298.2 - IMPOSITION OF PHYSICAL PLANT AND EQUIPMENT LEVY. - Iowa Statutes

298.2 IMPOSITION OF PHYSICAL PLANT AND EQUIPMENT LEVY. 1. A physical plant and equipment levy of not exceeding one dollar and sixty-seven cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in the district is established except as otherwise provided in this subsection. The physical plant and equipment levy consists of the regular physical plant and equipment levy of not exceeding thirty-three cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in the district and a voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy of not exceeding one dollar and thirty-four cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in the district. However, the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy may consist of a combination of a physical plant and equipment property tax levy and a physical plant and equipment income surtax as provided in subsection 4 with the maximum amount levied and imposed limited to an amount that could be raised by a one dollar and thirty-four cent property tax levy. The levy limitations of this subsection are subject to subsection 6. 2. If the electors of a school district have authorized a voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy not exceeding sixty-seven cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in the district prior to July 1, 1997, the levy shall continue for the period authorized under the voter- approved levy, and the maximum levy that can be authorized by the electors under the voter-approved levy on or after July 1, 1997, under this section, is an additional sixty-seven cents for a period to coincide with the period for which the initial physical plant and equipment levy in the district was approved. 3. The board of directors of a school district may certify for levy by April 15 of a school year a tax on all taxable property in the school district for the regular physical plant and equipment levy. 4. a. The board may on its own motion, and upon the written request of not less than one hundred eligible electors or thirty percent of the number of eligible electors voting at the last regular school election, whichever is greater, shall, direct the county commissioner of elections to provide for submitting the proposition of levying the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy for a period of time authorized by the voters in the notice of election, not to exceed ten years, in the notice of the regular school election. The proposition is adopted if a majority of those voting on the proposition at the election approves it. The voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy shall be funded either by a physical plant and equipment property tax or by a combination of a physical plant and equipment property tax and a physical plant and equipment income surtax, as determined by the board. However, if the board intends to enter into a rental or lease arrangement under section 279.26, or intends to enter into a loan agreement under section 297.36, only a property tax shall be levied for those purposes. Subject to the limitations of section 298.14, if the board uses a combination of a physical plant and equipment property tax and a physical plant and equipment surtax, for each fiscal year the board shall determine the percent of income surtax to be imposed expressed as full percentage points, not to exceed twenty percent. b. If a combination of a property tax and income surtax is used, by April 15 of the previous school year, the board shall certify the percent of the income surtax to be imposed and the amount to be raised to the department of management and the department of management shall establish the rate of the property tax and income surtax for the school year. The physical plant and equipment property tax and income surtax shall be levied or imposed, collected, and paid to the school district in the manner provided for the instructional support program in sections 257.21 through 257.26. 5. a. The proposition to levy the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy is not affected by a change in the boundaries of the school district, except as otherwise provided in this section. If each school district involved in a school reorganization under chapter 275 has adopted the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy or the sixty- seven and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed value schoolhouse levy under section 278.1, subsection 7, Code 1989, prior to July 1, 1991, and if the voters have not voted upon the proposition to levy the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy in the reorganized district, the existing voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy or the existing schoolhouse levy, as applicable, is in effect for the reorganized district for the least amount and the shortest time for which it is in effect in any of the districts. b. Authorized levies for the period of time approved are not affected as a result of a failure of a proposition proposed to expand the purposes for which the funds may be expended. 6. If the board of directors of a school district in which the voters have authorized the schoolhouse tax prior to July 1, 1991, has entered into a rental or lease arrangement under section 279.26, Code 1989, or has entered into a loan agreement under section 297.36, Code 1989, the levy shall continue for the period authorized and the maximum levy that can be authorized under the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy is reduced by the rate of the schoolhouse tax.          Section History: Recent Form 89 Acts, ch 135, § 107; 92 Acts, ch 1187, § 7; 93 Acts, ch 1, § 9, 10; 97 Acts, ch 182, §1, 2; 2009 Acts, ch 57, §80 Referred to in § 257.19, 257.31, 274.37, 275.12, 275.20, 279.26, 283A.9, 292.1, 297.36, 298.14, 298A.4, 403.19, 423F.3 Limit on total surtax, § 298.14