When voters head to the polls Tuesday to take part in local school board elections, in addition to casting their vote for local candidates, some ballots will have Public Measures asking you to renew two property-tax levies that pertain to Iowa Western Community College. The levies – the Physical Plant Levy and the Instructional Equipment Levy – are placed before the voters every 10-years, and are designed to raise money to build or improve buildings on campus and to buy classroom equipment for the community college. The levies have been in place for at least five decades.

Specifically, the Physical Plant Levy, which sits at 20.25 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value, pays for utilities and for building maintenance and renovation. The Instructional Equipment Levy, which is 6 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, is only used to purchase instructional equipment. College officials say the Physical Plant Levy generates approximately $1,725,000 per year, while the Equipment Levy generates approximately $780,000 per year.

If approved by voters Tuesday, both levies would be in place from July 2016 through June 2026.