New Hampton School Board Discusses Possibility of Voter-Approved PPEL

Earlier this month, voters in the Charles City School District approved the renewal of the district’s Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL).

Superintendent Brian Burnight thanked stakeholders for continued support of the Voter-Approved PPEL over the past 26 years, which is now extended through 2040. At $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property value, Burnight said it could add up to about $14 million over the next 14 years.

During their meeting Monday (Sept. 21) night, the New Hampton School Board discussed a Voter-Approved PPEL, which the district does not have in place at this time. Superintendent Erik Smith said it’s an option to consider pursuing with a reduction in state SAVE funds on the horizon.

Smith said the school district currently receives about $1.4 million a year in state SAVE funds, with over $550,000 currently allocated to paying down school GO bonds in order to keep their overall levy rate in check.

Currently, the school district’s 33-cent Board-Approved PPEL raises over $250,000 a year, used to purchase such things as buses and student chrome books. However, Smith noted that with bus prices rising to about $160,000 a vehicle, there’s little money left over.

With the school district also faced with critical building repairs and upgrades, Board member Ryan Shawver said PPEL could be among their financial options.

No decisions were made by the School Board, with Smith to do more homework on how SAVE and PPEL funds are currently allocated.

Smith noted that a $1.34 Voter-Approved PPEL could mean about $900,000 a year for the school district. The earliest a measure could go up for vote would be March 2027 and would require a simple majority for passage.