Voters to consider school levies

Five school districts are running levies in the upcoming May election.

Kalispell, West Valley and Whitefish school districts are running general fund levies for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of schools. Money raised by a general fund levy can be used for a broad range of expenses such as personnel, classroom supplies, textbooks, technology and building repairs.

Bigfork and Columbia Falls and school districts are running technology fund levies that cover the rental, purchase or maintenance of technology and training.

Typically, there is no expiration on a general fund levy, unlike technology levies that have 10-year durations.

Bigfork and West Valley will hold mail-ballot elections. Ballots will be mailed to active, registered voters between April 18-23.

Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish school districts will hold walk-in elections with polling stations open on May 8.

Kalispell Public Schools had intended to hold a mail-ballot election as it has in past years, but there was an issue with the Montana Secretary of State receiving the school district’s emailed application, according to Gwyn Andersen, director of business services for the district. Ballots will still be mailed out to voters registered as absentee. About 8,000 absentee ballots will be mailed. Early voting is available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays starting April 18 at the central office, 233 First Ave. E., Kalispell.

Absentee ballots for all school district elections are made available on April 18.

Thursday is the deadline for trustee candidates to withdraw from the election and for write-in candidates to file a declaration of intent in his or her respective school district.

School districts throughout the valley that are not proposing levies have until Friday to cancel elections if trustee races are uncontested.

Following is election information regarding levy proposals:

Bigfork

Bigfork School District is requesting technology fund levies that would generate $150,000 for the elementary district and $100,000 for the high school district. Annual taxes may increase by $14.13, and $7.54 respectively on homes valued at $200,000. The school district will hold a mail-ballot election.

Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls School District is requesting a technology fund levy that will generate approximately $485,000 for its elementary district. Annual taxes may increase by $43.20 on homes valued at $200,000, if passed.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 8 at Glacier Gateway Elementary, 440 Fourth Ave. W.

Kalispell

A $1 million general fund levy for the elementary district will be on the ballot for Kalispell Public Schools. Annual taxes may increase by $50.37 on homes valued at $200,000, if the levy passes.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 8 at the Country Fair Kitchen at Flathead County Fairgrounds on Meridian Road.

West Valley

West Valley School is proposing a $149,691 general fund levy in its mail-ballot election.

Passage of this proposal may increase annual taxes by $42.71 on homes valued at $200,000, if approved by voters.

Whitefish

Whitefish School District is requesting a general fund levy that would generate $95,125 for the elementary district.

Annual taxes may increase by $4.54 on homes valued at $200,000, if approved.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Whitefish School District board room located at 600 E. Second St.

Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.