Kalispell Public Schools is encouraging voters to mail ballots on bond issues by today in order to meet the Oct. 4 deadline.

As of Thursday, 24 percent of ballots mailed to residents have been returned, according to Kalispell Public Schools Director of Business Services Gwyn Andersen. A total of 29,723 ballots were mailed Sept. 19.

Ballots are due at the Kalispell Public Schools Central Office by 8 p.m. on Oct. 4. Voters have the option to hand deliver ballots at the central office located at 233 First Ave. East, on the north side of the library.

Voters are reminded to sign the outer envelope, and it must be signed by the person the ballot was issued to in order to be counted.

“Yesterday we sent back 50 ballots that weren’t signed,” Andersen said in a press release sent Wednesday.

Residents who have not received ballots may not have provided their most current address with the Flathead County Election Department, which is in charge of maintaining the list of registered voters. With proper identification, residents may update his or her information with the county election department, 40 11th St. W., Suite 230 and then go to the district central office to get a ballot.

THE DISTRICT is seeking voter approval for a $28,766,000 high school bond issue and a $25,282,000 elementary bond issue.

The bulk of the elementary district bond request, $15.2 million, will go toward building a new elementary school on Airport Road in an effort to accommodate overcrowding.

On the high school side, $19.3 million of the total request is earmarked to upgrade Flathead High School.

Both proposals include remodeling and completing deferred maintenance while upgrading existing facilities.

Voters on the high school district include residents of Kalispell and outlying partner school districts — Kila, Marion, Smith Valley, West Valley, Evergreen, Helena Flats, Somers-Lakeside, Creston, Fair-Mont-Egan, Cayuse Prairie, Deer Park, Olney-Bissell and Pleasant Valley — whose students attend Flathead or Glacier high schools.

If the high school bond is approved, owners of homes with assessed values of $200,000 could anticipate annual property taxes to increase by $58.46.

Only residents of the Kalispell Public Schools elementary district, not those living in rural outlying districts, may vote on the elementary district bond. Residents of the elementary district also will vote on the high school bond request

If the elementary bond is approved, owners of homes with assessed values of $200,000 could anticipate an annual property tax increase of $116.82.

Taxes may decrease over time if the population grows and the tax burden is spread among more people. The bonds would be for 20 years.

For more information, call 751-3400 or visit www.sd5.k12.mt.us/11/home.