VPS Levies and Bonds

Local taxes help to bridge some of the gap between what the state funds and what our community wants our schools to provide for students. 

The state does not fully fund the programs and services we are required to provide and how we enhance our current programming. For example, 80% of our special education programs are funded by the state and we receive no funding to support extracurricular activities like sports. Approximately 12.5% of the district’s annual funding currently comes from local levy dollars.

There are a few different forms of local taxes and there are certain ways in which the funds must be used. For example, bonds can only fund buildings, while levies fund education and operations.

Levy dollars pay for educational programs and day-to-day operations of schools, and there are several types of levies, including: Educational Program and Operations Levies and Capital Fund Levies.

E&O Levy

Educational Program and Operations Levies fund:

  • Classroom supplies

  • Teachers and staff including nurses, counselors, mental health, and general staff

  • Classroom programs like programs of choice

  • Special Education

  • Safety and security staff

  • Family-Community Resource Centers

  • Sports and extracurriculars like orchestra, band, choir, and theater

  • Maintenance and utilities for buildings and grounds

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR E&O LEVY

Capital Levy

A capital levy is money collected to pay for big, important school projects or updates. These levies are usually sed for things like fixing old buildings, or buying important equipment.

Capital levies fund:

  • Fixing Schools: Repairing roofs, heating systems, or plumbing in older buildings.

  • Classroom Needs: Buying technology devices, software platforms , or other equipment for students and teachers.

  • Safety Updates: Improving security, fire alarms, or playground equipment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CAPITAL LEVY

Bonds

Bonds cannot be used to pay for day-to-day operations. Bonds pay for facilities, including:

  • New construction

  • Replacement schools

  • Building and grounds upgrades, e.g., new roofs, heating and cooling systems and turf fields

  • Secure entrances

  • Remodeling/expansion

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Property tax exemption