Voters to weigh in on school sales tax money
Tuesday’s ballot would designate where to spend money for FD school facilitiesBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Fact Box
At a glance:
These are the permitted uses of state 1-cent sales tax money under the revenue purpose statement on the ballot in the Fort Dodge Community School District.
- Property tax relief
- Build and furnish new schools
- Build and furnish additions to schools
- Remodel schools
- Repair schools
- Buy property
- Improve school grounds
- Buy or lease buildings and equipment
- Implement energy conservation measures
- Build roads to schools
- Buy playground equipment
- Pay off general obligation bonds issued for school infrastructure projects
Voters in the Fort Dodge Community School District will decide Tuesday if the millions of dollars expected from a new statewide sales tax can be spent on a wide variety of building and grounds projects.
District Superintendent Linda Brock said voter approval would grant permission ''to utilize these funds that we will be getting anyway for the benefit of all facilities in the district.''
''We have a ways to go with modernizing our school facilities to bring them even close to 21st century classrooms,'' she added.
The item on Tuesday's school election ballot, called a revenue purpose statement, must be approved by a simple majority to become law.
The district expects to receive about $3.6 million annually from the new statewide 1-cent sales tax called the Secure and Advanced Vision for Education Fund.
Voters would not be approving specific projects if they OK the revenue purpose statement. But voter approval would give district leaders the power to spend that money on any infrastructure project.
If the voters reject the statement, the district will still get the money from the sales tax. But district leaders would only be able to spend it on Butler Elementary School and Fort Dodge Senior High School until June 30, 2009.
That's because in 1999 the voters approved the original local option sales tax only for those two buildings, according to Jack Christensen, the district's director of financial services. The SAVE Fund replaces local option sales taxes for schools across the state.
If the statement is defeated, the district could seek a new vote in April.
Christensen said that on July 1, 2009, the district could start using the money for any lawful purpose even if the voters reject the measure. But first, he said, any debt from the Butler and Senior High projects would have to be paid off.
The revenue purpose statement was written to allow considerable flexibility in how the money is spent. Christensen said that wording will avoid the need for another vote on the document if the school system's needs change.
Under the terms of the statement, the money can be spent to build, remodel and repair schools. It also can be used to buy equipment and school buses.
None of the money can be spent on teacher salaries or educational programs.
Christensen said none of the money will be spent on the Dodger Stadium renovations. That project is to be paid for with donations.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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VTwinJim
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09-09-08 5:55 PM
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Yep and I'll get right on it Praying for him.
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CommonSense
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09-09-08 11:54 AM
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Yes, he sure does carry around a ton of hate for whatever reason. Hard to tell what has happened behind closed doors though. Everyone has skeletons in the closet.
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VTwinJim
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09-09-08 11:22 AM
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Well there certantly is no problem in being wrong. I do believe I have been there more times then I would like to admitt that's for sure. He must have been a fine fellow if he talked like me. L.O.L. Just joking of course. Oh by the way I was wrong about that Mr. thendrickson guy. Boy was I wrong he is sure coming accross as a Far out radical.
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CommonSense
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09-09-08 11:04 AM
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His screen name was Jimmy. We used to talk back and forth about our motorcycles. He shared a lot of the same views as you and I. Even talked like you. I would have bet you were the same guy. I would have lost that one I guess.
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VTwinJim
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09-09-08 10:52 AM
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CommonSense No offence taken. You just had me confused that's all. But I am curious as to why you did think I was this other person or persons?
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CommonSense
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09-09-08 10:31 AM
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You must be right. My apologies. Hope I didn't offend you.
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VTwinJim
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09-09-08 9:01 AM
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No I live in F.D. and have so for my whole life minus the 6 years that I was in the service. I found out about this blog I don't know maybe 4 or more months back and just watched and sat on the side for a while. I have been married to the same woman for 27 years and I have three children all boys. Like I said before I really do think you have me mixed up with another person. Sorry
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CommonSense
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09-08-08 9:58 PM
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I just thought you live in humboldt
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VTwinJim
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09-08-08 8:46 PM
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CommonSense Ok so now I'm really puzzled. I think you really do have me mixed up with someone else.
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CommonSense
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09-08-08 7:30 PM
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How can you be from Humblodt and Fort Dodge at the same time? Are you some sort of time traveler?LOL My beef with thendrickson goes all the way back. I don't jump random people without being provoked. I think we've had enough discussion between us that you know better than that. You are no stranger to bashing people yourself as I recall from previous discussion. So, with that, thanks for my broom back, my wife may need it for traveling tonight.LOL Just kidding, my wife is a dear sweet lady, much kinder than I, I'm very lucky to have her.
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VTwinJim
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09-08-08 6:01 PM
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Oh yes and by the way sir. Here is your broom back.
