Ballots go out April 17 for Bozeman school trustee, levy election May 5

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Ballots with two trustee seats and two general fund levy requests from Bozeman Public Schools are set to go out to registered voters starting April 17, 2026. 

Ballots have to be returned to the Gallatin County Election Office by 8:00 p.m. on May 5, Election Day.

In the race between the two Elementary/High School trustee seats, incumbents Kevin Black and Greg Neil filed for reelection, and Patrick Zimny also filed. The top two vote-getters will serve three-year terms.

Voters will also consider two operating levies for school programs and staffing. One levy sought $1.2 million each year for elementary schools and the other sought $600,000 each year for high schools.

Bozeman Public Schools said the combined $1.8 million request matches the annual debt payment on bonds issued in 2006 for Bozeman High School renovations. Those bond taxes are set to expire once the bonds are paid off, making the overall district tax revenue change neutral, the school district said in a release.

The district also explained that some taxpayers would still see a small increase because Big Sky is no longer part of the Bozeman School District. That means the cost of the new levies would be shared by fewer taxpayers.

For a home valued at $600,000, the estimated net annual tax impact was $8.81, according to the district.

The levy money will help address hiring and retention challenges as employee wages have not kept up with the cost of living in Bozeman, the district added.