School district seeks approval of technology levy

The Whitefish School Board is looking to increase levies to help offset future increases in technology spending.

The board voted unanimously last week to increase the voter-approved technology levy as well as the nonvoted transportation and tuition levies.

The increases, District Business Director Lucie Shea told the board, are meant to shift technology spending into one fund as well as plan for future increases in funds spent on technology.

As it is, roughly $183,750 of technology items are paid for out of the general fund rather than out of a technology levy.

The technology and general fund levies would increase by nearly $366,000 if approved by voters, with a $232,600 technology levy increase and $50,900 general fund increase coming in the elementary district. The high school district would see a technology levy increase of $83,000.

Included in the increase is funding for a second IT specialist position, which Shea says is required to support district staff.

The annual impact for a taxpayer with a taxable home value of $100,000 would be $8.65, and $17.31 for a home valued at $200,000.

In addition, increases in nonvoted levies include $4,682 in the elementary transportation fund and nearly $500,000 in the elementary and high school district tuition funds combined.

The changes, including voted and nonvoted increases, would mean a $20.29 increase for a taxable home value of $100,000 and $40.62 for a home value of $200,000.

The voter-approved levy increase will appear on the May 7 ballot.