FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Multiple years of failed bond measures have not been friendly to our buildings and building infrastructure. 15 years of inactivity translates to 15 years of continued aging infrastructure.  The SBL School Board recognized the need to engage with the community to understand their expectations.

The November 5, 2024 referendum is a culmination of over two years of work, including an extensive community engagement process, listening session, and surveys. 

A community engagement team was formed to investigate district facility needs.  All constituents were invited to participate.  The team provided a list of priorities that included replacing the primary building.  They also expressed the need for the district to consider the tax impact on taxpayers.  It is the reason we are asking for $2.85 rate increase rather than the full $4.05 the District can legally ask for.

The district has heard and responded to the comments regarding sports, taxes and open enrollment, the three main concerns of those that have opposed previous referendums.

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The district has made repairs in all buildings, including the Primary. However, like an old car, it eventually becomes more costly to fix than replace. That’s why it’s more fiscally responsible to invest taxpayer dollars in something more efficient, safe, and cost effective.

Yes.  The district has developed a long-term, three-phase plan. Each phase would be voted on approximately every 5 years. The  tax impact is neutral after passing the first bond. Phase II and III are developing a new high school on the East Campus.

The additional phases do NOT add new tax dollars to taxpayers. The additional phases are like extending the original $2.85 out further (or longer).

Phase I of the long-term facility plan will be brought to a vote on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Project scope will include: 

• Primary building addition attached to the existing elementary school, allowing shared spaces in the kitchen, music, and art areas. 

• Replace aging infrastructure in the original part of the high school (heating, cooling, electrical, ceiling, lights). 

• New Career & Technical education building built in partnership with Western Iowa Tech.

The School Board prioritized addressing the primary building based on input from community engagement and community surveys. After thorough discussions and evaluations, the Board concluded that the primary building’s needs should take precedence.

The oldest part of the building (1977) will get new heating/cooling, system controls, electrical, lighting, and ceiling grid.  The two boilers that service the gym may also be replaced.

The impact on homeowners is about $9.85 per month per $100,000 of assessed valuation.  The average home in Sergeant Bluff is assessed at $276,541.  The average homeowner would pay $29.29 per month. LEARN MORE

School bonds are for 20 years. Phase one would be paid over 20 years. However, as property valuations increase, we would be able to be off sooner than 20 years.

SB-L school property taxes are the 2nd lowest in the area.  If the district approves a $2.85 levy, we would be at the average of all the districts around us.

The School District does live within its means. Annual funding from federal, state, and local sources primarily covers day-to-day expenses like salaries, programs, and supplies. However, major building repairs and upgrades depend on local community support.

For large-scale projects, the district must receive voter approval through a bond referendum, allowing it to borrow the necessary funds—much like a home mortgage.

The current needs of our primary building surpass what existing funds, including the penny tax, can cover. To ensure our students have the relevant, safe, and healthy learning environments, a bond issue is essential.

• Primary building:  $42 million

• High School Infrastructure:  $6 million

• Career and Technical Education Building:  $6 million

The School Board has committed to keeping the $2.85 tax rate constant, with no tax increase, regardless of future phases. As property valuations increase, the $2.85 levy is extended to cover future projects.

The 5% annual increase in property tax valuation comes from municipal financial experts at Piper-Sandler. Property values in our district have risen by 7% annually over the last 10 years and 9% over the past 5. 

If the actual increase is less than 5%, the district will adjust its plans accordingly while still maintaining the $2.85 commitment to voters.

The two funds can be used for identical purposes.  The Penny is used mainly to purchased vehicles (the last school bus cost $200,000) and technology, in addition to the costs for smaller projects to maintain district facilities and grounds.

The district can only bond up to $5.5 million against the penny tax, but the infrastructure costs are $6.5 million for the Primary School and $6 million for the High School, totaling $12.5 million.

Relocating the ball fields to the East Campus is needed to make space for a new primary building addition, which the community preference is to keep centrally located in Sergeant Bluff, rather than moving it to the East Campus. Relocating the fields provides the space to achieve this goal.

On a $300,000 house, a $2.85 levy would cost a taxpayer $382.41 per year.  At $4.05, it would cost approximately $638 per year.  The difference is $255.59 per year.

We’re committed to keeping the bond affordable. Our current long-term strategy aims to reduce the tax impact compared to previous elections while still addressing essential needs. Feedback from the community informed the decision to propose a tax impact of $2.85, which seeks to balance necessary improvements with financial considerations for residents.

Iowa Code 298.18(1)(b) provides the statutory authority for the District to levy $2.70, but Iowa Code 298.18(1)(d) and 298.18(2)-(5)(a) provide the authority to levy more than $2.70 but not exceed $4.05, with voter-approval.  Here is the link to IA Code 298.18 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/298.18.pdf.  

