The results of the Iowa City School District bond vote today could impact University of Iowa students who live off campus.
By DI staff
Many University of Iowa students stand to be affected by the Iowa City School District bond vote today.
The $191.5 million bond will be paid off through an increase in property taxes. The tax amount increase for the bond depends on property value; for a home value of $50,000, the monthly increase is projected to be $1.93. Homeowners can find their home-value assessment online through Iowa City assessor.
The school bond, if approved, would fund the School District’s Facilities Master Plan, which would create classroom additions, facility renovations, HVAC-system updates, and other repairs and upgrades. Officials plan for the bond to be paid off by 2042.
UI Student Government President Jacob Simpson said it was possible that rents in the off-campus would be affected.
“Students should become informed about how it would impact them and future students,” he said. “If we’re looking to improve the education that students are receiving before they come to the University of Iowa, I think that’s something students should consider.”
UI senior Kelsey McCoy, who lives off-campus, said she had heard about the bond but didn’t know much about it.
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“I would say as long as the money from rent is going toward schools and education so that children aren’t growing up ignorant, then I’m OK with it,” she said.
UI senior Alexander Hopkins, who also lives off-campus, agreed with her.
“I think money raised through rent or other property taxes is valid and necessary if it’s going to education,” he said.
Simpson said many students are not informed about the bond but should be.
“Students can learn about the bond online, and they can find their voting locations on the Secretary of State’s website,” he said.
School Board President Chris Lynch said this is a local opportunity to support schools.
“Trust me, I have two kids at University of Iowa right now, so I fully understand the tuition point of view, but I think it gets back to our common objective,” he said. “We need to adequately fund education, whether it’s K-12 or postsecondary education, and we’re basically not seeing that from the state level or federal level, and this is our local opportunity to support education.”
Lynch noted that schools were an important issue when people decide to settle in Iowa.