneshiek County Voters Decide School Infrastructure Levies Today

Without your donation, some stories vanish. Support Decorah News. WINNESHIEK COUNTY — Voters in the Decorah Community School District and the South Winneshiek Community School District will head to the polls today to decide whether to authorize a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All Decorah CSD voters will cast ballots at the Winneshiek County Courthouse Annex, 201 W. Main St., Decorah. South Winneshiek CSD voters will vote at Calmar Lutheran Church in Calmar. A valid ID is required to vote. In the Decorah district, voters are being asked to renew the district's existing voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy at the current rate of $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property value for 10 years. District officials have said the measure would not increase property taxes but would continue the existing levy. The current voter-approved PPEL is set to expire in June 2029. In the South Winneshiek district, the measure would authorize a voter-approved PPEL of up to $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed taxable property annually for 10 years. Under the proposals, the Decorah levy would begin with collection for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2030, and continue for 10 years. The South Winneshiek levy would begin with collection for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028, and continue for 10 years. Revenue from a voter-approved PPEL may be used for purposes allowed under Iowa law, including purchasing and improving grounds; constructing, repairing, remodeling or expanding school buildings; purchasing buildings, technology and equipment; acquiring library materials; energy conservation projects; transportation equipment for students; lease-purchase agreements; and other authorized infrastructure and equipment needs. If approved, the levy would provide dedicated funding for capital projects and equipment and could reduce the need to issue bonds for certain projects. If rejected, there would be no longer be a voter-approved PPEL in place after the current levy expires, and districts may need to delay projects or use other budget sources to meet capital needs. Additional election information is available through the Winneshiek County Auditor's Office. DecorahNews.com will have election results available later this evening. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.