Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Can you explain the figures involved in the PPEL referendum?"

There will be not just one, but two questions on the September 14th Decorah School District referendum.  The first question is whether to approve bonding up to $10.4 million to pay for improvements at Decorah High School.  The second question involved the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, or "PPEL."  We've heard from some readers who are confused about the second issue, so here's an explanation:

The PPEL is a tax that is currently being collected.  The Decorah School District collects about $791,000 in revenue from the PPEL.  The levy is scheduled to expire in September of 2015.

Voters are being asked to extend the PPEL for another 10 years--through September of 2025.  If voters approve the ballot measure, about $4.4 million of PPEL dollars over the ten year period would be directed toward the approximately $19.5 million Decorah High School and John Cline renovation projects.

The rest of the money for the projects would come from about $10.4 million raised by issuing bonds (if that issue is approved), as well as money borrowed against the revenues from the statewide one cent school local option tax.