School deficit could mean May levy election

By CONSTANCE SEE

Whitefish Pilot

A $420,000 deficit is forecasted for School District 44 next year, superintendent Jerry House warned two dozen attendees at a community education forum Monday night. Without legislative changes this year, House said, the district would need a levy election in May.

Declining enrollment is one of the key factors driving the budget issue. A loss of 96 students in the 2006-2007 school year accounts for a significant loss in funding.

The district receives approximately $5,700 per high school student and $4,400 per elementary school student. This year there are 71 fewer kindergarten through eighth-grade students and 25 fewer high school students.

House said that although the community is seeing an increase in home building and a recent rise in births, families with young children cannot afford to live within the Whitefish city limits.

"Where will they live if the median home price here is $360,000?" House asked. "A beginning teacher can't afford that huge down payment on their salary. The population will continue to go up, but they'll live in Kalispell, Bigfork, Columbia Falls, not here."

In addition to fewer students, House said, an increasing list of federally-mandated special programs continues to eat away at the general budget, providing less money to cover the basics.

"If the federal government would take care of their part, we wouldn't have any problem," House said. "Funding issues are affecting all the schools in Montana and every other state."

House said several bills before the Montana Legislature could make a difference in the school's budget, including House Bills 701 and 182 and Senate Bills 152, 390 and 123, which would institute full-time kindergarten. House asked members of the public to contact their legislators to ask for their assistance.

Danelle Reisch, the school district's business manager, said another pending bill that could help is SB56. If it passes, the bill would reverse a previous legislative decision and allow the school district to fund retirement through a countywide retirement. That would provide a $100,000 saving, Reisch said.

House said if there are no legislative changes to help the district's funding issues, he will go before the school board on March 13 to ask for a levy, and then hold a special board meeting March 27, the last day before the deadline to file for a levy.