Bigfork ballots in the mail

The Daily Inter Lake

Ballots for the Bigfork School District bond election will be mailed to all registered Bigfork voters today.

Ballots must be returned no later than Oct. 9.

The district is requesting $16.6 million in bonds to upgrade and improve its elementary and high-school buildings. The existing facilities are outdated, crowded and deficient, school officials say.

The district hopes to pass an $11.1 million high-school bond, which will be repaid over 15 years. Some bond money would be used to expand the library and commons/cafeteria area, build new science labs and classrooms and renovate existing classrooms.

At the elementary level, the district is requesting a $5.5 million, 15-year bond. Money would be used to build new classrooms for elementary and middle-school students and remove the sixth-grade portable building.

Bond money also would be used to improve the parking lot and accesses to alleviate after-school traffic congestion. New main entries would be built at both schools to improve access and safety.

If approved, the bonds will raise annual property taxes by about $250 for a home with an assessed market value of $200,000. Homes with assessed values of $300,000 would see $375 annual tax increases.

Polls will not be open Oct. 9; voters must use mail-in ballots.

Montana law requires a 30-percent minimum voter turnout in a bond election unless the district uses mail-in ballots. Elections by mail have no minimum turnout.

Voters are welcome to tour school facilities from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays to see how the bond money would be spent. Call the district office at 837-7400 to set up an appointment.

For more information about the election, go to http://suse.bigfork.k12.mt.us/district/index.htm