On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, residents of the Van Meter Community School District will consider renewing the district’s voted Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL).
PHYSICAL PLANT & EQUIPMENT LEVY
Election Day: September 8, 2026
On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, residents of the Van Meter Community School District will consider renewing the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).
More than 87% of Iowa school districts rely on a voted PPEL, which generates funds that can only be used for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases, and improvements.
Van Meter CSD’s existing voted PPEL has a rate of $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property value. The measure on the September ballot would maintain the voted PPEL for 10 additional years at the same rate, meaning property tax rates will not increase.
WHY IS A VOTED PPEL NEEDED?
Like many rural school districts, Van Meter CSD faces facility and equipment challenges and expenses that exceed what our annual operating budget and general fund alone can address.
Our district received approximately $550,000 from the voted PPEL in the previous school year. In the past, we have used these funds to:
Repair and replace school roofs
Purchase school buses and vans
Purchase computers and technology for students
Replace classroom furniture
Maintain buildings and grounds
Enhance athletic facilities
If the levy is not renewed by voters, the district will be forced to use general funds or SAVE revenue to support maintenance, transportation, and technology needs previously covered by the levy. This could delay other projects or result in future budget cuts.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a voted PPEL?
A Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) is a voter-approved levy that generates funds school districts can use for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases, and improvements. This money can only be used for these specific purposes.
Voted PPEL measures must be approved by at least 50% of voters.
What happens if the voted PPEL is not renewed?
If the voted PPEL is not approved by at least 50% of voters, we will need to spend money from our general fund to support facility and equipment needs, which could delay other projects or lead to budget cuts. This is significant because the general fund supports employee wages and benefits, as well as curriculum and supplemental education materials.
When is the district’s current voted PPEL scheduled to end?
The existing voted PPEL will sunset on June 30, 2029, unless renewed by voters.
What is the district’s voted PPEL rate?
Our voted PPEL rate is $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property value (not assessed value). The measure on the September 8 ballot would renew the levy at the same rate through June 30, 2039.
How would a renewed PPEL affect property taxes?
A renewed PPEL would maintain the existing levy rate, so it would not increase property tax rates.
Can I cast an absentee ballot?
In-person absentee voting for Van Meter Community School District residents begins on August 19 and can be completed at your county auditor’s office.
Dallas County Auditor: 210 N. 10th St., Adel
Madison County Auditor: 112 N. John Wayne Dr., Winterset
Both county auditor offices are open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The final day to cast an absentee ballot in person will be Monday, September 7.
Registered voters can request a mailed absentee ballot from their county auditor’s office. The final day that mailed ballots will be delivered is August 24. Ballots must be received by the auditor’s office before the polls close on election day (September 8) to be considered for counting.
A sample ballot from the Dallas County Auditor’s Office is available online for viewing.
When is election day?
The election is on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Do I need an ID to vote?
Yes, a valid ID is necessary to cast a ballot.
Where do I vote on election day?
Van Meter CSD residents in Dallas County will vote on election day at the American Legion, located at 910 Main St. in Van Meter. Madison County residents will vote at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 1195 Prairieview Ave., in rural Van Meter.
What is the exact question that will appear on the ballot?
Voters who reside in the Van Meter Community School District will see the following question on their ballots, labeled as Public Measure A:
Shall the Board of Directors of the Van Meter Community School District, in the Counties of Dallas and Madison, State of Iowa, for the purpose of purchasing and improving grounds; constructing schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; purchasing of buildings; purchase, lease or lease-purchase of technology and equipment; paying debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of libraries; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; renting facilities under Iowa Code Chapter
28E; purchasing transportation equipment for transporting students; lease purchase option agreements for school buildings or equipment; purchasing equipment authorized by law; or for any purpose or purposes now or hereafter authorized by law, be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, to levy annually, a voter-approved physical plant and equipment property tax not to exceed One Dollar Thirty-Four Cents ($1.34) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district commencing with the levy for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, or each year thereafter?