Northeast Iowa Community College district voters approve bond levy continuation

Allamakee County voters well in line with overall approval percentage

Despite just four percent turn-out, voters in the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) district gave their approval for the continuation of a $39 million bond levy in a special election held Tuesday, September 11. With vote totals considered unofficial until results are canvassed, the measure was approved with 84.16 percent of the votes cast. Following the official canvas, the results will be certified by the county boards of supervisors.

Allamakee County voters were pretty well in line with that overall approval, with just over 85.1% of 397 votes cast in Allamakee County being in favor of the levy renewal, the Allamakee County totals being 338 “yes” votes compared to 59 “no” votes. As evident in the accompanying vote totals chart, Winneshiek County voters had the highest approval rating of nearly 90% of votes cast being “yes” votes. Delaware County’s 77% approval was lowest of the nine counties in NICC’s Area 1 District, still well over the 60% super majority required to pass continuation of the levy.

“On behalf of the faculty, staff, board of trustees and, most importantly, the students of Northeast Iowa Community College, I express our tremendous gratitude to district voters for supporting our levy request. We are honored by our voters’ investment through Northeast Iowa Community College to provide in-demand education and training focused on changing lives, driving business success and advancing community vitality in our 5,000 square mile service district,” NICC President Liang Chee Wee, Ph.D., emphasized. “I am very excited that our voters are entrusting us to continue to help our students pursue family-sustaining and successful careers. The College also serves as an agent of change that supports and grows our businesses in northeast Iowa.”

The College determined there are needed renovations and updates throughout its 5,056 square mile district and identified four major priorities to be supported by the approved bond levy: educational programming and services, which include creating flexible, updated and collaborative learning spaces; infrastructure, including renovations to the Peosta Campus Main Building and Max Clark Hall on the Calmar campus; security, including district-wide camera and door security systems to enhance safety; and technology priorities that include replacing network servers and cybersecurity systems.

In December 2007, voters approved by a supermajority the College’s first bond levy for $35 million. The property tax levy rate for that initial bond and interest fund was set at $0.288 per $1,000 assessed valuation, and the new bond issuance, now approved by district voters, is also structured to be paid off at that same $0.288 levy rate. The College’s tax base includes public school districts in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties, as well as sections of Bremer, Buchanan Jones, Jackson and Mitchell counties.

Students enrolled in college programs, continuing education classes and job training programs attend NICC campus locations in Calmar and Peosta, as well as at satellite service locations in Cresco, Dubuque, Manchester, New Hampton, Oelwein and Waukon. For more information about the College, visit www.nicc.edu.