The $283 million bonds to build two new schools in Helena and update another before voters next week are among the largest funding requests ever from a Montana school district.
And while the amount being requested to update Capital High School and build new versions of Helena High and Kessler Elementary is significant, Rex Weltz, the superintendent for Helena Public Schools, said that number — compared to what other districts requested in past years — has been skewed by inflation and rising construction costs.
In 2017, voters in Bozeman passed a $125 million bond to pay for a new high school and to modernize the existing Bozeman High. Kalispell passed a $39.8 million bond in 2004 to build a new high school and renovate its existing one. In contrast, the last time Helena voters approved improvements to its two high schools was nearly 30 years ago.
Weltz said that if these projects in Bozeman and Kalispell were built today, the costs would be similar to those now sought by the Helena district, if not more.
“ We’re doing the same thing …,” Weltz told Montana Free Press. “ So the project isn’t different. It’s just later in the construction years, and it costs more money to do the same projects other communities have done over the last 25 years. But because we’re doing it later, it just costs more.”
Still, the bond amount has left residents questioning, “Why so much?”
Tim Meldrum with SMA Architecture and Design, the company that’s been consulting with the school district to address its aging facilities, told MTFP that the question has several answers.
Helena is the first AA school district to request a facilities bond since the pandemic, which had economic impacts, Meldrum said. He added that the cost has risen because Helena, for various reasons, has put off the work.
“ It’s expensive because we’ve waited so long,” Meldrum said.
According to the school district, construction costs increased 63% from 2018 to 2025, bringing the average price per square foot from $276 to $450.
If the school district were to seek the same bonds to address the same facility needs in 2030, building costs would increase an additional 40%, bringing the cost per square foot to $630, according to bond information provided by the school district.
District officials also said that prioritizing the improvements at one high school or doing the work in phases is not sustainable.
“ You’re not renewing the school into today’s 21st-century learning standards,” Meldrum said. “… But bottom line is you’re not spending dollars in a way that would be fiscally wise because you still have an old, leaky foundation, you still have probably an insect issue. You still have uninsulated walls.”
Superintendent Weltz added that it would be inequitable for the district to address one school while not updating the other.
“ I did not recommend that to the trustees because I know that the students on the west side of town deserve a learning environment as well as the east side of the town,” Weltz said. “And if we build a new Helena High, now you have a Capital High School that’s subpar to what they have.”
The total funding is split into a $240 million high school bond and a $43 million elementary bond to fund the construction of Kessler.
Those amounts reflect the project budgets, which were developed with input from school officials, contractors and architects.
Most of the budget will cover construction costs, including materials and labor, site development, demolition and pending hazardous material abatement, according to district officials.
Other spending comes from “soft costs” that make up non-construction needs, including design fees, permits, inspections and legal fees.
Other additions under the bond’s scope include constructing a new district kitchen responsible for producing food for Helena students, relocating the alternative high school onto the new Helena High campus and building a new athletic facility.
HPSD Facilities Director Todd Verrill explained that it’s difficult to know the exact details regarding material costs for the new school and other improvements at this point. If the bonds are approved, the district will seek bids that will help solidify budget specifics.
As of now, the district has allocated about $21.8 million for project inflation and contingencies, according to bond documents.
The last time the Helena district issued bonds for the high schools was in 1996 when funds were used to construct additional classrooms at both Helena and Capital high schools.
In 2017, Helenans approved a $63 million bond for three new elementary schools. That bond is estimated to be paid off in 2037, according to school officials.
The Helena Chamber of Commerce, along with the local advocacy group, YES For Helena Schools, has assisted in rallying local support for the bonds by campaigning and hosting educational sessions over the summer.
Representatives from the organizations have said that sufficient school facilities will benefit Helena’s economy and ultimately encourage the city’s growth.
“Passing school bonds is one of the most direct and impactful investments a community can make in its future,” chamber president Callie Aschim previously told MTFP. “These bonds fund critical infrastructure improvements, safety upgrades and modern learning environments that ensure students have the tools they need to succeed, but the benefits extend far beyond the classroom.”
At least one political action committee is urging voters to reject the bonds.
In August, the Lewis and Clark PAC, founded by Helena resident Joe Dooling, sent out anti-bond texts, encouraging voters to reject the bonds to sustain affordable housing in the county.
“This bond is so egregious,” Dooling told MTFP. “This bond request is over the top in terms of how much money they want to borrow. So we felt like this was put together quickly.”
Dooling added that the PAC has backed previous elementary bond requests and usually supports the school district, just not this bond.
“The thought was we need to oppose this and get the school board and the administration to get back to something that’s more reasonable,” Dooling said.
If the $240 million high school bond passes, homeowners with properties valued at $300,000 would pay a tax increase of about $220 per year for 30 years. Properties valued at $600,000 would see an annual tax increase of about $506, according to a district mill levy analysis.
If voters approve the $43 million elementary bond, homeowners with properties valued at $300,000 could pay a tax increase of about $40 annually for 20 years, while properties valued at $600,000 would see an annual tax increase of about $91.
The vote is Tuesday, Sept. 9. Absentee ballots were mailed Aug. 22, and residents have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return them to the county elections office at the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave. Note that it is too late for voters to mail their absentee ballots, and they will need to return them directly to the elections office. So far, about 13,315 ballots, or 37.2% of those mailed to voters, have been returned, according to county election officials.
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