Elementary General Fund Levy

A perfect storm of factors is causing the budget shortfall faced by Montana AA districts: Rising utility costs, fast-changing security and technology needs, soaring healthcare and insurance rates, and inflation that makes virtually everything we do more expensive.

However, state law caps inflationary increases for school districts at 3 percent. As a result of this cap, along with other aspects of Montana’s public school funding formula, state funding no longer keeps up with expenses.

Billings is closing an elementary school. Missoula will lay off up to 100 staff. Kalispell could face a budget deficit of more than $3 million. And Bozeman faces a nearly $3 million shortfall.

Helena Public Schools saw the fiscal cliff coming beginning in 2017 and adjusted accordingly. Our district shaved approximately $4 million off of our budget shortfall through larger class sizes, non-renewal of some teacher contracts, leasing of district facilities and other revenue generation and cost reduction measures.

However, the district’s current level of staffing and student programming cannot continue into the 2024/25 school year without passage of the three proposed levies on the ballot:

• Safety & Security (high school and elementary)
• Technology (high school and elementary)
• Elementary General Fund

The Technology and Safety/Security levies would create dedicated funding sources for these needs, which have grown dramatically over the past decade. The district is covering technology and safety costs out of the General Fund, which is intended to cover basic operating expenses such as staff salaries, utilities and insurance, and is where the district faces a significant funding shortfall. The Safety/Security and Technology levies would take pressure off of the General Fund. 

The Elementary General Fund Levy, meanwhile, would help close the gap in the district’s elementary operating budget as Helena Public Schools and our fellow AA districts seek funding solutions at the state level.