Chinook Public Schools Election Set for May 3rd
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On Tuesday, May 3, 2016, Chinook Public Schools will hold the annual School Election. Polls will be open from Noon to 8:00 p.m. at the Chinook High School. Due to lack of applicants in Zurich School, and Bear Paw School District, voters in those districts please either call for an absentee ballot or come to Chinook High School to vote.
Individuals who have filed for three-year Trustee terms are Scott DePriest, Mark Harshman and Travis Buck. Two one-year seats representing District #17 and # 67, need interested parties to file a letter of interest with the High School Office. An appointment will be made in the June Board of Trustees Meeting
The High School District will also be running a High School General Fund Mill Levy Election. The trustees approved the amount of the Levy request of $5,131.36 to be put before the voters of the district for consideration. Approval of this amount by the electors will enable the High School District to establish a budget to sufficiently maintain and operate the educational functions of the school. Increased district-wide costs of operation include compensation, heating, electricity, supplies, textbooks, and general maintenance. The trustees feel careful planning, appropriate utilization of revenues and restructuring of staff when necessary will enable them to continue to effectively educate the young people of our community.
The $5,131.96 Levy is approximately .71 Mills. The estimated impact on a house with a market value of $100,000 will be about $.96 per year. The estimated impact on a house with a market value of $200,000 will be about $1.92.
The Elementary Trustees will propose an Elementary General Fund Mill Levy of $22,552.78. As with the High School Levy the Elementary Levy will establish a budget to sufficiently maintain and operate the educational functions of the School.
The $22,552.78 Levy is approximately 5.34 Mills. The estimated impact on a house with a market value of $100,000 will be about $7.21 per year. The estimated impact on a house with a market value of $200,000 will be about $14.42.
In addition to the Annual Mill Levy Election, the Trustees will be holding an Elementary Building Reserve Levy to replace the expiring Annual Mill Levy from 2011. The Elementary Building Reserve Levy request will establish an annual revenue supply to be placed in the Building Reserve Fund. This fund is used for the purpose of building, constructing, remodeling, maintaining, repairing, and equipping district facilities and grounds of the District’s property and buildings. This Levy, if approved, will provide $40,000 each year for five years. The total amount generated will total $200,000. The $40,000 Levy is approximately 9.47 Mills. The estimated impact on a house with a market value of $100,000 will be about $12.78 per year. The estimated impact on a house with a market value of $200,000 will be about $25.56. This fund has enabled the trustees to make improvements to the Elementary District’s facilities and grounds over the past several years. The current Building Reserve Levy, which was approved by the voters in 2011, is in its last year of existence.
One of the benefits to the School District and taxpayers is that the implementation of a levy generates additional tax monies from the Montana Oil and Gas production revenues. Any fund that levies dollars qualifies for a share, distributed by a percentage of the district total, of Montana Oil and Gas tax revenue. The Oil and Gas revenue can be used to effectively “pay down” the levied amount to the benefit of the taxpayer while still maintaining a fund balance to be used.
The Chinook community has consistently demonstrated its commitment to our public schools by their past voting record, volunteerism in all areas of our schools, and attendance at our school activities. All kinds of evidence is available demonstrating the positive affect our schools are having on our students and community. As a member of the community, we hope you take pride, as we do, in the high achievement in a wide variety of academics and activities that continue to occur year after year.
The Levy votes will be an important component of the Chinook School Districts funding picture.
Superintendent Hannum stated: “Costs continue to increase in almost every area, oil and gas revenues have decreased and the challenge has been to continually adjust spending to accommodate the most basic expenses such as salaries, maintenance and utilities while at the same time offering an educational program that meets or exceeds the state standards. It has been a process of annually adjusting the system to account for increased costs and changing needs given our budgetary constraints. The Chinook School system has historically provided a cost conscious system and we are working hard to continue that tradition as we move into the future”
“The most important thing in any school election is to get the vote out. I have a tremendous amount of confidence in the support our community provides the school system. Traditionally, the residents of Chinook and the surrounding area realize the value and benefits to having a quality educational system for our students and community. It is deeply appreciated,” Hannum concluded.
The Polls will open at noon in Auditorium at Chinook High School. Polls will close at 8:00 p.m.
