Our View: Vote yes on mill levy

Some voters in the Havre Public school elementary school district got ballots in the mail this week. Others will be going to the polls May 3.

On the ballot is a proposal to increase the mill levy by about $10.51 for a home assessed at $100,000.

These are tough economic times, and we don’t blame anyone who questions any increase in taxes, but Havre Public Schools, in our view, is the best deal in town.

We pay a lot in taxes for the school system, but we get an awful lot in return.

The schools are a focal point in our community. It’s something that unites the community.

We enjoy theatrical, musical and art programs put on by students.

We cheer on the Blue Ponies on the courts and on the fields.

Most important, the schools provide the basics that our children need as they prepare themselves for the future.

Havre schools have a tremendous record of educational quality. When they leave Havre schools, students are prepared for the challenges they will face in the workplace or in college.

By just about any standard, Havre students do as well or better than in any Montana school district.

Despite all the challenges of teaching young people in the 21st century, Havre schools have maintained the impressive record they have always been known for.

This year, school officials say in order to maintain that quality in the long run, they will need to ask taxpayers for a relatively modest increase in taxes.

We hope voters approve the increase so the school district can maintain its high standards. We urge Havre residents to once again support our young people and vote for the modest tax hike.

It would have been wonderful if the school board made a unanimous recommendation for the increase. Two members of the board voted against the proposal put forth by Superintendent Andy Carlson. We respect the two dissenters and appreciate their concern for the taxpayers.

But we think they are wrong.

While some Havre schools have seen a slight decrease in enrollment, most fixed costs have remained the same or increased.

Insurance costs and heating bills aren’t going down. It’s not any cheaper to operate a school bus because it carries one or two fewer students.

Of course, the district should keep an eye on its costs, but we can’t think of any program being operated by the district that we’d like to see cut.

We think this part oo the hi-Line has a tremendous future, and its residents ought to plan for it.

We can’t think of anything we can do to ensure a healthy future for Havre than to maintain the great education system we have.

The best way to ensure that we keep that high quality to to fund schools properly.

Please vote for the mill levy to ensure that we keep the high quality we all want.