Kalispell school board cancels elementary levy request

Kalispell Public Schools’ Board of Trustees has canceled putting a $300,000 elementary general fund levy request district on May ballots out of concern taxpayers may be experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a special board meeting Wednesday, Kalispell Superintendent Mark Flatau said one message was clear at a recent Kalispell Chamber of Commerce meeting.

“One of the things we heard loud and clear is the clear economic hardship this community and every other community is suffering,” he said.

Initially, trustees representing the elementary district approved the levy request during a March 17 board meeting. Following the meeting, Flatau said the central administrative team discussed the timing.

“In our discussions, we are feeling the timing for that levy, in light of the economic hardship, is just not appropriate for a variety of reasons,” he said. “I think we would take a lot of negative backlash that would take some time to recover from.”

A May election will still be held by mail, with a contested trustee race for two seats representing the elementary district on the ballot.

In response to canceling the levy request, the district will cover a $1.4 million budget shortfall that includes both the high school and elementary districts with one-time money from an interlocal fund.

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