Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber stopped by the KJAN Studios, Thursday, to talk about “SAVE,” funds for which were appropriated by the Iowa Legislature in 2008. He says SAVE is an acronym for Secure and Advanced Vision for Education. It was previously known as LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) and SILO (School Infrastructure Local Option) tax. It originated at the County Level and eventually became the Statewide penny on purchases that’s used for school districts. Barber says the Atlantic School District has benefited from the sale tax fund to upgrade its facilities and technology. It’s even been used to purchase 11 buses (six of which are propane), four cars, and two suburban’s, along with property upkeep equipment, such as mowers and a utility tractor.

From 2009 through 2017, the District has received SAVE monies amounting to slightly more than $10.9-million. The bill is slated to sunset in 2029. Barber says School officials across the state are urging Iowa lawmakers to extend the bill to 2050. Mr. Barber says there has been conversation at the State level for the past few years with regard to extending the sunset. It’s important to continue it, according to Barber, because some of the money the district receives each year is bonded and goes toward paying for the renovation projects

He says if District patrons happen to hear talk in the news during the legislative session about “SAVE,” listen closely to what direction the conversation is going, because it’s important to maintaining District facilities and without the use of property tax money. Barber said if the SAVE funds were reduced, the Atlantic School District would have to ask more from the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).