Mike Pribyl was surprised when he found out, last month that the Keokuk School Board had adopted a 1% income surtax to help pay for day-to-day educational needs. He said what really struck him was how little the public knew about it.
"I started asking around about it, and the more I asked, the less people seemed to know," said Pribyl.
That led Pribyl and some other concerned residents to take action and draft a petition. It calls for the Keokuk School Board to hold a special election on the income surtax.
"We have actually had people asking to sign it," said Pribyl. "At first, we had to go around and explain it and now we have had people looking us up wanting to sign it. I think people just didn't know about it."
The 1% surtax was approved on a 4-0 vote. One board member abstained because she felt the public needed more information while two others were absent.
The tax would generate an estimated $75,000 each year. That money would replace the same amount that is normally collected through property taxes, thus potentially reducing the burden on property owners.
But the plan is on hold thanks to the petition, which was presented to the district this week. School District Business Manager Heidi Harness said the school board has two options.
"(Board members) can decide whether or not they want to rescind the resolution of participation with the income surtax," said Harness. "Or they can decide whether or not they want to put it to a vote."
Harness said the district did follow all rules related to public notices and hearings regarding the surtax. She said there is no risk to losing the ISL completely, despite the petition.
"It would revert back to the original one in place," said Harness. "It runs through 2018."
Pribyl said the petition drive was not about taking money from students, it's about making sure the public knows what is going on at all times.
