New general fund levy would increase salaries for Belgrade teachers

The Belgrade School District has introduced a general fund mill levy that would go toward increasing teacher and staff salaries by 2%.

In the May 5 school election, residents of the Belgrade School District will vote for two separate levees: One for the high school district and one for the elementary school district. For salaries to be increased, both levees would have to pass.

Salaries would increase based on experience level, but the total would be around $565,795 for teachers and staff.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters starting April 17. Four school board trustee candidates are also on the ballot: Ron Barnett, Lila J. Beard, Marie Boster and Stephen Scott Mueller. Voters will elect two candidates for three-year terms.

The taxable value of a resident’s house dictates how much they would have to pay annually for any general fund mill levy. If a district resident lives in a house worth $600,000, taxes would increase by $20.41 for the high school general fund levy and $33.66 for the elementary.

The last time the district passed a levy was in 2024. Last year, a proposed levy failed.

In Montana, 80% of school funding comes from the state and 20% comes from taxpayers. If the levees don’t pass, the school district budget will have to be adjusted, school officials said. Other budget cuts such as switching to a different website platform, letting go of a building administrator and replacing an assistant principal with a dean position have helped the district cut costs.

“We try to keep it as far away from the classroom as possible,” Superintendent Dede Semerad said of cuts.

Semerad said it’s important that staff get a salary increase because it’s difficult for Belgrade to retain staff when other districts pay teachers and staff more.

Ballots can go to the County Election Office, Gallatin County Election Department, Belgrade School District Administration Office, or Ridge View Elementary School. The deadline for all ballots is 8 p.m. May 5.