School Election

SCHOOL ELECTION-MAY 7, 2024

  • The regular school election is Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

  • It will be held by MAIL BALLOT only.

  • You will receive a ballot from the County Clerk and Recorder and Election Administrator. Please return your ballot to the County by mail or by dropping it off at 103 W. Wallace St., First Floor, Virginia City, MT 59755

  • Your ballot must be RECEIVED by 8:00 p.m. on election day. Postmarked by election day doesn’t count, so please mail your ballot back early!

WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT?

  • Residents of Alder will NOT receive a ballot. There is an open Alder trustee position for three years, but no candidates filed to fill that seat. The Board will attempt to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.

  • Residents of Sheridan will receive a ballot with:

    • An election for two trustees for three-year terms-two candidates filed for two positions;

    • An elementary general fund levy of $62,829.25.

ELEMENTARY GENERAL FUND LEVY INFORMATION

  • The School Board has made the decision to ask the voters for a levy to operate the elementary general fund.

  • The amount of the levy is determined by a funding formula that is in state law.

  • Factors considered in the decision-making process include:

    • Increasing elementary enrollment;

    • Increasing staffing costs;

    • Increased cost of teaching supplies, curriculum, and resources for our students;

    • Changes in state funding for our Jumpstart Kindergarten program due to HB 352:

      • Our program will transition from the current Jumpstart Kindergarten to an Early Literacy Intervention Program;

      • The District may not receive state funding for all of the students in the class, resulting in an increased burden on the general fund to run this program, which has been such a benefit to our families and students.

HOW MUCH WILL THE GENERAL FUND LEVY COST?

  • Based on current taxable values, the Board anticipates that the levy will be approximately 10.2 mills, and passage of the levy will increase taxes as follows:

    • on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $13.77,

    • on a home with a market value of $300,000 by approximately $41.31,

    • and on a home with a market value of $600,000 by approximately $82.62.

  • If the mill levy passes, the Board will attempt to reduce other non-voted levies to offset the increase to individual property taxes. The chart below shows the estimated increase or decrease in non-voted levies for all funds for the elementary district, and INCLUDES the proposed levy:

chart

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