Voters pass levies, back incumbents

Columbia Falls voters gave the thumbs up to high school and elementary school levies and voted in two incumbent school board members Tuesday.

The elementary levy passed 786 to 761 and the high school levy passed 825 to 809.

In the school board race, incumbent Jill Rocksund garnered the most votes with 821, followed by incumbent James Henjum with 618 votes. Challenger Benjamin Shafer received 589 votes, Carl G. Motichka 464 and Glenn Wehe 243.

The 3.19-mill request for the elementary district would raise $91,544 per year. The tax increase for a home with a market value of $200,000 would be $9.40 per year. The 2.5-mill request for the high school district would raise $81,985 per year. The tax increase for a home with a market value of $200,000 would be $7.36 per year.

Reductions in the school district’s non-general fund budgets will offset any increases that would result from the voted levies, School District 6 superintendent Mike Nicosia said. Reductions in the general fund are due to declining enrollment and minimal state funding. There will also be reductions in funding for school buses.