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VTwinJim
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09-08-08 5:58 PM
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CommonSense Well if you think that your right in your thinking then go ahead and think so. But sir you have me all wrong. I live here in Fort Dodge and have lived here for all of my natural born life with the exception of the 6 years of service to my country. So with that in mind sir I have to ask you this. Where are you coming from ? And what are you trying to get at?
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CommonSense
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09-08-08 2:42 PM
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Maybe I should keep changing my screen name, say from Jimmie to Rober Wilson, to VTwinJim. That way people won't know which way I'm coming from. You say "clean up your own doorstep before you go complaining about others." Maybe some good advice for people like yourself who don't live here and yet think they need to comment on everything that goes on here in FD. Take your own advice JIM !
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VTwinJim
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09-06-08 12:26 PM
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I have felt that most of the time MR.thendrickson is simply putting out food for thought. And all you people chose to do is rant negative words and phases toward him. So he may think different then you do. That surely does not make you right and him all wrong. Think about it before you jump in there next time.
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VTwinJim
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09-06-08 12:26 PM
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After all it was in the beginning voted on to only be used for the two school's. Quit your bashing people on here and be productive. It's no wonder I see people calling you children. With all your Name calling. What do you troll these post's looking for certain people's comments so you can pick on them like a couple of Grade School bullies? In the fairness of a real debate fact's are used to make ones point. Not bashing and name calling. If you don't agree you don't have to jump in and act like your whole world is about to end. And most times you don't even have to say anything if all you have planed to do is tell someone they stink, or are cave people, or what ever other names you people have come up with when what another say may not be agreeable with you. Remember the old phase clean up your own door step before you go complaining about others. I have felt that most of the time MR.thendrickson is simply putting out food for thought. And all you people chose to do is rant negative
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VTwinJim
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09-06-08 12:25 PM
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thendrickson. I don't see any Negative thought in your opinion. So you go ahead a speak. Their are plenty of us good people that will weigh your opinion and find the truth that is needed in it. These two people only seem to be on here bashing people lately and there are plenty of us as I stated earlier that enjoy seeing other peoples opinion . It always helps to make a better decision the more real input that a person can have. I have noted that all they have said is negative and they offered no real input to the letter. So who is doing what I ask these two. Look into your own mirror and see what you are doing. Your the two who are being so bad. Quit complaining about someone else's opinion and listen you just maybe might learn something.Or are you as closed minded as you come across? What is your opinion not to look at all side's before you make an important decision just Vote? After all it was in the beginning voted on to only be used for the two school's. Quit your bashing people o
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aarchc
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09-06-08 12:37 AM
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See how far I get? I'm not looking to get anywhere...and certainly don't think I'll get anywhere by dealing with someone else if I think they operate in an ignorant manner. Opinions are opinions, and everyone has one. Some choose to express theirs in a way that's counter-productive, and it's best to let those people continue to operate that way, because at the end of the day it is that person who is affected the most. Look, I'm all for witty banter and a well-rounded debate, but once it goes past either of the two, it's time to duck out and let ignorant people operate in an ignorant fashion.
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thendrickson
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09-05-08 11:12 PM
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Disagree with him and try to focus on the issues and see how far you get. His intent is to silence people and claim victiory, so I treat him like the child he is.
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aarchc
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09-05-08 8:08 PM
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Ridiculous, sad, and pathetic. "Adults" going back and forth in such an elementary manner. There are two sides to each issue, and while you don't have to agree with the other side, you do have an obligation to be respectful if you choose to debate it. THIS is why FD is a gloomy place that fails to move forward.
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thendrickson
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09-05-08 6:04 PM
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go away little boy and let adults have a real discussion
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TheConservative
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09-05-08 5:25 PM
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What ever happened to Duncombe School? I remember when we voted on this, the money was to be used for a new school at both Butler and Duncombe School. Why was this not mentioned in this article, or by the Super? Vote NO, and spend the money where we originally said we wanted it spent. Build a new school at Duncombe NOW!!!!!!
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CommonSense
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09-05-08 5:09 PM
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Do you mean let the old geezers have a beech session?
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thendrickson
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09-05-08 4:25 PM
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go away and let the adults have a discussion child
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CommonSense
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09-05-08 3:48 PM
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Glad to see you can count to five. Good Boy.
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CommonSense
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09-05-08 3:46 PM
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Hey thendrickson, the fact that you have welcome in agreement with you should be cause for concern in itself. Welcome to the CAVE club. You will fit right in. Go ahead call me a child again. It has worked so good for you this far. You call me a child and I just back down from the big bad wolf. Scary. It is unfortunate that in your world "the truth" is always negative. No, really, they don't blog on here because they don't have the time. They are busy improving other people lives rather than accusing everyone of yet another one of your conspiracies. Good luck at the Citizens Against Virtually Everything weekly bashing of good hearted public officials.
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