West Valley will recount ballots in technology levy election
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 1 month AGO
Second-graders work on laptops in a science, technology, engineering and math classroom at West Valley School in this Dec. 12, 2023 file photo. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake, file)
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 14, 2024 12:14 PM
*This article has been updated to correct the meeting time to 7 a.m. Friday.
West Valley School District has declared a tie in its technology levy election and will recount ballots at a school board meeting Friday.
Votes from the May 7 election were canvassed and certified by the school board Monday. With three provisional ballots resolved in the technology levy election, the vote was 960 to 960, resulting in the mandatory recount.
On election day the technology levy was too close to call based on preliminary results, which showed a difference of one vote (959 to 958) and Business Manager and Clerk Mark Fessler noted there were provisional ballots that needed to be counted before certifying results. Preliminary results are unofficial until the board canvasses the votes.
The district asked voters to approve a 10-year, $83,000 technology levy.
If the technology levy passes, owners of homes valued at $300,000 can anticipate an annual tax increase of $15.60. Owners of homes valued at $600,000 can expect an increase of $31.21.
The canvass confirmed approval of a $347,000 general fund levy 978 to 944 with two provisional ballots resolved. Owners of homes valued at $300,000 can anticipate an annual tax increase of $65.24. Owners of homes valued at $600,000 can expect an increase of $130.48.
Also at the Monday board meeting, two trustees, Laurel Ekern and Mark Waatti, were seated by acclamation due to the number of candidates being equal to the number of open seats. They will serve three-year terms.
The Friday board meeting starts at 7 a.m. in the school library, 2290 Farm to Market Road.
Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].
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