NICC aims to extend bond levy in Sept. 11 vote

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is looking for voter support to continue with the college’s 28.8-cent bond and interest fund levy rate in a Tuesday, Sept. 11, special election.

The college’s $39 million bond levy measure is not a new tax, but rather a continuation of the current bond and interest fund levy rate. This means that for a homeowner with an assessed valuation of $150,000 on their property would pay $1.89 per month, or approximately $23 per year, if the measure passes.

NICC’s first bond levy of $35 million passed in December 2007 with a supermajority of voters’ support in the district.

The college, which has campuses in both Calmar and Peosta, determined that new bond levy funds are necessary to address needed renovations and updates throughout the over 5,000-sq.-mile district that spans Fayette, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, and Howard counties. 

The college identified four major priorities that it hopes to address: educational programming and services, infrastructure, security, and technology.

NICC President Liang Chee Wee went on to say that he believes that the continuation of the current levy will allow the college to continue to address aging facilities and increase operational and energy efficiencies, enhance physical and cybersecurity measures and stay current with ever-changing technologies for education and operations. 

Polls will be open from noon until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Absentee balloting is currently available in the Auditor’s Office.

Local polling sites are as follows:

Winneshiek County

• • South Winneshiek school district - Calmar Lutheran Church;
• • Decorah and North Winneshiek school districts - Winneshiek County Courthouse.

Fayette County

• • City of West Union – Fayette County Courthouse;
• • City of Elgin – Elgin Public Library;
• • City of Maynard – Fire station;
• • City of Oelwein – Community Plaza. 

For more information on the bond levy continuance vote, go to www.nicc.edu/bondlevy/.