Red yard signs have appeared across homes and sidewalks throughout this summer, all displaying the same message: “The time is now. YES! For Helena Schools.”
The signs, made by the local school advocacy group of the same name, show support for a big ask.
This Election Day, ballots will include one of the largest school funding requests ever put before Helena voters, the approval of more than $280 million in bonds. The vote has captured the attention of parents and non-parents alike in part due to the consequences if the bond does not pass: The city’s high school students, currently attending two schools, may have to share one school on alternate schedules.
Q1: What’s happening tomorrow in Helena?
Tomorrow is Election Day, and on the ballot, Helenans will be asked to either support or reject a multimillion-dollar school bond request to fund improvements and new construction for some of the district’s facilities.
Specifically, the bond will pay for needed upgrades to Capital High School and new buildings for Helena High and Kessler Elementary.
Currently, about 990 students attend Helena High, 1300 Billings Ave., and about 1,390 students go to Capital High, 100 Valley Dr. The schools are about three miles apart.
Kessler Elementary serves about 280 students on the west side of Helena.
Also included under the high school bond’s scope of work is adding a new district kitchen, a new space for an alternative high school and new athletic facilities.
Q2: Can people vote on Election Day? How?
Many in Helena have already voted; as of last week, the elections office received about 37% of registered ballots.
But residents can still register and vote on Election Day at the county election office at 316 N. Park Ave. Residents can use the same Montana Voter Registration Application form found here on the county elections website. You’ll also need a form of approved ID, such as a driver’s license number, the last four digits of your social security number, or a military or tribal identification.
The county elections office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Q3: What will happen if it passes or if it doesn’t?
If voters pass the bond requests, Helena Public School officials anticipate having new and updated facilities ready for students by the fall of 2028.
The district plans to acquire its official architecture and engineering team by next month and will have 10 to 11 months before it goes out for bidding next July. School officials said that construction on the facilities will start next August and will be ongoing for the next two years.
If the bond fails, school leaders will have to go back to the board of trustees to determine how to pay for the facilities.
The district should potentially seek another bond request in the future, but given rising inflation and materials costs, it would be a more expensive ask.
Q4: Does it really all come down to a boiler?
Yes, essentially. Because Helena High’s boilers have failed before, school officials have said it would be only a matter of time or another round of severe cold weather for them to fail again.
If the boilers fail, the district would need to close the building, move Helena High students and staff to Capital High and begin a “split-shift” schedule. HHS would run from 6 a.m. to noon, and CHS would operate from noon to 6 p.m.
Q5: When can we start seeing the results?
The Lewis and Clark County Elections Office will close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, although staff began counting ballots Monday. Initial results are likely to be posted on its website by 8:30 p.m., according to election staff. The final results will be posted the following morning.
Election staff said they don’t anticipate it will take too long to get results with this election. Official results will be available in the next two weeks after the canvass process is complete.
Q6: How much money are we talking about? How will it impact my tax bill?
Residents will see the bond request split into two votes on their ballot: a $240 million bond for the high schools and a $43 million bond for Kessler Elementary.
School officials anticipate that the high school bond to be paid off in 30 years and the elementary in 20.
If the high school bond passes, residents with properties valued at $300,000 would pay an additional $220 in property taxes per year, and properties valued at $600,000 would see a tax increase of about $506 annually, according to a district mill levy analysis.
If the elementary bond is approved, residents with properties valued at $300,000 will see a tax increase of about $40 per year, while properties valued at $600,000 would see an increase of about $91.
Residents can check their exact tax impacts are using the taxable value of their properties on the school bond website here.
Helena has historically been supportive of passing school funding requests.
The last bonds were approved in 2017 for the construction of three new elementary buildings.
But that trend has shifted. Helenans voted down five levies last school year, which were aimed at providing funds to address technology, safety and security needs in facilities and to help with the district’s budget deficit.
Q7: What else is on the ballot for Helena?
The Helena mayoral and city commission candidates will also appear on the ballot. Voters will choose one mayor candidate and two commissioner candidates. The top two candidates for the mayor’s race and the top four candidates for the commission will appear on the General Election in November. Here is a sample ballot.
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