On April 5, 1995, the voters of the District approved levying more than $2.70 but not to exceed $2.85.  Because this has been approved in previous elections, we are able to ask for it now and/or in the future.  A copy of the canvas of elections is available from the district office. 

1. Phase I - no city bonds are anticipated with Phase I

2. Phase II - Possible road/sewer work could be necessary on 1st street on the north side of the East Campus

3. Phase III - no city bonds are anticipated with Phase III

Those who are currently under a city abatement only pay on the percent they are at in their abatement. However, new owners will pay 100% of school taxes due to a change in Iowa law. 

According to the city attorney, Iowa House File HF718 was enacted and amended portions of the Iowa Code related to property tax collections. The changes pertained to Chapter 404 property tax abatement/exemption for single and multi-family residential development: Effective July 1, 2024 – all new residential projects located on properties eligible for a tax abatement are prohibited to have the abatement applied to the school district portion of the property tax levy; All School District taxes will be impose and paid on the new valuation created by residential development.

In addition to the general obligation bond, the district has engaged with Western Iowa Tech (WIT).  WIT has committed $2 million to the construction of the career and technical education building in Phase I.  In Phase 2, WIT has committed to a fundraising goal of $10 million to help construct a competition gym on the East Campus.  SBL has also engaged in conversations with the Siouxland YMCA on potential future partnerships that may also contribute to the construction of district facilities in Phase 2.

We have.  WIT has committed $2 million dollars towards a career and technical education facility.  With this partnership, we would be eligible for an additional $1 million grant from the state of Iowa.  WIT is also committed to fundraising $10 million in Phase II.  We’ve also engaged with the Siouxland YMCA as another potential financial partner.

No.  School taxes don’t work that way.  Iowa school districts are limited to what the state of Iowa provides in per student funding.  For example, if enrollment stayed level from one year to the next, but your assessed valuation went up, your school tax levy would go down (assuming all factors remain the same from year 1 to year 2).

No.  The primary building is the only school building that is not currently full.  The primary building will be designed for six sections in each grade level.  This meets our current needs.  It will also meet future needs, even if enrollment grows.  It will be designed so it can be added onto in the future, if needed.  It is what we can afford with a $2.85 levy.

The East Campus is located on the southeast corner of 1st Street and Old Lakeport.  It is the 80 acres the school district owns on the east side of Sergeant Bluff.

The district is preparing for a new primary building where the current baseball/softball fields are located. If we wait until the bond passes, we will have to wait a whole year before we can start construction on a new primary building.

No general obligation dollars in Phase I are being used towards this project.  Funds used for the project are from the Penny (SAVE) and PPEL.  PPEL dollars are property taxes the districts collects.  The only PPEL funds the district will use is the amount of cash we currently have in that fund.  It amounts to approximately 30% of the project.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Iowa includes educational programs offering a sequence of courses that prepare individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations.  The state of Iowa breaks CTE into six service areas:  1) agriculture, food, and natural resources; 2) arts, communications, and information systems; 3) applied sciences, technology, engineering, and manufacturing, including transportation, distribution, logistics, architecture, and construction; 4) health sciences; 5) human services and; 6) business, finance, marketing, and management.

The only potential new employee would be a custodian.  This position may only need to be part time.  There are no plans to add any other staff.  The CTE building will NOT require the addition of an administrator.

1. The career and technical education partnership with WIT in Phase I will enhance the offerings offered by SBL.  It will not supplant what we currently offer.

2. A future potential YMCA partnership would be designed so that any shared space is occupied by the district during the school day, not the YMCA.  The public would not be in district facilities during the school day.

That is possible.  However, we already deal with this issue on a daily basis.  Sometimes school busses arrive late due to trains.  Upperclassmen that are able to leave during the day will be late returning due to trains.  It is an issue that already exists.

While our bond issue is for $54.6 million, only $42 million is allocated for the new primary building. The remaining funds will be used for high school infrastructure upgrades and a new career and technical education building on the East Campus.

The cost difference is primarily due to the size of our district. Sergeant Bluff-Luton serves 1,700 students, with 442 in the primary school, compared to Emmetsburg’s 790 students and 308 in their primary school. Additionally, our planned building is larger, at 82,500 square feet, compared to Emmetsburg’s 65,000 square feet. While both schools are replacing buildings of similar ages—Emmetsburg’s from 1952 and ours from 1959—our project also includes some remodeling as we expand the existing elementary facility.

The School District is legally obligated to only use referendum funds as stated in the ballot language. Separate line-item accounting records must be kept for all bond related expenses to ensure the funds are being used legally and appropriately.

The School District's finances are audited annually including the use of referendum funds.  The referendum project expenses would be a part of the annual audit until all funds are spent.

 Yes.   Any company is eligible to bid on any bid package released. Please understand the district is required to accept the lowest bid.

Yes, if you get an absentee ballot, it WILL contain the bond question.  The same is true on election day.