City schools won't ask for more in taxes

Kalispell Public Schools will not ask voters to approve extra tax levies this spring, school board trustees decided at a special meeting Tuesday evening.

The board voted against putting levy requests on the ballot for its elementary and high school districts this spring after hearing from Superintendent Darlene Schottle and District Clerk Todd Watkins.

Instead, Kalispell Public Schools will use transition funds to meet budget shortfalls in 2008-09.

"There are certainly pros and cons to be looked at when considering a levy," Schottle told trustees. "Additional funds are always helpful."

But requesting money in addition to regular funding the district will receive for the 2008-09 school year isn't necessary, she said. Transition funds would serve as an adequate short-term solution for balancing the budget.

"From an administrative point of view … one of our largest concerns is the fact that we don't absolutely need it," she said.

That, Trustee Mark Lalum said, was a good reason not to run a levy request past voters.

"If the levy fails, will there be cuts?" he asked. "If the answer is no, that's mud on our face."

Watkins has drawn up a first draft of next year's general fund budget based on this year's enrollment figures. Montana's school funding formula allots money to schools based on the number of students attending.

This year, Kalispell's student count climbed, so the district will receive more state funding for next year's budget. According to Watkins' projections, enrollment should be up again next year, which could give the district an additional $450,000 in enrollment-based funding.

The numbers are only estimates, in part because it's difficult to predict how many kindergarten students to expect in the fall, Watkins cautioned trustees.

In addition to projecting future enrollment numbers, Watkins had to plan for the district's expenses.

Increased enrollment may create a need for additional staffing, he said. Negotiations with nearly all the district's employees take place in 2008-09. And schools are affected by the economy just like any other organization.

In 2009-10, Watkins anticipates nearly $1.8 million in new budgeted expenditures. Decreased federal special education funding is a large part of that; Kalispell Public Schools faces a $450,000 deficit if special education funds aren't increased.

"Federal funding does not look real positive," Schottle said, adding that state special education funding has decreased as well.

Trustee Don Murray expressed his concern about what extra tax levies this spring might do to some voters - particularly those on fixed incomes or working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

"There are a lot of people this would have a significant impact on," he said.

The district should only request levies if it has to, he added.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.