Levy, trustee decisions face voters Tuesday
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 2 months AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | May 2, 2016 5:45 AM
Whitefish, Creston and Marion school districts have levy requests facing voters in Tuesday’s school election.
Columbia Falls, Evergreen, Kalispell and Smith Valley school districts will hold elections only for school trustees.
Whitefish School District is seeking building reserve levies that would provide $400,000 for the elementary district and $300,000 for the high school district annually over seven years.
Over that time period, this would bring in a total of $2.8 million for the elementary and $2.1 million for the high school to support ongoing facility and property maintenance, renovations, repairs and technology upgrades.
If the levy requests are approved, elementary district taxpayers can anticipate annual taxes increasing by $21.22 for owners of a home with a $200,000 market value. Taxpayers living in the high school district could see taxes increase by $15.33 on a $200,000 home.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Whitefish School District Office in the Whitefish Middle School.
More information is available at www.wsd44.org.
Creston School District is requesting a five-year building reserve levy that would bring in $15,000 annually or a total of $75,000 to renovate and maintain school facilities. Approval of the levy would increase taxes by $16.65 on a home with an assessed market value of $200,000.
Polls will be open Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. in the school gym.
Marion School is proposing a general fund levy of $48,064 annually for the day-to-day operations of the school. If approved, owners of a $200,00 home can anticipate taxes to increase by $18.69.
Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at the Marion Fire Department across from the school.
Polls will be open Tuesday for trustee elections in Columbia Falls, Evergreen and Smith Valley. Kalispell is holding a mail ballot election; ballots must be returned to the school district central office by Tuesday.
Polls in Columbia Falls will be open from 7 to 8 p.m. Precincts 14 and 23 vote at Canyon Elementary School. All other precincts will vote at Glacier Gateway Elementary.
Evergreen polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the administrative building at 18 West Evergreen Drive.
Smith Valley polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. in the school gym.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].
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