By Tim Leeds
School elections are mandated by Montana statute to be held this year on Tuesday, May 8.
At the Havre schools, there is a high school general fund mill levy increase proposed which would increase local property taxes by $174,218, approximately 9.53 mills. Two trustee positions have been filled by acclamation and will not appear on the ballot.
At the Davey Elementary School, incumbent Carol Gallaher is running unopposed for her trustee position. There is a general fund mill levy increase proposed for which would increase local property taxes by $1,011, approximately 3.94 mills.
Cottonwood Elementary School has a general fund mill levy proposed of approximately 4.24 mills, which would increase local property taxes by $10,917.59. One trustee position has been filled by acclamation.
At the KG schools, incumbent Dave Stevenson is running unopposed for his trustee position. General fund mill levies for both the elementary school and high school are likely, but the district is conducting further analysis of recent legislation to determine amounts needed, if any. The final decision on proposed mill levies should be announced early next week.
At the Blue Sky schools, Terry Hybner and incumbent Lyle Petersen are running for two trustee positions. Incumbent Cathie Haas is not running for re-election. There is a K-12 general fund mill levy proposed which would increase local property tax $35,794, approximately 11 mills.
At the J-I schools, Debra Miller and incumbent Craig Henke are running for two trustee positions. Incumbent Larry Fossen is not running for re-election. There is a K-12 special levy proposed for the school's general fund, which will increase property taxes by $274,651, approximately 89 mills.
At the Chester schools, Rob Laas and Patricia Markuson and incumbents Dave Wicks and Marvin Wilson are running for two trustee positions. There are mill levies proposed for general maintenance and operation that would increase local property taxes by $14,000, approximately 2.73 mills, for the elementary school and $27,776, approximately 5.01 mills, for the high school.
At the Chinook schools, Blanche Kellam is running unopposed for the high school trustee position for Elementary District 67. Incumbent Don Ross is not running for re-election to the position. Incumbents Elton Kauffman and Les Fuglevand are not running for re-election for their positions. Michael Bryson, Scott McIntosh and Matt Crampton are running for the two positions opened.
A $25,000 elementary building reserve fund is proposed for five years, totaling $125,000. There is a high school general fund mill proposed to support the over-base budget, which would increase local property taxes by $24,739.13, approximately 3.442 mills.
At the Zurich school, LeAnna Johnson is running unopposed for a trustee position. There is a general fund mill levy increase proposed which would increase local property taxes by $6,064.16, approximately 4 mills.
The Cleveland/Lone Tree Bench Elementary School has no issues on the ballot for this year's election.
At the Bear Paw Elementary School, incumbent Gordon Young is running unopposed for his trustee position. A general fund mill levy is proposed for $3,030.35, approximately 2.38 mills.
The Box Elder schools have no issues on the ballot for this year's election.
At the Big Sandy schools, incumbent trustees Gordon Moes and Randy Williams are running unopposed for re-election to their positions. There is a general mill levy for the elementary school proposed that would raise local property taxes by $11,494.10, approximately 2 mills, and a general mill levy for the high school proposed that would raise local property taxes by $12,666.95, approximately 2 mills.
Information from the Gildford Colony and Rocky Boy schools was unavailable at the time of printing.
