Photo courtesy of City of Keota social media

Despite a small turnout, voters overwhelmingly approved the updated Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) put forth by the Keota Community School District on March 3rd.

In Keokuk County, 72 voters cast ballots, with all voting in favor and none against. In Washington County, there were 37 votes, with 35 voting in favor and two voting against. A simple majority of “yes” votes was required for the measure to pass.

With the passing of the RPS, the district can continue using Iowa’s Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) one-cent sales tax for projects within the district, such as school infrastructure, technology, safety, and facility upgrades.

The revenue purpose statement will not raise taxes, nor does it create new funding or change the existing sales tax rate. Instead, it allows the district to define how it would want to use the SAVE funds the district already receives. The one-percent sales tax would have remained regardless of how the vote proceeded, and already exists statewide.

The updated revenue purpose statement will remain in effect until it is either amended or repealed.