Election Day in West Burlington

It’s election day in West Burlington. Polls open at noon and close at 8:00pm at the West Burlington Catholic Church.

The two items on the ballot are a seat on the school board, as well as a new tax levy designed to fund the district’s 1-to-1 computer initative.

The levy, known as a Voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, or “PPEL”, would increase the city’s current voted PPEL from .64 cents for every $1,000 in taxable valuation to $1.34 for every $1,000 in taxable valuation-the maximum allowed under Iowa Law.

Superintendent David Schmitt says that while the tax increase looks big, the district’s overall levy is decreasing to the point of almost completely mitigating the raise.

“What I’d like to tell the voters is that even though we’re proposing to increase the levy by $1.34, we’re decreasing our overall levy by $1.24,” Schmitt told KBUR.

The school board seat currently occupied by Wayne Ross is up for grabs. Ross is vacating his position. Pursuing the seat are Dan Hockett and Brent Mixer.

Because Ross was appointed to the position, the winner of the race will have to run again at the formal end of the term this fall.

Any of-age, registered West Burlington Independent School district resident is eligible to vote.