Failed school levy requests put spotlight on budget shortfalls, pocketbooks, funding formulas
Kindergarten students in teacher Joanna Goetting's classroom at Smith Valley School on Wednesday, April 17. Kindergarten and first-graders were displaced by the shutdown of the "300 building." (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Montanans last week rejected half of the school levies tracked by the state’s largest union, including all five requests in Helena, even as large districts face multimillion dollar shortfalls.
The outcome leaves some students and teachers in a lurch, raises the specter of a sales tax for some educators, and spotlights concerns about property taxes and school funding formulas.
And Jessi Bennion, a political analyst at Montana State University, said public safety levies are up next.
Support Local News
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
Daily Inter Lake - everything
Print delivery, e-edition and unlimited website access
- $26.24 per month
Daily Inter Lake - unlimited website access
- $9.95 per month