Whitefish schools ask for building levy

The Whitefish School District is asking voters to approve two levies totaling $700,000 annually to fund building maintenance, repairs and technology upgrades at all of its schools.

The new levies combined will increase annual taxes on a home with a market value of $200,000 by about $36.56 for the next seven years. The Whitefish School Board OK'd the request at its Tuesday meeting, with trustee Marguerite Kaminski the lone vote against.

Voters will consider the levies in the May 3 election.

The request comes after the state Legislature last year revised the way tax-increment finance funds can be used. Since 1987, the school district has used TIF dollars from the city to fund school maintenance.

After the Legislature passed House Bill 114, the district must put funds raised through TIF into a tax-levied building reserve fund, according to District Business Director Danelle Reisch.

“We need voter approval to have that fund,” Reisch explained.

Reisch said if this levy is approved, it’s unlikely the district will need to run another building levy for at least the next three years.

She said having the fund will allow the district to plan for and set aside money for larger capital projects. She notes that one such project is replacing the roof of the high school gym, which could cost up to $500,000.

There is no operating levy request this year.