Page 12 - Flathead Beacon // 3.30.16

NEWS
White sh, Creston to Seek Levies for School Building Needs Voters to decide building reserve levy in White sh in May election
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Faced with deferred maintenance and other infra- structure needs, White sh and Creston school districts will seek voter approval of tax levies in May.
While both school districts will oat levy requests in the May 3 election, the Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Bigfork school districts have decided not to pursue a variety of levy requests this spring.
The decision to avoid a spring levy request in Kalis- pell comes as the district stands poised to oat a bond request this fall to build two new facilities, an elemen- tary and middle school, on the south end of town. School board trustees decided in recent weeks that trying lev- ies for the elementary and high school districts could hamper the bond’s chances of passing later this year.
The high school district budget is projected to increase by $377,999 next year, according to school o cials. Without new levies, the district will have to tap into reserve funds to cover the added operational costs, but school board trustees said passing the bond is a higher priority to address overcrowding in the city’s elementary classrooms.
In White sh, school administrators are faced with a new structure for tax increment nancing that is forcing the district to seek voter approval of a building reserve levy for the rst time in nearly 30 years. The Montana Legislature last session passed House Bill 114, which
changed the ways school district could use TIF funds, or incremental increases in property tax revenue that are earmarked for a fund that supports improvements in a designated district.
While nearly all school districts in Montana use building reserve levies to support maintenance needs, White sh School District has been allowed to use TIF funds since 1987.
Now the school district must rst gain voter approval of a new levy that allows the district to simultaneously use TIF funds to reduce future property tax levies.
The school district is seeking $400,000 annually for seven years, or $2.8 million, for Muldown Elementary, the city’s lone elementary school, and $300,000 annu- ally for seven years, or $2.1 million, for the high school.
If approved, annual property taxes could increase an estimated $36.50 for a home with a $200,000 assessed market value in both districts.
White sh School District Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt said homeowners would most likely not see a complete $36.50 increase in property taxes because the TIF funds could o set any added costs from thelevy.
“Even though we would have the authority to levy that maximum amount, we are not obligated to do that. That’s the worst-case scenario,” Davis Schmidt said.
The additional building funds would address two key issues in White sh. The old roof at the high school
gymnasium was not replaced during the renovation project and is now approaching the time to replace it. Administrators say they are studying the best way to reconstruct the roof and would use TIF funds if the building reserve levy were approved.
At Muldown Elementary, the largest elementary school in the state with 660 students, the facility is heated by a 50-year old system that needs to be updated, according to school o cials. There are also structural components that need to be addressed as well as tra c safety issues at the site.
“Beyond the deferred maintenance of the high school roof, our highest priorities include safety and security upgrades, technology enhancements to the classrooms, parking lot resurfacing, carpet replacements, roof repairs, painting, gym oor re nishing, maintenance to the playgrounds, and landscaping,” school o cials said in a memo.
The district is launching a long-term planning e ort looking at Muldown’s future in May. The district has hired an architecture rm to lead future planning discussions.
Creston School District is seeking $15,000 annually for ve years, or $75,000, to renovate and maintain its facilities. If approved, property taxes would increase $16.65 annually on a home with an assessed value of $200,000.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
White sh City Manager to Retire in January Chuck Stearns to step down after eight years as chief administrative o cer
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Chuck Stearns will retire as city manager of White-
sh at the end of the year.
Stearns informed city o cials earlier last week that
he plans to step down after eight years as White sh’s chief administrative o cer.
He said he plans to retire at the end of 2016, ending a career in local government that spans nearly 33 years. Stearns took over as city manager in December 2008. He emerged as the top candidate among 65 who applied for the job at a time when White sh was experiencing signi cant, sudden growth.
His retirement will be e ective Jan. 6, 2017.
Stearns is stepping down after tackling several key issues over the last eight years, including nancing and completing large, complex construction projects such as the Emergency Services Center, Central Avenue recon- struction and the Second Street reconstruction. Stearns has also helped guide the development of the new city hall and parking structure in downtown.
“It takes a hard-working and great sta to get all those things done, so I can’t take sole credit for those,” Stearns said.
The city also received an A- bond rating for the 2009 tax increment bonds. By re nancing the city’s TIF bond
last year, the city saved over $414,000 over the last ve years of the bonds. White sh also successfully transi- tioned from a 12-hour-per day re and ambulance ser- vice to a 24-7 service. Stearns was also instrumental in White sh’s decision to secure a conservation easement on the Haskill Basin land in the municipal watershed.
“As I said, the Mayor, City Council, sta , and commu- nity really made these things possible – I just help steer the ship,” he said.
Stearns turns 60 in July 2017 and said he plans to travel around the world on bicycle with his wife before returning to White sh to enjoy ski season.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
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