The East Sac County (ESC) Community School District is asking for an amendment to the existing voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (VPPEL) to increase the rate for the remainder of the term. It was back in 2020 that the district was approved to levy $1.00 per $1,000 taxable property valuation to be used to finance the new additions to the buildings in Sac City and Lake View. Superintendent Nathan Hemiller says schools have categorial funds that can only be used to purchase/finance certain things, and by borrowing against the PPEL fund for the additions caused some strain for any additional improvements or other purchases.
Hemiller says by asking voters for this amendment, it will create a little more flexibility for the district to have funding available when capital improvement projects, technology and more purchases come up.
Some of those projects include drainage and resurfacing to elementary parking lot, demolition of the unused and non-ADA compliant structure on the Lake View campus, adding signage and more. Hemiller says the current ESC tax rate is at $11.67, dropping three cents in Fiscal Year 2026, and even if this measure is passed, ESC tax rate would still be lower than the $13.15 average for school districts across the state.
Tax impacts will depend on property assessed valuation. Hemiller says the potential 34 cent increase would be in place for the remainder of the ten-year PPEL levy issued, with debt payments ending in 2031.
Anyone with additional questions is encouraged to visit the ESC website for more information, a link to the page has been included below. Hemiller also encouraged anyone with questions to reach out to him by calling the district office, 712-665-5000.
https://www.eastsac.k12.ia.us/o/esccsd/page/nov-4th-ppel-vote?fbclid=IwY2xjawNbuZ1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4Nm9iS1Z3RGMzSm1IcVZMAR6Qijj71AeqYPAr97KwD38jEu-4AeYG1Dc0M3F_jUkOwFqLCvKvKYRfsXuv6w_aem_PhXjxUk9yNIkrip4fBopCA
