Whitefish, Kila seeking levy OK from voters

Fewer than half of Flathead County’s public school districts are holding elections this spring. Of those, only three districts are asking voters to approve levies on May 4.  Kalispell and Whitefish are asking voters in their elementary districts to support general fund levies. Kila has requested a building reserve levy. Kalispell Public Schools is asking voters for a $338,000 levy in its elementary district. Whitefish also is asking elementary voters to approve a levy. The elementary district faces a $125,000 budget shortfall in 2010-11. To help make up the difference, the district is asking taxpayers to approve a $40,643 levy. If voters give it the green light, the levy will increase annual property taxes on a home with a $100,000 taxable value by about $1.47. Property taxes on a home with a $200,000 taxable value would go up by about $2.93 a year. The bulk of the levy would be used to sustain instructional materials, including paying subscription fees for library materials and computer-assisted tutorial programs. Some money would be used to replace furniture at Muldown Elementary, and the remaining money would allow the Whitefish Middle School performing arts program to continue. Even with the levy, the district will have to make cuts in its elementary and high school budgets. The high school district faces a $325,000 shortfall in 2010-11, but the district chose to reduce its budget rather than ask taxpayers to support a levy. In addition to the elementary request, Whitefish voters will choose between four candidates for two full, three-year seats on the board of trustees.  Voters in the Kila School District have been asked to support a $150,000 building reserve levy. That amount would be levied over three years, district clerk Sharon Leach said. Last June, voters overwhelmingly rejected the district’s $2.1 million bond request that would have given Kila School an 11,423-square-foot expansion. During community meetings before the bond election, several taxpayers asked why the district didn’t ask for a building reserve levy instead, Leach said. “So we’re putting it before voters again,” she said. Money from the levy wouldn’t allow the school to add on, she added. “This is just general building maintenance we need.” If voters approve the levy request, annual property taxes on a home with a $100,000 taxable value would increase by about $29.62. Property taxes on a home with a $200,000 taxable value would increase by about $59.24 a year. In addition to the levy, Kila voters will choose from six candidates to fill two three-year terms on the school board.  For six school districts, trustee elections are the only issues on the ballot. Three candidates are running for two three-year positions on Bigfork’s school board. Five candidates are vying for two three-year seats on the Columbia Falls board. Smith Valley and Somers-Lakeside each have five candidates vying for two three-year terms open on each board. Two candidates are running for a one-year seat on Helena Flats’ school board. West Valley has three candidates for two three-year positions. West Valley also asking voters to approve a $3.5 million bond issue, but that is a separate mail-ballot election. Those ballots will be mailed May 25.  Ten school districts will not have elections this spring. Cayuse Prairie, Creston, Deer Park, Evergreen, Fair-Mont-Egan, Marion, Olney-Bissell, Pleasant Valley, Swan River and West Glacier schools are not running elections.  In these districts, trustees voted not to ask taxpayers to approve levies, and their school board openings were filled by acclamation — that is, the same number of candidates applied as there were seats available.  Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.