Latest news with #HouseBill515
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major education bill advances, would boost starting teacher pay
Photo illustration by Getty Images. Sen. John Fuller championed a $55 million education bill by reminding the Senate of his fiscally conservative values. 'Some of you may know that I'm so tight, I squeak when I walk, but I do support public education, and I support it fiercely,' Fuller, R-Kalispell, said on Tuesday. Sen. Sara Novak, a Democrat from Anaconda, said House Bill 252 isn't perfect, but it's a step in the right direction, and it will help especially small rural schools and young educators. 'It is some much-needed funding to our public schools to directly impact our teacher wages and specifically our beginning teacher wages,' Novak said. The Senate voted 40-10 in favor of the STARS Act, or Student and Teacher Advancement for Results, sending it to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee for a closer fiscal analysis. It's among the bills to help public schools that one supporter said bolsters education without adding undue stress to already beleaguered residential property taxpayers. Montana has struggled to increase starting teacher pay, and a proposal from the 2023 legislative session didn't work as planned. Backed by the Governor's Office, HB 252 earned bipartisan support, although some critics said it doesn't do enough for veteran teachers, who also need to be paid well. Sponsor and Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, has said the bill aims to fix an ongoing problem, which is low pay for beginning teachers, and the state doesn't have unlimited funds. The bill would spend more than $110 million from the general fund in the biennium, according to the most recent fiscal analysis. It also has other provisions to support education, such as incentives for academic achievement for students and tools to help teachers in areas with high housing costs. After the Senate floor vote, Lance Melton, with the Montana School Boards Association, said funding proposals before the legislature, including the STARS Act, have been written to guard against a spike in local property taxes. Property tax income goes in part toward public schools. 'All of those proposals have two — front and center — primary stakeholders, the child and the taxpayer,' Melton said. The fiscal analysis estimates an increase to local school property taxes of $800,000 a year, but those dollars are associated with housing support voters might approve through local levies, not incentives for teachers. Melton pointed also to House Bill 483 and House Bill 515, which both passed out of the House with bipartisan support and are in the Senate. Sponsored by Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, HB 483 would take any revenue growth that exceeds the state's obligation to a school equalization fund and return it to taxpayers. It has other Republicans and Democrats as co-sponsors and passed with a bipartisan 87-11 vote out of the House. House Bill 515, sponsored by Rep. Linda Reksten, R-Polson, would in part help schools with major maintenance costs without asking property taxpayers for a levy or a bond. On the House floor, Reksten said it has support from the Governor's Office. She said the bill transfers $75 million of one-time-only money from the general fund surplus to fill the school facilities trust fund — without affecting property taxpayers. It passed out of the House on a bipartisan 73-25 vote.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Libby Public Schools seek mill levy for maintenance costs
Apr. 11—Rising maintenance and insurance costs have led Libby Public School to seek a mill levy in the upcoming May 6 school election. School Superintendent Ron Goodman said the levy would be permanent and generate $250,000 annually. The money would primarily be used for roof replacement or repairs as well as parking lot maintenance at the high school. "Roofing is one of our major facilities maintenance expenses," Goodman told The Western News during an interview Wednesday morning. "Libby Schools has nearly six acres of roofs. Replacing one pod at Libby Elementary will cost roughly $400,000. Before Covid the cost of a new roof was $200,000." The estimated annual costs of the levy are $15.83 each year for a house with a market value of $100,000. For a house valued at $300,000, the estimated increase would be $47.48 annually. For a house valued at $600,000, the annual increase would be $94.95. Goodman said he is sympathetic to what taxpayers are going through with rising property tax rates at the state level. "I get it, it's a hardship, but we're working to stay ahead of doing complete roof replacements and we're also working to get away from using diesel-powered boilers to heat the middle high school," he said. "This summer, we'll be doing a roof fix with a new layer on the Middle High School. We're also doing a roof refurbishment on the Brown Pod at the Elementary School." According to reporting in other media outlets, the Montana Legislature is considering ways to lower property taxes, but nothing is certain at this point. Another bill in the state House of Representatives seeks to help school districts with rising maintenance costs. According to reporting in the Montana Free Press ( House Bill 515 seeks a one-time transfer of $75 million from the General Fund surplus to a special school facilities trust in order to elevate annual interest earnings. The money earned for the facilities trust would create an annual payment for major maintenance needs, capped at $40,000. The bill received large support in the House last week and reached the Senate on April 5. It was referred to the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee on April 7. "HB 515 would be great if it passes and that would help," Goodman said. "But the mill levy would provide a longstanding solution." Goodman said roof repairs are highly preferred because of the cost savings. "If we get them fixed before they get too bad, the cost is about 45% less than replacing an entire roof," he said. The district is doing a roof project at the Middle High School this summer. A new layer of synthetic rubber roofing membrane is being added to the existing roof. The rubber roofing is preferred on low slope or flat roofs because of durability, weather resistance and lifespan. He also explained the school district's efforts to move away from diesel-powered heat systems. "We spend $800 per week to heat the gym because of the cost of diesel fuel," Goodman said. "It's why we went to heat pumps at the elementary school. That is saving us $20,000 per year in electricity costs." Goodman said the school has chip-sealed areas of the parking lot at the Middle High School to keep things going. "Parking lot maintenance would be done in phases due to the costs, but it's something that needs attention pretty quickly," Goodman said. Rising insurance costs have also negatively impacted the school district. Goodman said the district's insurance premiums increased by $106,000 from 2021 to 2025. Goodman said for those that have questions about the levy, they can call him at 293-8877.
