About A-P’s upcoming PPEL renewal measure

PARKERSBURG – Aplington-Parkersburg Schools has a familiar measure on the March 7 special election ballot.

The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) is due for a 10-year renewal at the current rate of $0.57 per $1,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property, a rate which was last approved in 2014. That assessed valuation is the key, A-P Superintendent Travis Fleshner said, and should not be mistaken for the property’s real estate market value when determining the PPEL tax impact. A more detailed tax table is available at a-pcsd.net to help individuals see how PPEL impacts their tax bills.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is by 5 p.m. on February 20. An absentee ballot request form is available at sos.iowa.gov or by contacting the county auditor.

The A-P PPEL measure is listed under Public Measure CR on the March 7 ballot and is not to be confused with Public Measure BK, a $35 million bond measure from Hawkeye Community College for improvements to their facilities.

A-P’s tax footprint has largely declined since 2017, and ranks in the bottom third of school districts in the state.

As is outlined in the verbiage on the March 7 ballot, PPEL funds have largely been used in the past to offset costs with purchases for the schools and repairs that impact day-to-day operations. PPEL cannot be used to pay staff salaries.

Fleshner noted that PPEL funds have been used in recent times to purchase the lease on the Western Outreach Center, make repairs to HVAC throughout the district, including boiler and rooftop units, various repairs to buildings and grounds like carpeting, lighting, electrical, and software and other technology purchases. One major beneficiary of PPEL funds was the one-to-one student-to-device initiative, which allowed students to have the devices necessary to keep learning during COVID-related shutdowns at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

The superintendent added that the levy brings in roughly $200,000 per year, and is a modest request when HVAC repairs cost roughly $45,000 and other items, like something as simple as a set of doors on the gym, can cost around $5,000 due to fire code regulations. Fleshner did add that in the 2021-22 school year, the board of education saved taxpayers $265,000 through various means.

Those with more questions about A-P’s PPEL can reach out to Superintendent Fleshner at 319-346-1571, ext. 1105; or by e-mail at travis.fleshner@a-pcsd.net.