Schools hold elections Tuesday
On Tuesday, voters in all but one of Flathead County's 19 public-school districts will decide whether to increase their annual property taxes to fund levy requests at area schools.
Ten districts have levies on the ballots this year, totaling more than $1.8 million. Each district except West Glacier will at least vote on issues affecting local high schools. West Glacier has no ballot items, nor does its high-school district, Columbia Falls.
Most polls open at 7 a.m., but some open later. A list of polling places and ballot issues follows.
Bigfork
The elementary district is requesting a $75,585.94 general fund maintenance and operations levy. If it passes, the levy will increase property taxes by $7.10 on homes with assessed values of $100,000. Taxes on homes with $200,000 assessed values will increase by $14.20.
An $85,000 general fund maintenance and operations levy is on the ballot for the Bigfork high-school district. If voters approve the levy, it will increase annual property taxes by $6.28 on homes with assessed values of $100,000. Homes with assessed values of $200,00 would see a $12.55 tax increase.
Two open elementary-trustee positions were filled in April. Thad Jordt and incumbent Mike Roessmann ran unopposed for three-year terms and were elected by acclamation.
Polls are open for Bigfork elementary district residents from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church. In the Swan River elementary district, vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Swan River School. Somers residents in the Bigfork district vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Somers Middle School. Swan Lake residents vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the Swan Lake Community Hall.
Cayuse Prairie
Cayuse Prairie School has no ballot items.
Incumbents Brad Cronk, Bart Woods and Lucas Jordt were elected by acclamation to a three-year, two-year and one-year term on the Board of Trustees, respectively.
Residents may vote on the Kalispell high-school district's levy from noon to 8 p.m. at Cayuse Prairie School.
Columbia Falls
The elementary district is running a maintenance and operations levy worth $241,395. If approved, the levy will raise taxes by $21.50 on homes with assessed values of $100,000, or by $43 on homes with $200,000 assessed values.
Barb Riley and Gail Pauley have been elected by acclamation to the Board of Trustees, but there is still one vacant position with no candidates. After the election, the district has 60 days to appoint someone to fill the position. If the district fails to do so within that time, Marcia Sheffels, Flathead County superintendent of schools, will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Glacier Gateway and Canyon elementary schools.
Creston
The district's election has been canceled. Joann Russell, Bob Erickson and Mark Mazur were elected by acclamation to the Board of Trustees.
District residents may vote on the Kalispell high-school district levy from noon to 8 p.m. in the Creston gym.
Deer Park
Deer Park School has two levies on the ballot. The first is a $5,000 technology-acquisition levy, which will be used to maintain and upgrade the existing computer network, acquire new computers for classrooms, install cable TV wiring and possibly expand the computer lab.
If approved, the levy will raise property taxes $3.50 on a home with assessed values of $50,000, $7 on homes with assessed values of $100,000, or $14 on homes with assessed values of $200,000.
The district also is requesting a $50,000 building reserve levy, which would be paid in $10,000 annual installments for five years. If approved, the levy will raise property taxes by $7, $14 or $28 on homes with assessed values of $50,000, $100,000 or $200,000, respectively.
The district will use the money for roof and siding repairs, as well as other maintenance and repair needs.
There are two vacant positions on the school board. Cindy Barnes is the sole candidate for a one-year term. Gary Anderson and incumbent Ginny Weaver are running for the second position, a three-year term.
District residents can vote on these issues, as well as Kalispell's proposed high-school levy, from noon to 8 p.m. in the Deer Park gym.
Evergreen
Evergreen School District has no levy or bond requests. Tamara Williams and Dave Lowitz were elected by acclamation to the Board of Trustees.
District residents can vote on Kalispell's high-school levy from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the administration building.
Fair-Mont-Egan
The district has one open three-year term on the Board of Trustees. Mark Phillips and Denise VanArtsdale are the candidates. There are no bond or levy requests.
Vote from noon to 8 p.m. at Fair-Mont-Egan.
Helena Flats
Helena Flats has no levy or bond requests. Emily Gillespie, Scott Warner and incumbent Jason Klein were elected by acclamation to the Board of Trustees.
Residents may vote on the Kalispell district's proposed high-school levy from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Helena Flats School.
Kalispell
The elementary district is requesting a $50,679 levy. If passed, it will increase annual property taxes on homes with assessed values of $100,000 by $3.39. Homes with assessed values of $200,000 will see a $6.78 increase.
The high-school district is requesting a $637,547 levy. These funds will be used to duplicate activities programs at Glacier High School and meet staffing needs at Glacier and Flathead. They also will be used to cover additional maintenance costs resulting from opening a new school and an addition at Flathead High.
If passed, the levy will increase annual property taxes by $19.85 on homes with $100,000 assessed values. Taxes on homes with $200,000 assessed values will increase by $39.69.
