School bond ballots due on Tuesday

Voters in the West Valley School District are reminded that 8 p.m. Tuesday is the deadline for ballots to be submitted for the $6.8 million bond request to expand the school.

Ballots have been mailed out to 2,383 active voters.

If voters approve the request, the 20-year bond issue would pay for 30,000 square feet of construction to accommodate climbing enrollment numbers and keep class sizes within state accreditation limits.

Construction would include 15 classrooms, multi-use areas, a library addition, auxiliary gym and, if money is available, a kitchen renovation.

West Valley enrollment is currently 544 students with 58 staff members. The building’s practical capacity is 470.

The district grew by 55 percent between 2003 and 2012, according to the Flathead County 2012 Statistical Report of Schools. Superintendent Cal Ketchum said he expects growth will continue.

If the bond request is approved, owners of a home with a phase-in value of $200,000 could expect their taxes to go up $154.28 annually. Owners of a home valued at $300,000 could see taxes go up $231.42 a year.

Taxpayer impact might be lessened when the district retires $1.9 million in bonds from 2000 that paid for a gym, library and six classrooms.

If the new bond request is approved and the $1.9 million is retired in the 2014-15 fiscal year, owners of a home with a value of $200,000 could expect a net increase in their taxes of $95.52 annually starting in 2015. Owners of a home valued at $300,000 could expect a net increase in annual taxes of $143.28.