Flathead County takes on school elections

The Flathead County Election Department will conduct school elections May 6 in conjunction with special elections for other entities such as fire districts.  

Mail-in ballots go out to active registered voters April 18. 

The county will handle duties previously performed by school districts, such as ordering election supplies, printing and stamping ballots, stuffing and mailing envelopes, receiving ballots, replacing missing or damaged ballots, verifying voter signatures, appointing election judges and counting ballots. 

“It's all about consolidating the school election process and reducing costs,” said Lucie Shea, Whitefish School District business director and clerk. 

Flathead County Election Manager Paula Buff echoed a similar sentiment, adding that it will add a level of transparency and clarity in the voting process. 

“It will be less cumbersome for electors. You don’t have to worry about filling out and sending multiple ballots or dropping them off at different locations,” Buff said. 

For example, Cayuse Prairie School District is holding a trustee election; Kalispell Public Schools is holding a high school district levy election and Bigfork Rural Fire District is holding a mill levy election. Rather than three entities paying for separate elections (ballots, envelopes, judges, etc.) voters living within that geographical area will see all three issues on one ballot, Buff said. 

In addition to mailing ballots, people will still have the option to hand deliver ballots at their respective school district in addition to the election department. 

Historically, the county’s involvement in school elections was limited to providing school districts with a master list of registered voters and verifying voter signatures. 

For years, Kalispell Public Schools and Columbia Falls School District have advocated for the county to take on school election.  

In the 2022 election, both districts ran into problems getting ballots to voters, which prompted formal resolutions requesting the county take the reins. They contended the election department had staff with experience and training specialized for elections and were better equipped to handle a growing population within each school district. The districts also noted voters’ perceived bias when schools administer elections.  

From the county perspective, it wanted to ensure it had the capability to conduct elections for all school districts that made similar requests.  

There are 19 public elementary districts and four public high school districts in Flathead County. Inroads were made when the election department agreed to let the two districts use its tabulating machines to count ballots, automating the process. 

The costs to run the May 6 election will be shared by the entities appearing on a particular ballot, which should be at a savings in the long run Buff said. 

Multiple school districts are holding trustee and levy elections. Ballots will contain information specific to the school district in which a voter resides. 

Ballots are due at the Flathead County Election Department, 290 B N. Main St., Kalispell, by 8 p.m. May 6. People may also hand deliver ballots at the election office or at their respective school district. 

People are reminded to sign the outer return envelopes before mailing their ballot. 

HERE IS a breakdown of what will be on ballots regarding school district elections. 

Cayuse Prairie School is holding a trustee election to fill one seat with a three-year term. Candidates are David Dowell and Susan Horner-Till. 

Deer Park School is seeking approval of a $4 million bond issue for “designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing improvements to Deer Park School facilities, including demolishing or relocating the existing Quonset hut and teacherage building and constructing on that site a new building to include classrooms, office space, restrooms, storage, related improvements and costs." The duration of the bond would be 25 years. 

If the bond is approved, the owner of a home with an assessed value of $200,000 can anticipate annual taxes to increase by $162.24. Owners of homes with assessed values of $300,000 can expect annual taxes to increase by $243.36.  

Deer Park will also hold a trustee election to fill one position with a three-year term. Candidates are Cynthia Barnes and Mikala Cordes. 

Kalispell Public Schools seeks approval of a $2.97 million general fund high school levy. General fund levies cover the day-to-day costs of operating schools and educating students. People who can vote on the high school district issue includes people living in Kalispell and 13 surrounding partner schools that feed into Glacier and Flathead high schools. 

If the high school levy is approved, owners of homes with assessed values of $300,000 can expect annual taxes to increase by $49.56.   

Smith Valley School is holding a trustee election for two open seats with three-year terms. Candidates are Jodi Brown, Joe Heidecker, Kyla Huchendorf and Josh Hunt.

Whitefish School District voters will see a $100,000 high school general fund levy on the ballot. If approved, owners of homes with assessed values of $300,000 can expect annual taxes to increase by $2.57.   

For more information about the election visit https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election. 

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

*This article was updated on April 14 to include the Smith Valley School trustee election, which was inadvertently omitted from the April 13 posting.