Plugge Presents Plans for Pennies

Plugge Presents Plans for Pennies

Late folowup on Wednesday's joint meeting of local governments.

The new high school --with an early estimated cost of $32.1 million for an 800-student building -- is among the ways the district could spend the $160.5 million revenue from the 1-cent sales tax in the next 10 years. The figures were presented during a joint government meeting Wednesday with officials from Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, the Iowa City School Board and the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

The sales tax is expected to go to a vote in a referendum Feb. 13, 2007.

Revenue from the proposed 1-cent sales tax in Johnson County could bring the Iowa City School District $104.4 million over 10 years.

The district's wish list also includes at least $20 million for two new elementary schools, an estimated $14.3 million for new gymnasiums at South East Junior High, City High and West High, and $18 million to install air conditioning in schools that do not have it. The district also could use some of the money to build more family resource centers and reduce the debt on the bond issue...

I'm still in the No It's Regressive camp. Let's see what the new government lineup in Des Moines looks like first: what kind of levy limits they set, what kind of education funding they provide. For me to be persuaded - and that'll be tough - I need hear something like "Yes, we know it's regressive and we hate that. But there's no other way."

Interesting sidebars:

Concerns about growth in Coralville and North Liberty could sway voters to vote against the tax if a new high school is not part of the district's revenue statement, which must be submitted to the state by Dec. 15, Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett said.

"I think it better be included in here if you expect voters in Coralville and North Liberty to go for it," he said.

Supervisor Terrence Neuzil said after the meeting that he hopes the district is willing to help the county and cities pay for human services such as the district's family resource centers, pay for roads and infrastructure at new schools. He also said he hopes the district does not present a bond for a new high school before the county can ask voters for money to build a new jail. The requests come after the School Board voted unanimously in August not to share any of the sales tax revenue with the county or cities.

Ah, the jail. Crashed and burned dramatically in 2000, in large part because the advocates addressed it solely as a space needs issue and didn't acknowledge the social justice aspects of the question. Then-Sheriff Bob Carpenter had an extremely defensive attitude, to paraphrase: "I'm the sheriff, I say we need a new jail, and I resent anyone else having an opinion." And the perception of lame duck county attorney Pat White is that he won't be satisfied until every UI diploma contains a rap sheet for PAULA and possession.

In two short years in office new sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek has done great work with mental health assessment and diversion, and bravely testified before the Legislature that we should reconsider draconian penalties for small drug possession cases. I'm still a likely no - I'm holding out for the Peter Tosh platform - but Lonny and incoming county attorney Janet Lyness are better equipped to make the case.