Voters on Tuesday split their support for a pair of building-reserve levy requests from Kalispell Public Schools.
Voters approved a $2.8 million building-reserve request for the elementary district but the $4.1 million request for the high school district failed in every outlying elementary district.
Only Kalispell voters approved the high school levy. Their support was not enough to override the 51.8 percent negative vote.
Suppport for the elementary levy request was substantial, drawing a 57.2 percent approval against the 42.8 percent vote against it.
There were 2,789 votes in favor of the elementary levy, compared to 2,086 against it.
Taxpayers who live in the Kalispell district as well as those who live in elementary districts that feed into Flathead or Glacier high school voted on the high school levy.
It was shot down with 3,542 for it and 3,806 against it.
Districts with the majority of voters opposing the high school levy were West Valley, Deer Park, Fair-Mont-Egan, Cayuse Prairie, Helena Flats, Kila, Pleasant Valley, Somers, Lakeside, Evergreen, Marion, Bissell and Smith Valley. Creston School District numbers were unavailable.
This is the first time voters have denied a Kalispell building reserve request since the levies were initiated in 1982. Voters have renewed the levies every five years since 1985.
The current levies expire June 30, 2010.
The elementary levy amount has not gone up since the last request was approved in 2004. Annual property taxes will decline because there are more taxable homes and businesses in the district than there were five years ago.
A home in the elementary district with a taxable market value of $200,000 will pay about $64 a year, down from the $70 the homeowner has paid annually for the last five years.
Those taxes may be used to replace aged and stained ceilings, remove asbestos materials, replace and repair roofs and address safety features at several school sites. The district also plans to replace 60-year-old boilers in some buildings.
Some funds likely will be used to upgrade the district's phone system, which has been unchanged since 1998.
Building reserve money is separate from the district's general fund budget and is used to make improvements on school sites. There is little money in the general fund budget, most of which is allocated for staff salaries and benefits, to pay for basic upkeep on the buildings in the district.
Districtwide, Kalispell has 14 schools and support facilities to maintain.
Technology purchases, such as computers and phone system upgrades, also are financed out of the building reserve fund.
Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com
truthspeaks
The reason I voted NO is not because of the tax issue (that really was not a factor), my issue is the administration (Dr. Schottle and her gang). Parents at Flathead are tired of the way that the kids and the school itself is being treated. Glacier is the new school, yes we all know that, but why is Flathead continuely getting short changed? Why is it that Glacier is only two years old and they are already getting stuff repainted, remodeled (ie a new computer lab, the old stuff is to go to Flathead) when Flathead is in serious need of alot of basic maintenance? The examples Dr. Schottle used is that the public is not well informed or too stupid to basically know what is going on. She will probably deny she said anything or that she was taken out of context, but most parents @FHS know this is exactly how she treats and also thinks of the public. As someone who has never voted NO before on a levy, I will continue to vote NO and encourage everyone to vote NO until there is actual equality in both schools. IT also doesn't help any case here when you have the administration of Glacier calling FHS the Ghetto school. There are so many problems and utter atrocities going on and the real sad part is everyone is scared to say anything because of what will happen to their kids. And don't fool yourself for a second that thay don't rule by fear and retribution, cause there are kids right now paying prices for this horrible regime. AND THE ADMINISTRATION GOES ALONG WITH IT! I wish the paper would print the real problems and not the softball stuff they are given by the administration.
taterblade
AS realitycheck said, it is not sad. What is sad is at all levels of government they constantly ask for more, and more and more. How much is enough?
They pull at our heart strings and say "...but its for the kids." We had to have a new High School, and now we need more money to take care of it even though we were promised they wouldn't keep coming back for more - but they always do.
Outrageous reappraisals which don't reflect the real decline in our home values will assure we all pay more, even without new levies. . In the current environment we must cut and do without and so too should schools and other government agencies.
realitycheck
The voters have spoken, period. It is not sad, it is reality. The comments regarding "it not raising your taxes" is flawed in that now that the levy request has been denied real estate taxes related to the reserve will go down.
jeancalvinus
this result, while sad to some, will hopefully communicate that all of us are tightening our belts, and it is time for the school district to do the same. programs, positions, and yes, even facilities (not speaking of the new high school here) that were once viewed as essential may not seem so when there is less coming in. I used to think we needed a car for every driver in the family, now I see that the money we have dictates how many cars we put on the road, no matter how inconvenient. the school district is going to have to start doing the same, and many programs that people (students, teachers, parents) like are going to HAVE to get cut. Just wait until the same time 2 or 3 years from now, after the economy has forced this valley to empty out more, then there won't be enough tax base to fund these schools at 3/4 of their current level. the school district has to find ways to trim their budget and expenses by 20% or more, and I for one do not envy them their task.
Kalispell Since 1971
Very sad day for education in the Kalispell Public Schools. Hard to imagine how voters reject a proposal to update technology in a vote that wouldn't have increased taxes...Frustrating to say the least.
Kalispell Since 1971
Very sad day for education in the Kalispell Public Schools. Hard to imagine how voters reject a proposal to update technology in a vote that wouldn't have increased taxes...Frustrating to say the least.
voiceofkids
Sad we don't want to upkeep something we voted to build and remodel. Rural districts = sad for kids/schools/ and valley.