Ballots in the Mail for Missoula School Election and Mill Levies
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Missoula County officials reported on Wednesday that ballots are in the mail for the May 2 Missoula County Public School election and mill levy requests.
KGVO News spoke to MCPS Communications Specialist Tyler Christensen about what Missoula County voters will be receiving in the mail.
The School Elections are Separate from the General Elections
“The School elections are May 2, and the elections office started mailing ballots out today,” began Christensen. “This will be an all mail election and on that ballot Missoula voters will see that Missoula County Public Schools has a couple of funding requests. We have general fund levies for both the elementary district and the high school district, and we have building reserve levies for both the elementary and high school districts.”
Christensen provided the numbers requested by MCPS for their normal operating expenses including staffing and programs. The funds will also help pay for utilities, insurance, supplies, curriculum and instructional materials.
It's Up to the Voters to Decide if the Levies will be Fully Funded
“The general fund levies for the elementary district; that total levy request is to under $261,504, and that works out to an increase of $2.58 per year in taxes per $100,000 in assessed property value. For the high school district, the total levy request is $128,054. And that works out to an increase of 69 cents a year per $100,000 in assessed property value.”
A separate fund for building reserve levies is also on the ballot.
“The building reserve levees provide funding for facility safety modifications, campus security and a healthy learning environment,” she said. “The total levee request in the elementary district is $3.5 million, and that’s $700,000 a year for a period of five years. The tax increase is $6.48 per year for each $100,000 in assessed property value.”
Christensen provided the building reserve levy request for the MCPS high schools.
“For the high school district, the total levy request for the building reserves is $4.9 million,” she said. “That's $700,000 a year over a period of seven years, and the increase works out to $3.61 a year per $100,000 in assessed property value.”
The Trustees Ran Unopposed and will Automatically Serve Another Term
Christensen said three members of the Missoula County School Board of Trustees ran for reelection and since they ran unopposed, they are automatically elected to another term.
Get more complete details about the MCPS levy requests here.
Christensen said the newly appointed MCPS Superintendent Micah Hill will be moving to Missoula from Kalispell and assuming his duties officially on July 1.