South Winneshiek Schools Plan Second Vote After PPEL Referendum Rejected

4. If no one funds local news, your community is just rumors. Help Decorah News bring facts home. Voters in the South Winneshiek Community School District recently rejected a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) referendum during a special election held March 3, leaving district leaders preparing to revisit the measure later this year. The referendum would have allowed the district to continue a dedicated funding stream for building maintenance, technology, transportation equipment, and other infrastructure needs. Under the proposal, the district could have levied up to $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed taxable property annually for 10 years, with collections beginning in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. Kris Einck, South Winneshiek CSD Superintendent, says the measure will return to voters this fall. "The district will go back out for a vote on September 8, 2026," Einck said. "There are no immediate impacts; however, our PPEL will end June 2027, so it is imperative we continue to utilize this levy so we do not lose this very critical funding stream." A voter-approved PPEL in Iowa allows school districts to fund a wide range of physical plant and equipment needs under state law. Those uses include purchasing and improving school grounds, constructing or remodeling buildings, buying technology and equipment, acquiring library materials, completing energy-conservation projects, and purchasing transportation equipment for students. Districts may also use PPEL funds for lease-purchase agreements and other infrastructure investments intended to maintain facilities and operations. The rejected vote follows voter approval in November 2025 of a $13 million general obligation bond to renovate and expand South Winneshiek High School. Stay connected and informed! Join the free newsletter for curated news, trending topics, and insider perspectives you won't find anywhere else.