2026 Levy Information

Fair-Mont-Egan 2026 General Fund Levy Information

Proposed Levy Overview

Fair-Mont-Egan School District is requesting its first General Fund Levy since 2005. This is a voted Over-BASE Levy as defined under Section 20-9-353, MCA. After 20 years of fiscal responsibility, the district is seeking this authority to maintain operational stability. 

The Montana School Funding Formula

Under Section 20-9-306, MCA, the state provides a foundational budget that does not cover total operational costs. Due to the cumulative impact of inflation on utilities, insurance, and supplies, the state funding will fall short of meeting the district's operational requirements for the 2026/27 school year. 

Independent District Status

Fair-Mont-Egan is an independent Elementary District. It operates with its own authorized budget and does not benefit from levies approved for Flathead High School or Kalispell School District. All funds authorized through this levy support students within the Fair-Mont-Egan Elementary District. 

Specific Use of Funds: 

Personnel & Salaries: Approximately 85% of the general fund covers salaries and benefits. This funding will aid the district in meeting requirements of the STARS Act (HB 252), which establishes teacher salary benchmarks for the 2026/27 school year and beyond. The district desires to retain quality teachers. 

Facility Operations: Addresses increased costs for utilities, building maintenance, and classroom materials that exceed state entitlements. 

Supervision and Safety: Maintains staffing levels required for student supervision and building security throughout the school day. 

Election Date: May 5, 2026

Duration: This is a permanent levy to support the district's general fund.

Voting: Ballots will be mailed to registered voters within the Fair-Mont-Egan district. 

The Reality: Current 6k annual technology fund levy can't keep up

The District's current technology levy has remained at its $6,000 annual funding level for over 20 years. Since that time, the K-8 curriculum has transitioned toward digital formats, with the majority of educational materials now hosted on online platforms. This shift requires consistent network reliability, cybersecurity, and hardware functionality to maintain curriculum delivery and a safe online experience for students.

Additionally, the District's inventory of student devices is approaching its manufacturer-set Auto Update Expiration (AUE) dates, and the cost of annual software licensing continues to be a recurring operational requirement. 

Defined Duration Technology Levy Request

• Defined Duration: This levy proposal establishes a fixed 5-year timeline.

• Budgetary Allocation: The proposal establishes a $50,000 annual budget, for five years, dedicated to proactive equipment upgrades, curriculum resources, cybersecurity, and information systems. 

The proposed Technology Fund Levy is intended to fund the replacement of student laptops that have reached the end of their functional lifecycle, maintain digital security protocols for student data, and cover increasing curriculum costs. The specific areas of allocation include:

• Hardware Lifecycle Management: Providing functional devices for student use during the school day

• Curriculum Resources: Funding evidence-based instructional materials required for K-8 education.

• Digital Literacy Development: Introducing technical skills used in secondary education environments. 

• Systems Infrastructure: Supporting network connectivity and data security systems for school operations.