Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Thane says he’s “extremely grateful” for Tuesday’s 11th-hour victory of a $70 million high school bond issue. Local voters passed it as well as an $88 million dollar elementary bond. The levies will pay for local school maintenance, renovations, remodeling and technology and security updates.
"I recognize this was a very significant ask of the community. I regard it as an investment and think it has potential as a significant economic driver for Missoula, not only in terms of producing a workforce-ready graduate, but as businesses relocate to Missoula, they will ask themselves, ‘what will the schools my children will attend look like.”
It looked like Missoula’s high school bond would fail Tuesday night, but a late surge of ballots brought it over the top.
The elementary bond will cost the owners of a $200,000 home roughly $140 annually for 20 years. For a home valued at the same amount, the high school levy would annually cost about $72 for the next 20 years.
