News : Benton Community School District to hold Special Election

The Benton Community School District will be holding its second special election vote on Tuesday to improve the Benton Community School District. The vote will be to decide if voters want to pass a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). Last year a vote to pass a $48 million dollar bond measure failed in the district.

The district hopes that changing the goal of the measure will bring different results for the school district. Last yar the district wanted to build a new elementary school and this year they hope to make improvements.

On the ballot is approval of a $1.34 levy. This time the property taxes are would go up to .74 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, and the income surtax would be set by the board.

The school district is hoping to use the money to upgrade the HVAC systems and make some renovations indoors and outdoors. The community expressed over the last year that safety and security should be a priority for the districts.

Residents in the Benton Community School District can vote early at the Auditor's office through Monday. Polling locations on Tuesday are as follows:

* Van Horne Community Center, 508 1st Avenue, Van Horne, IA * Newhall City Hall, 11 2nd Avenue, Newhall, IA* St. Michael's Parish Center, 512 Evergreen St., Norway, IA* Atkins City Hall, 480 3rd Avenue, Atkins, IA* Keystone City Hall, 208 1st St., Keystone, IA* Blairstown City Hall, 305 Locust St., Blairstown, IA
Those who live in Iowa County will vote at the following location:* Middle Amana Fire Station, 2725 K St., Middle Amana, IA
Tama County voters will vote at the following location:
* Elberon Community Center, 106 Main Street, Elberon, IA

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5th.

You can read more about the PPEL vote in the pdf issued by the school district below. You can also find more information on the district's website by clicking HERE. (However, it appears that the Benton Community website is down at the moment.)