Charles City, Osage School District Voters Approve Funding Proposals

Charles City School District voters have approved the renewal of the district’s Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL).

Unofficial results from the Floyd County Auditor’s Office indicates almost 76% of ballots cast were YES votes, with 24% NO votes. The measure required a simple majority to pass.

The current PPEL levy was set to expire in 2030. With Tuesday’s vote extending the existing levy through 2040.

The passing of it will not increase property tax rates.

Superintendent Brian Burnight says the PPEL provides the school district about $960,000 a year for infrastructure and hardware expenditures. Eligible expenses include school bus maintenance and replacement, building security upgrades, and general facility upkeep.

With about 95% of the ballots YES, voters in the Osage School District approved the district’s adoption of a revenue purpose statement, which authorizes the district’s use of state SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) Fund revenue for certain authorized purposes in the district.

These purposes include school safety and security infrastructure as well as required radon testing and mitigation.

According to the district, Tuesday’s voter approval authorizes safety and facility improvements to the existing Lincoln Elementary School building in Osage and is not intended for expansion or any new construction projects.

Approving the revenue purpose statement does not raise taxes and simply allows the district to upgrade Lincoln Elementary.