Overview of the Statewide Sales Tax

Iowans Invest in Improved School Facilities

More than 74% of voters said “yes” to Des Moines Public Schools’ plan for the use of statewide sales tax revenue.

In 2009, more than 74% of voters said “yes” to Des Moines Public Schools’ plan for the use of statewide sales tax revenue. How school districts use their share of the revenue from the statewide sales tax is determined by the voters, who approve a “revenue purpose statement” that outlines the intended use of the funds. The revenue purpose statement was approved by the school district board on September 8, 2009.

The one cent sales tax is collected statewide and distributed annually to each school district based on their annual enrollment, through 2029.  School districts began receiving revenue under this law in 2010.

For Des Moines Public Schools, original projections anticipated that the district could receive up to $22.5 million per year. This was based on conservative estimates of a 1% decline per year in enrollment and a tax collection per student that was 10% below the Fiscal Year 2009 statewide average revenue per student.

The actual amount collected has been as follows:

• Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2011: $23,499,720
• First Year ending June 30, 2012: $26,045,238
• Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2013: $27,364,977
• Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2014: $27,874,657
• Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2015: $30,744,831