What is the difference between a bond and a levy?
Levies = Learning and Operations Bonds=Buildings
Levies and bonds are used for different things. Levy dollars pay for educational programs and day-to-day operations of schools, including:
- Reduced Class Size
- Extracurricular activities, such as athletics, Knowledge Bowl, Math Team, Music
- Classroom supplies, textbooks and equipment
- Utilities and insurance
- Safety and security staff
Levies are not typically used for significant construction and must be renewed in two-, three- or four-year intervals. The last levy that local voters approved for the Ocosta School District was in February of 2017, for the years of 2018, 2019, 2020.
Bonds pay for facilities, including:
- New construction
- Replacement schools
- Building upgrades, e.g., new roofs, heating and cooling systems
- Safe and secure entrances
- Remodeling and expansion
If approved by local voters, bonds are eligible for state matching funds. They are paid off over a maximum of 20 years.
The Ocosta School District has a renewal levy on the February 11, 2020 ballot for a three-year levy to support students in the Ocosta School District.