West Delaware PPEL Vote on September 9th

MANCHESTER, IA — West Delaware County Community School District residents will vote on the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) on Tuesday, September 9.

The voter-approved levy has been in place for decades and provides the district with funds that can  only be used for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases, and improvements. The levy, which is in place at more than 85 percent of Iowa school districts, must be renewed every 10 years.

The levy generated more than $510,000 worth of revenue in the recent fiscal year for the district. These funds have been used in the past to upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, repair roofs, purchase buses and vans, replace computers and hardware, maintain athletic facilities, purchase musical instruments and equipment, and install new signage, among other needs.

Voted PPEL measures require voter approval of at least 50 percent.

“West Delaware is one of the many school districts statewide that relies on a voted PPEL to address many of our maintenance and equipment needs,” said Superintendent Jen Vance. “We are asking our voters to consider renewing the levy and allowing the district to continue making critical investments that ensure our students have the resources and learning environments they need to thrive.”

West Delaware CCSD’s current voted PPEL has a rate of $0.67 per $1,000 of taxable property value. The proposed measure seeks permission to maintain that same rate through 2036, meaning a renewed levy will not raise property taxes.

The district’s cumulative property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2026 is $13.67 per $1,000 of taxable property value, which ranks fourth lowest in the WaMaC Conference.

More information about West Delaware CCSD’s voted PPEL, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at www.westdelawareppel.org.

The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot from the Delaware County Auditor’s Office is August 25. In-person absentee voting will be available through the auditor’s office beginning August 20. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9. A valid ID is required to vote.

photo courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH