School board, levy election May 8

Whitefish School District voters will head to the polls next week to decide on a levy request and select from three trustee candidates.

The election is Tuesday, May 8.

The district is running a $45,000 operational levy for the high school district. If approved, the levy will not actually increase taxes for homeowners who live in both the elementary and high school districts.

Based upon the budget authority maximum, the elementary district is capped out for the 2012-2013 year. This is expected to decrease taxes by about $6 for a $200,000 home.

The high school levy, if passed, would only increase taxes for the same value home by about $2.50, thus actually resulting in a savings of about $3.50.

The high school district is expected to be short $84,614 if the levy does not pass. However, the passage of the levy still means the district will have to contend with a $38,832 shortfall.

Salary obligations and decreasing enrollment figures are projected to create the shortfall. The elementary district is expecting to be short $78,865 as well.

Three candidates are seeking election to the two trustee seats on the school board. Incumbents Pat Jarvi and Shannon Hanson are running for re-election. Challenger Shawn Tucker faces them in the election.