ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVY:         89 FOR      59 AGAINST

 HIGH BUILDING RESERVE LEVY:  100 FOR      53 AGAINST

NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION for PUBLICATION

Notice is hereby given by the undersigned Clerk of Grass Range School District No. 27, Fergus County, State of Montana that the Annual School Election will be held on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, at the following polling place:

Grass Range School, 310 E 2^nd S., Grass Range, Montana 59032

The polls will be open between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

Electors will consider the following issues at the election:

ELEMENTARY GENERAL FUND LEVY:
Shall the district be authorized to impose an increase in local taxes to support the general fund in the amount of $27,166.81 which is approximately 12.47 mills for the purpose of the operation and maintenance of the Grass Range Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year? Passage of this proposal will increase taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $16.83 and on a home with a market value of $200,000 by approximately $33.66. The durational limit of the levy is permanent once approved by the voters, assuming the district levies that amount at least once in the next five years.

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING RESERVE ELECTION:
Shall the district be authorized to impose an increase in local taxes to support the building reserve fund in the amount of $5,250.00 per year for (10) years and being approximately 2.30 mills, for a total amount of $52,500.00 for the purpose of building, remodeling, furnishing, repairing or adding onto the property of the Grass Range High School for the 2023-2024 school year?  Passage of this proposal will increase taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $3.10 and a home with a market value of $200,000 by approximately $6.21.

A qualified registered elector who will be unable to go to the polls on the day of election may request an Application for Absentee Voter's Ballot from the school district clerk/election administrator's office located at: Grass Range School, 310 E 2^nd S., Grass Range, Montana 59032

If you miss this regular registration deadline (30 days prior to the election), you may still register for the election by showing up at the county election office by noon on the day before Election Day. The late registration certificate may be exchanged for a ballot at the school election administrator’s office or at the polling place until the close of polls on Election Day.  

The county election office is located at: Fergus County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 712 W Main St, Lewistown, MT 59457

LOCATION AND METHOD FOR COUNTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee Ballots for the School Election held on the 2nd, day of May, 2023, will be manually counted at the polling place at the close of the election.

POLLING LOCATION ACCESSIBILITY
The location for the School Election to be held 2nd of May 2023 is accessible in accordance with 13-3-207, MCA.

INFORMATION CONCERNING VOTING SYSTEM (13-17-203, MCA)
The Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) ExpressVote ballot marking system will be available for the School Election at the polling place. The voting system will be on public exhibition at the county election office and school election administrator’s office located at:

Fergus County Clerk and Recorder’s Office: 712 W Main St, Lewistown, MT 59457 
School Election Administrator’s Office: Grass Range School, 310 E 2^nd S., Grass Range, Montana 59032

The trustee election is cancelled in accordance with 13-1-304 and 20-3-313, MCA. Two trustee positions will be seated by acclamation by the following: Justin (Jake) Nelson & Charlee McKay

NOTICE
20-20-204, MCA

ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION

Grass Range School District # 27, Fergus County, Montana will hold a poll election on May 2, 2023 from 12:00 (noon) until 8:00 p.m. at the Grass Range School located at 310 E. 2^nd St., Grass Range, MT. The items to consider are as follows:

ELEMENTARY GENERAL FUND LEVY:

Shall the district be authorized to impose an increase in local taxes to support the general fund in the amount of $27,166.81 which is approximately 12.47 mills for the purpose of the operation and maintenance of the Grass Range Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year? Passage of this proposal will increase taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $16.83 and on a home with a market value of $200,000 by approximately $33.66. The durational limit of the levy is permanent once approved by the voters, assuming the district levies that amount at least once in the next five years.

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING RESERVE ELECTION:

Shall the district be authorized to impose an increase in local taxes to support the building reserve fund in the amount of $5,250.00 per year for (10) years and being approximately 2.30 mills, for a total amount of $52,500.00 for the purpose of building, remodeling, furnishing, repairing or adding onto the property of the Grass Range High School for the 2023-2024 school year?  Passage of this proposal will increase taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $3.10 and a home with a market value of $200,000 by approximately $6.21.

TRUSTEE ELECTION: CANCELED

The election is cancelled in accordance with 13-1-304 and 20-3-313, MCA. Two trustee positions will be seated by acclamation by the following:

Justin (Jake) Nelson (three-year term)

Charlee McKay (three-year term)

ELEMENTARY BUILDING RESERVE ELECTION: CANCELED

Shall the district be authorized to impose an increase in local taxes to support the building reserve fund in the amount of $5,250.00 per year for (10) years and being approximately 2.41 mills, for a total amount of $52,500.00 for the purpose of building, remodeling, furnishing, repairing or adding onto the property of the Grass Range Elementary for the 2023-2024 school year? Passage of this proposal will increase taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $3.25 and a home with a market value of $200,000 by approximately $6.51.

 A qualified registered elector who will be unable to go to the polls on the day of election may request an Application for Absentee Voter's Ballot from the school district clerk/election administrator's office located at:

310 E 2^nd St

Grass Range, MT 59032

TRUSTEE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN ELECTION

BE IT RESOLVED, that on January 17, 2023 at the special meeting of the Grass Range School Board of Trustees of School District #27, of Fergus County, State of Montana, will hold the Annual Regular School Election on Tuesday, the 2^nd day of May 2023, which date is not less than seventy (70) days after the passage of this resolution.

The Election will be conducted by:

Poll Election (the polls will be open from 12:00 Noon until 8:00 p.m.)

If necessary, the purpose is for elementary and/or high school GENERAL LEVY ELECTIONS for the operation and maintenance of the Grass Range Schools for the 2023-2024 school year; a TRUSTEE ELECTION to elect two (2) trustees for three year terms; and an elementary and/or high school BUILDING RESERVE LEVY ELECTION for the purpose of adding to the building reserve fund to facilitate building, remodeling, furnishing, repairing or adding onto the buildings of the Grass Range School.

If it is later determined that any portion of the election is not required, the Board of Trustees authorizes Jamie Goss, election administrator, to cancel that portion of the election in accordance with 13-1-304 and 20-3-313, MCA.

Voting Location and Address:

Grass Range School located at 310 East 2^nd Street, Grass Range, Montana

Three qualified electors of this District shall be appointed to act as judges.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the clerk of this school district is hereby directed to notify the election judges of their appointment and to notify the county election administrator of the date of holding said election, and request him/her to close registration and to prepare and furnish election materials as required by law. If any of these judges should not be able to serve, the election administrator will choose a replacement from certified judges.

In accordance with District Policy: 1014FE-F1 FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY

Resolution of Intent to Impose an Increase in Levies

As an essential part of its budgeting process, the Grass Range School District #27 Board of Trustees is authorized by law to impose levies to support its budget. The Trustees estimates the following increases/decreases in revenues and mills for the funds noted below for the next school fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, using certified taxable valuations from the current school fiscal year as provided to the district:

Impacts above are based on current certified taxable valuations from the current school fiscal year. These estimates are preliminary and changes are expected before the final budgets are set in August in accordance with MCA 20-9-131.

Along with the public notice requirement for non-voted levies, SB307 allows for an additional permissive levies in the Building Reserve Fund. Each school district may increase mills in their building reserve fund based on $15,000.00 plus $100 per ANB up to 10 mills. The 2019 Legislature approved funding for state major maintenance aid, making it beneficial for the school district to permissively levy in the Building Reserve Fund for the upkeep of facilities (see Building Reserve Permissive above).

The Permissive Building Reserve levy and associated funding will be used to finance projects identified in the District’s

Facility Assessment, deferred maintenance projects and for student safety.