Missoula school board approves permissive levy estimates, puts $1 million high‑school safety levy on ballot

The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees on March 11 approved estimates of permissive levies for elementary and high‑school budgeted funds and voted to place a $1 million high‑school safety levy on the ballot.

The board set the elementary overbase levy at $384,947 and the high‑school overbase levy at $1,642,315, figures staff said are aimed at getting each district to ‘‘max budget’’ under current state formulas. Trustees also approved permissive‑levy increases tied to transportation and tuition funds, and voted 6–1 to place a $1 million high‑school safety and security levy on the ballot after debate about taxpayer impact and timing.

Trustees and district finance staff said the levies respond to cost increases in several narrow budget areas. Pat McHugh, district staff who presented the levy estimates, said transportation costs rose in part because of a 7% increase negotiated with Beach Transportation and because the district plans to assume additional routes that will require new vans and drivers. McHugh said the tuition fund estimate includes an increase to cover excess special‑education costs (about $550,000 in the district’s estimate) and an additional $250,000 estimated liability related to students who attend schools outside their district of residence.

Why it matters: the permissive levies fund narrow, legally specified budget items — transportation, tuition/excess special education, adult education and other non‑general‑fund costs — and cannot be repurposed for general operations. School leaders warned that rising special‑education and transportation spending is placing increasing pressure on the general fund and on local taxpayers.

What trustees voted - Elementary permissive levy estimates (board set elementary overbase levy at $384,947): motion moved by Trustee Walsh, seconded by Vice Chair of Garris; unanimous among elementary trustees present. - High‑school permissive levy estimates (board set high‑school overbase levy at $1,642,315): motion moved by Trustee Gamel, seconded by Trustee Davy; unanimous among trustees present. - High‑school safety levy (place $1,000,000 levy on the ballot): motion moved by Trustee Davy, seconded by Trustee Wake; passed with all trustees voting yes except Trustee Witcher who voted no (motion passed). - Authorization for superintendent to advocate for levies: full board motion moved by Trustee Davy, seconded by Vice Chair of Garris; unanimous approval. - Out‑of‑country travel request (Sentinel High School students to India): motion moved by Trustee Hayes, second by Vice Chair Ferris; unanimous approval.

Public comment and trustee concerns: dozens of speakers during public comment urged the board to preserve Family Resource Coordinators (FRCs), FIT coordinators and English‑language learner (ELL) positions as the board considers budget reductions. Multiple FRCs and teachers described daily work that helps students attend and succeed in class — from food and clothing assistance to arranging transportation and crisis support — and said regionalizing or cutting those roles would harm vulnerable students. Trustees acknowledged the public appeals and said the budget and levy committee would continue to refine options before final budget adoption in August.

Board discussion and next steps: trustees and staff framed the levies as part of a broader budget picture that includes uncertain federal and state funding (Superintendent Hill said the district is watching a recently issued executive order restructuring the U.S. Department of Education) and the state’s proposed STARS Act funding. Staff said passing the permissive levies would help cover discrete costs (transportation, excess special‑education, depreciation for new vans, adult‑education facility work and other non‑general‑fund items) while the district continues monthly budget and levy committee work. Final budgets will be adopted in August.

— Pat McHugh (district staff) summarized the primary drivers: ‘‘The transportation fund … involves a 7% increase in the rates that are part of Schedule 1 to that contract. And we are looking at taking over routes. Part of assuming those routes is an investment in people that will make next year an investment in equipment in the form of vans.’’

— Superintendent Hill framed uncertainty around federal policy and state funding: ‘‘We’re still trying to assess what the full implications are of that order… We look at our state superintendent who openly supported the action, while we have others who have openly opposed it, and then we have others who are taking a wait‑and‑see approach.’’

The board recorded the levy estimates and directed staff to continue monthly budget‑and‑levy committee work, to refine projections and to return with updated analysis as state and federal funding signals become clearer.