It’s no secret that Montana schools have struggled to pass funding levies over the last few years. But administrators in many districts say they don’t have a choice: if they don’t go to voters, they won’t be fully funded.
That’s because the state pays for roughly 80% of a school’s budget. Whether the remainder is covered is up to voters, who are asked to increase their property taxes to help pay for schools.
It’s a system Helena Public Schools superintendent Rex Weltz calls “cumbersome.” His district is asking voters for help funding its elementary budget and ongoing technology expenses, like software licenses. Weltz says those licenses are essential to modern learning, but aren’t paid for by the state. He hopes that will change someday.
“However, I can’t wait for that day to come, because I’m not sure that it will ever come,” Weltz told MTPR in a phone interview. “And we still have the operational needs of technology.”
Helena voters last year passed a quarter-billion-dollar bond to build a new high school and elementary school. Weltz says he’s immensely grateful — but says none of that money can help cover the annual budget. The message he’s working to get out to voters?
“Bonds are for buildings, and levies are for learning,” Weltz said.
Districts in Kalispell, Missoula, and Butte are also asking voters for help paying for educational expenses next month. School levy elections are set for May 5.
