GIBBON — The Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) school board unanimously approved holding an operating levy election on Tuesday, Aug. 11 (Primary Election Day), at an electronic meeting Wednesday.

The 10-year operating levy hike would be $1,406 per pupil unit.

The levy hike would boost annual property taxes on a home valued at $100,000 in the school district by $200 a year, starting with 2021 property taxes.

If approved, the levy would help the school district climb out of statutory operating debt defined as a year-end net negative unreserved general fund balance exceeding more than 2 1/2 percent of unreserved/undesignated operating expenditures.

“You just have to be honest and tell the public to decide if they want to support the district or not. The levy referendum could help the district get out of debt,” GFW Superintendent Lonnie Seifert told the board May 18.

“I think we don’t have a choice. We have to do it,” board member Jason Haas said last week.

The board also unanimously approved the City of Gibbon’s $50,200 offer for 9.2 acres of school property including the former Gibbon football field. Seifert said it is hoped the property transaction closes within 30 days.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.