Voters OK four levies, reject three others
The Daily Inter Lake
Voters for the third time since 2009 turned down a building reserve request for Kalispell high schools, but they approved a $211,500 elementary levy request.
The $4,127,915 five-year building reserve would have funded building repairs and upgrades plus meet technology needs.
The elementary general-fund levy will go largely to address staffing needs for overcrowded classrooms in lower grades.
The building reserve was defeated by a 3,915-3,771 margin by voters in the high school district, which includes surrounding elementary school districts.
The Kalispell elementary levy was approved by a 2,418-1,716 margin.
Columbia Falls voters narrowly approved a pair of levies: $91,544 for elementary schools and $81,985 for the high school.
Whitefish voters approved a $45,782 high school levy request, while Olney-Bissell voters by an eight-vote margin defeated an $18,800 levy request.
A $405,000 general-fund levy request was defeated by Somers-Lakeside School District voters.
Following are unofficial results from Tuesday’s school elections:
Columbia Falls
$91,544 elementary levy request
For 786
Against 761
$81,985 high-school levy request
For 825
Against 809
Trustees
(two 3-year terms)
Jill Rocksund (i) 821
James Henjum (i) 618
Benjamin Shafer 589
Carl Motichka 464
Glenn Wehe 243
Kalispell
$211,500 elementary levy request
For 2,418
Against 1,716
$4,127,915 high school building reserve
Against 3,915
For 3,771
Trustee
(one 3-year term)
Joe Brenneman 330
Ivan Lorentzen (i) 325
Kila
Trustee
(one 3-year term)
Jennifer Crowley 97
Angela Carlson 55
Olney-Bissell
$18,800 levy request
Against 58
For 50
Somers-Lakeside
$405,000 levy request
Against 626
For 515
Trustees
(two 3-year terms)
John Hollensteiner 541
Samuel Bagley 446
Dave Alexander (i) 426
Stephen Naso 315
West Valley
Trustees
(two 3-year terms)
Cory Hill (i) 276
Jane Wheeler (i) 273
Sean Brannan145
Whitefish
$45,782 high school levy request
For 809
Against 601
Trustees
(two 3-year terms)
Patricia Jarvi (i) 891
Shawn Tucker 642
Shannon Hanson (i) 623
Flathead Valley Community College
Trustee (one three-year term)
Ralene Sliter (i) 2,888
Jerry Elwood 965
Michael Hebert 855