Board approves ballot language for $65,000 levy; trustees outline tax impact and outreach plan

The Big Sky School K-12 Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve ballot language asking voters to authorize a $65,000 levy, administrators said at the board meeting.

Superintendent Dustin said the district plans to ask for $65,000 and shared sample tax impacts to help the community understand the request. “At a $100,000 home the levy is about $0.82 a year; on a $300,000 home it’s under $2.50; a $600,000 home would pay about $4.92 a year,” Dustin said. Trustees described the amounts as illustrative examples to accompany outreach materials.

Trustees and staff discussed timing and communications. The superintendent said staff will work with the levy outreach committee and host two to three listening sessions, including pre- and post-spring-break outreach because ballots will be mailed during the district’s spring break. Trustee Matt urged community members to “tell your friends and family” about the request and noted district fundraising and permissive-levy history as context for the ask.

Why it matters: Trustees said the levy is intended to help close an operating shortfall the district is managing this fiscal year. The budget committee reported an estimated year-end shortfall in the range of $600,000–$800,000 and noted small permissive-levy adjustments could help reduce that gap.

What happens next: With ballot language approved, administrators will finalize ballot materials and begin community outreach and listening sessions ahead of the mailing. The board did not change the levy amount at the meeting and set a public-information plan to accompany the ballot mailing.