The Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees on Tuesday voted to hold levy elections in May for both the elementary and high school districts.

In the elementary district, trustees voted 4-3 to put a $557,158 general fund levy on the ballot. General fund levies cover a variety of costs involved in the day-to-day operation of schools and education of students, such as salaries, curriculum and textbooks, utilities, technology and maintenance.

If approved by Kalispell taxpayers, owners of homes with a market value of $200,000 can expect annual taxes to increase by $24.04.

In the high school district, a $700,000 technology levy request will be on the ballot following a 9-2 board vote. Money generated from a technology levy may go toward purchasing, renting, repairing and maintaining equipment such as computers, security, networks, cloud-based or subscription-based services or professional development, for example. Unlike a general fund levy, which is permanent, the technology levy has a 10-year duration.

If the high school technology levy is approved, owners of homes with a market value of $200,000 can anticipate annual taxes to increase by $13.33. The high school district is not limited to people living in Kalispell and includes 13 outlying partner school districts whose students matriculate to Flathead and Glacier high schools.

Historically, the elementary district has been more successful in passing levies. A levy request of any type hasn’t passed in the high school district since 2007. However, the request comes at a time where access to technology and remote education opportunities played critical roles during the coronavirus pandemic.

PRIOR TO the board votes, Gwyn Andersen, director of business services and operations, shared the financial outlook for Kalispell Public Schools.

Despite a projected budget deficit of more than $1 million in the elementary district general fund and $572,406 in the high school district general fund next school year — federal coronavirus relief money will be available to cover the shortfall, Andersen said. Deficits are due to increases in costs related to salaries and benefits, enrollment fluctuations, utilities, and property and liability insurance.

In May, Kalispell Public Schools will begin receiving what will total approximately $15 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding (ESSR). Andersen is confident ESSR funding will get the district through at least the next two years without a problem.

While trustees acknowledged needs exist, some wrestled with the timing of asking for money during a pandemic where people might be facing economic hardships and considering the district will receive ESSR funding. Other trustees were of the opinion that by delaying levy requests, the district would only fall further behind financially, voicing confidence in a community that values how schools remained open during the pandemic.

Anderson said one of the reasons for considering the levy requests now is that ballots will go out to all registered voters living in the elementary and high school districts, which is not typical, due to a land acquisition election, saving the district money from running another election. She said running an election costs the district about $30,000.

“There’s no harm in letting voters have their voices heard,” Andersen said.

IF THE levies pass, she said the district has the option to hold off on imposing the levies until ESSR funding is depleted.

For the land acquisition election, taxpayers in both the elementary and high school district will be asked to approve the district’s purchase of a 6.75-acre parcel at Old School Station from the city of Kalispell to relocate district-owned buses. No additional funding will be requested. The district plans to purchase the property with money from its interlocal fund at a cost of $430,000, or the appraised value, whichever is lower.

Currently, the buses are housed on city-owned property south of Legends Stadium, which is part of a shop complex that serves several city departments. Years ago, the district was approached about making plans to vacate the lot in preparation for future city growth.

Trustee elections also will be held in both districts.

A mail-ballot election will be held. Ballots go out April 19 to active, registered voters and are due May 4.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com