School elections are today

The Daily Inter Lake

Today, voters in all but one of Flathead County's 19 public-school districts will decide whether to increase their annual property taxes for area schools.

The tax requests range from general operations levies to building reserve questions.

Several districts also have contested trustee elections on the ballots.

The election issue affecting the broadest number of taxpayers is the request by the Kalispell high school district for a $637,547 tax levy to fund programs as the district moves from one high school to two schools this fall.

This levy would affect properties - and be voted on by people - in the Olney-Bissell, Cayuse Prairie, Creston, Deer Park, Evergreen, Fair-Mont-Egan, Helena Flats, Kalispell, Kila, Marion, Pleasant Valley, Smith Valley, Somers/Lakeside and West Valley elementary districts.

Election times vary, although all polling places will be open until 8 o'clock tonight.

Following is a district-by-district summary of election information.

Where to vote

Bigfork schools are asking for a $75,586 elementary levy and an $85,000 high school levy. 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 residents may vote on the Kalispell high school district levy from noon to 8 p.m. at Cayuse Prairie School.

Columbia Falls school polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Glacier Gateway and Canyon elementary schools. The elementary district is requesting a maintenance and operations levy worth $241,395.

Creston residents may vote on the Kalispell high school district levy from noon to 8 p.m. in the Creston School gym.

Deer Park residents can vote on a $5,000 technology-acquisition levy, a $50,000 building reserve levy and Kalispell's high school levy from noon to 8 p.m. in the Deer Park gym.

Evergreen residents can vote on Kalispell's high school levy from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the school administration building.

Fair-Mont-Egan residents vote on Kalispell's high school levy from noon to 8 p.m. at Fair-Mont-Egan School.

Helena Flats residents vote on Kalispell's high school levy from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Helena Flats School.

Kalispell residents vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Expo Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The elementary district is requesting a $50,679 levy. The high school district is requesting a $637,547 levy.

Kila residents will be asked to approve a $147,500 building reserve levy and Kalispell's high school levy. Polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. at Kila School.

Marion voters, in addition to voting on Kalispell's high school levy, are being asked to approve a $14,573 general fund levy. Vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the Marion Fire Hall.

Olney-Bisell residents will be asked to approve a $19,111 general-fund levy and Kalispell's high school levy. Voting is from noon to 8 p.m. at Olney-Bissell School.

Pleasant Valley residents may vote on the proposed Kalispell high school levy from noon to 8 p.m. at Pleasant Valley School.

Smith Valley residents may vote on the Kalispell high school levy from noon to 8 p.m. in the school gymnasium.

Somers/Lakeside voters may vote on the Kalispell high school levy. There are two polling places: 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 is running a levy for $25,633, and voters also will be asked to approve Bigfork's high school levy. Vote at Swan River School from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

West Glacier has no ballot items.

West Valley School is requesting a $98,000 general-fund levy. West Valley voters also will vote on Kalispell's high school levy. Vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the West Valley School library.

Whitefish is asking voters to approve four levies: an $87,959 elementary operating levy, an $88,998 elementary technology levy, a $142,082 high school operating levy and a $75,513 high school technology levy. Vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the main office at Whitefish Central School.