Swan River School levy nets voter approval

Swan River School District voters last week narrowly approved a $1.5 million levy to fund future building infrastructure projects, including heating and ventilation upgrades and school security improvements.  

"We're super excited for what it means for our building and meeting needs and the way that we'll be able to sustain the building for the future," Swan River School Principal Josh Lee said. "We're just grateful to our community for the support. In today's world, levies are hard to pass, and I understand why. And the fact that our community values us and trusts us to use the money well and puts that faith in us is awesome." 

The levy drew 55% approval in the Tuesday, Sept. 29 election, with an unofficial tally of 293 in favor to 250 against.  

The building reserve levy, which will be collected in installments of $150,000 per year over 10 years, was prompted by an urgent project to replace nine heat pumps serving the newer portion of the school building in summer 2025. The school realized it did not have sufficient reserves to finance major replacements or repairs.  

Now, the school is turning its attention to other projects related to the building's aging infrastructure, including the heating and furnace systems in the elementary wing of the K-8 school. The systems date back to 1998. If any of this major equipment were to fail during the winter, the district said it would cause a significant disruption to education.  

With the passage of the levy, the Swan River School District will be able to begin work on key projects to upgrade building infrastructure, including replacing furnaces with energy-efficient heat pumps and improving ventilation. The district will also focus on school safety and security, such as entrances and access control systems. 

The district will be able to begin work on these projects even before the full levy amount is collected thanks to the state INTERCAP program, a low-interest loan program that is repaid from annual levy collections. The loans are only available for voter-authorized projects. 

District residents with homes valued at $100,000 will see a $7.65 annual increase in property taxes beginning in November 2027. Homes valued at $300,000 can expect an annual increase of $22.96, while homes valued at $600,000 will see property taxes increase by $49.05.  

Swan River School is a rural school near Bigfork serving approximately 140 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school was founded in 1893, in a one-room log cabin heated by a wood furnace.  

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.