This levy will affect properties in the Olney-Bissell, Cayuse Prairie, Creston, Deer Park, Evergreen, Fair-Mont-Egan, Helena Flats, Kila, Marion, Pleasant Valley, Smith Valley, Somers/Lakeside and West Valley elementary districts, as well as those in the Kalispell district.
Trustee Bill Sutton has been re-elected by acclamation, but there are two open seats on the school board. Frank Danner and incumbents Anna Marie Bailey and Don Murray are the candidates for these positions.
Vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Expo Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
Kila
Kila School is requesting a $147,500 building reserve levy. Payments would be spread across five years; the school would receive $29,500 annually.
If approved, the levy will increase annual property taxes by $25.24 on homes with $100,000 assessed values. Homes with assessed values of $200,000 would see a $50.48 tax increase.
Three candidates are vying for the school board's two open positions: incumbent Noel Kiser, Cynthia Frech-Kennedy and Thomas Kopec.
District residents may vote from noon to 8 p.m. at Kila School.
Marion
A $14,573 general fund levy is on the Marion School District ballot. The money will be put toward textbooks. If approved, the levy will cause an annual property-tax increase of $7.02 or $14.04 on homes with $100,000 or $200,000 assessed values, respectively.
Trustees Jill Sargent and Mark Tollefson have been elected to the school board by acclamation.
Vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the Marion Fire Hall.
Olney-Bissell
The district is running a $19,111 general-fund levy. If it passes, the levy will increase property taxes by $19.76 on homes with assessed values of $100,000, or $39.42 on homes with $200,000 assessed values.
Thomas West and John Piedemonte have been elected by acclamation to the school board.
Residents may vote from noon to 8 p.m. at Olney-Bissell School.
Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley School District has no election. Chris Morand and Teri McGrady were elected by acclamation to the school board.
Residents may vote on the proposed Kalispell high-school levy from noon to 8 p.m. at Pleasant Valley School.
Smith Valley
The district has no levy or bond requests but does have three open positions on the Board of Trustees. William Burback, James Floyd and Richard Sutton are vying for two three-year positions. Christy Berry is the only candidate for the open one-year term.
Vote in the school gymnasium from noon to 8 p.m.
Somers/Lakeside
The district has no bonds or levy requests.
Four candidates are running for two open positions on the Board of Trustees. Trustee Marceen Liechti has opted not to run again, but incumbent Todd Ahern is in the race. He is running against Lori Moran, Shaine Reece and Francois Zanni.
Precincts 29, 33 and 34 vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Somers Middle School. Polls are open at the same time for precincts 13 and 24 at Lakeside Elementary.
Swan River
Swan River is running a levy for $25,632.86 to cover daily operating expenses at the school. If passed, the levy will increase property taxes by $6.36 or $12.72 on homes with assessed values of $100,000 or $200,000, respectively.
Mark Tudahl is the candidate for a three-year term on the Board of Trustees. Matt Folkman is running for the open two-year position.
Vote at the school from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
West Glacier
The district has canceled its election.
West Glacier originally had three of five positions on the Board of Trustees up for election. Incumbent Shelley Frislie was re-elected by acclamation, but no candidates were left to fill vacancies left by Sharon Bengtson and Kasey Kephart. Because of this, the board voted to transition from a five- to a three-person board.
To comply with the state guideline on transition, the district still must appoint one person to a one-year term. After the election, the district has 60 days to appoint a community member to the board. If the district does not fill the position, the county superintendent will appoint someone.
West Valley
West Valley School is requesting a $98,000 general-fund levy, which will be used for student and staff supplies, technology, salaries, maintenance and facility upgrades. If approved, the levy will raise annual property taxes $7.94 on homes with $100,000 assessed values, or by $15.87 on homes with assessed values of $200,000.
Connie Hoffman and Gary Krueger were elected by acclamation to the Board of Trustees.
Vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the school library.
Whitefish
The elementary district is requesting two levies. The first is an $87,959 operating levy, which, if passed, will result in an annual property-tax increase of $1.66 or $3.32 for homes with assessed market values of $100,000 or $200,000, respectively.
The second levy is a technology acquisition and depreciation fund levy for $88,998. If passed, the levy will increase property taxes by $4.66 on homes with $100,000 assessed market values, or by $9.33 on homes with assessed market values of $200,000.
The Whitefish high-school district is requesting the same types of levies. Its proposed operating levy is $142,082, which would increase annual property taxes by $7.18 or $14.36 on homes with assessed values of $100,000 or $200,000, respectively.
The district's technology acquisition and depreciation fund levy is $75,513. If passed, the levy will increase property taxes by $3.82 on homes with assessed market values of $100,000, or by $7.64 on homes with $200,000 assessed values.
There are three positions open on the Whitefish school board. Amy Eddy, Ruth Harrison and Michael Ferda are vying for two three-year positions; Pat Jarvi is the only candidate for a two-year position.
Vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the main office at Whitefish Central School.
Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.