A wide variety of bond issues are being presented in next Tuesday’s city-school elections in Iowa. According to an Iowans for Tax Relief analysis, over one-point-seven BILLION dollars in borrowing for bonds will be decided by voters. Sarah Curry is the research director for Iowans for Tax Relief.
Curry contacted every one of Iowa’s county auditors and learned there will be bond questions on the ballots in 50 counties. Thirty-four school districts are seeking approval to borrow for projects.
Most of the borrowing or bonds being requested are for school infrastructure.
The remaining bond issues are for counties. The largest is in Polk County, where voters are being asked to approve 350-million dollars in borrowing to help fund construction of a new Des Moines Airport terminal and expand the security checkpoint as well as check-in and baggage claim areas. Airport officials say using county-issued bonds will save money and lead to a quicker repayment of those bonds. The bulk of the airport expansion project is being financed by other means, including airport reserve funds as well as grants from the State of Iowa and the federal government.
