Sign up for the free Helena This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Helena city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events. Sign up 04/20/2025 School district proposes another round of levies to voters The Helena Public School District is proposing more than $3.4 million in levies that will go before voters on a May 5 ballot. Ballots were mailed last Friday, and the county elections office recommends that voters have their ballots in the mail by Thursday, April 30, to ensure they are received in time.  The Helena Board of Trustees last month approved the three levy requests: a general fund operational levy for the district’s elementary schools and technology levies for the elementary and high schools, totaling $3,403,618.  The elementary operational levy, proposed at $953,618 per year, is intended to address a funding gap between state allocations and district expenses for school operations, according to the district. Funds generated by the levy would specifically support curriculum programs, purchasing school supplies and staff retention.  If approved, residents with properties valued at $300,000 would see their tax bill increase by $15.48 per year. Properties valued at $600,000 would have a tax increase of $33.06 per year, according to ballot language.  The elementary technology levy is proposed at $1.6 million per year for the next 10 years, and the high school technology levy is requested at $850,000 per year for the next 10 years. Voters approved the last technology levy, which was perpetual, in 2004.  If the two technology levies are passed, funds would go toward paying for the district’s existing technology infrastructure, replacing equipment and maintaining software licensing and security and network systems, all of which have increased in cost over the past two decades, according to school officials.  Currently, district technology costs range between $3 million and $4 million a year, which mainly comes out of the school’s general fund, district director of educational technology Gary Myers said in a podcast last month.   Residents with properties valued at $300,000 would see their taxes increase by $25.97 annually, while those with properties valued at $600,000 would see their taxes increase by $55.47 annually if voters approve the elementary technology levy. If voters approve the high school technology levy, residents with properties valued at $300,000 would see their taxes increase by $12.59 a year, and those with properties valued at $600,000 would see their taxes increase by $26.89 a year. Last spring, voters approved a $293,681 elementary operational levy but rejected the two technology levy requests.  Eye on Helena  Paralympian Katie Verderber speaks to a crowd during Hometown Helena on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Credit: JoVonne Wagner / MTFP Helena area resident and Paralympian curler Katie Verderber spoke at Hometown Helena last week about her journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. Verderber, whose day job is as an attorney, told the audience how she began curling after losing the use of her legs. “ There wasn’t some great instant perspective shift or any realization,” Verderber said. “It was just a lot of normal days and a lot of hard days. And I still have those days every day. I still get very angry. I’m still very frustrated. I still have hard days where I’m sad, and I don’t wanna do anything. And the most important thing I’ve learned through this so far is that you don’t have to resolve those feelings to start moving forward.” 5 Things to Know in Helena During a meeting last week, the city commission gave outside counsel Jordan Crosby consent to engage with consulting firm CMS to facilitate the city manager’s evaluation process. CMS would be tasked with developing and administering surveys for commission and city staff before compiling data to identify strengths and risks, according to a CMS statement. The estimated cost for CMS’s work is between $5,760 and $7,040 based on a rate of $160 per hour. Commissioner Melinda Reed was the only member to raise an issue, noting that CMS was hired to recruit applicants for the next city manager search last winter. “I do think, in my experience working with HR, it is not what I have considered typical or best practice to have the same firm involved with both recruitment and evaluation,” Reed said during the meeting. “It’s a concern I continue to have, and I just wanted to put it out there.” Crosby responded that she has no concerns and that there is a limited pool of firms with experience in HR matters for a public entity that follows Montana law.  The Helena Public Art Committee is seeking a new mural design for the bandshell at Memorial Park. The committee is encouraging artists to submit applications to repaint the park’s stage by June 15, according to an IR article. The selected artist will receive $12,000 to fund the art installation. The city is asking that designs be themed to honor veterans. Many Rivers Whole Health is hosting an open house to celebrate the reopening of the immediate behavioral health support facility, Journey Home Friday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a Lewis and Clark Public Health press release. The facility, 45 E. 16th St., will operate nearly 24 hours a day to provide crisis risk assessment, intervention and quick connections to other support programs. Many Rivers bought the building from the county last summer, after it had sat vacant since 2019 following Western Montana Mental Health’s closure due to contract and staffing issues, according to a 2020 IR report. Journey Home will officially open for clients Monday, April 27.  The Helena School Board of Trustees approved a high school girls’ flag football team for the 2026-2027 school year. During a board meeting last week, trustees voted to form a flag football team after district activities director Eric Peterson presented the results of a student interest survey, which showed the sport was the second choice for girls after volleyball. The sport will be funded $30,000 from the Aurther Blank Foundation, with $15,000 dedicated to each high school.  Architecture groups presented the most recent designs for the new Helena High, Capital High and Kessler Elementary schools to the board of trustees during a meeting last week. The architects for the Capital High project submitted their designs last month and are working to hire mechanical, plumbing and electrical subcontractors. Construction will begin for Helena High and the Project for Alternative Learning in June, according to SMA designers. Construction of Kessler’s building is scheduled to begin in November, according to Mosaic architects. Kessler’s design was inspired by ecological areas in the state, including grasslands, wetlands, forests and alpine areas, according to Mosaic architect Gretchen Krumm. Credit: Mosaic Architecture, courtesy of Helena Public Schools Designs for the new Helena High School include a courtyard, a similar component to the original building. Credit: SMA Architecture Design, courtesy of Helena Public Schools Because Capitol High is being renovated, construction will be phased, according to Slate architect Jacob Augenstein. Credit: Slate Architecture, courtesy of Helena Public Schools Public Notice  The city commission will hold a special meeting Monday, April 20, at 5 p.m. to begin discussions on updating the commission bylaws, according to the agenda documents. The last time the bylaws were revised was in 2015. The meeting will be held in the commission chambers at the City-County Building.  City staff will also hold an engineering standards stakeholder meeting Monday, April 20, at 1:30 p.m. in room 326 at the City-County Building. The meeting involves community members, area contractors and developers who are interested in discussing changes to the city’s building requirements and guidelines with staff.  The city will host its inaugural community listening session on Thursday, April 23, at 5 p.m. at the Lewis Clark Library. The listening sessions are a new opportunity for the public to interact with the commission and city staff and discuss various civic topics.  The listening sessions will occur monthly, according to City Manager Alana Lake. The first session will be about “sustainability in action.” Might Be Fun Lewis and Clark Public Health is launching a new social connection campaign and is seeking community partners to throw block parties. Applicants can apply for a chance to win a $500 stipend to support the events until May 24. Public health officials will prioritize parties that focus on accessibility and are open to all ages.   To celebrate National Poetry Month, the Lewis Clark Library Foundation is hosting Helena Reads Poetry. The event will feature 10 Helenans reading a poem they either selected or wrote Tuesday, April 28, at the Lewis Clark Library at 6:30 p.m. The post School levy ballots coming your way appeared first on Montana Free Press. ...read more read less