School District No. 15 and High School District No. 3 mail ballot election nears

By press time on Wednesday, only one individual, incumbent Samantha Wright, had filed in the upcoming election for trustee on the Ekalaka Public Schools Unified board. Wright filed for one of two open three-year terms. The other position is currently held by Lynn Williams, who had not filed by Wednesday. Both of the positions are for Elementary District No. 15 and High School District No. 3.

Also on the ballot will be election of a trustee from District No. 1 to a one-year term. This position was previously held by Helen King. Since King's resignation, Rena Tauck has been serving by appointment, but she also had not yet filed by Wednesday at press time.

Candidates have until 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 28 to file.

In addition to the election of three trustees, several levies will also be on the upcoming mail ballot for consideration.

Voters for Ekalaka Elementary District No. 15 will be deciding whether or not authorize the school to impose an increase in local taxes to support the school with three levies.

The first levy is a building reserve levy in the amount of $150,000 over three years, $450,000 total. The second is a safety levy in the amount of $33,000 over three years, $99,000 total.

The third is a technology levy. This levy would be $86,000 per year for three years. If passed, it would replace a $16,000 perpetual levy currently in place for the district.

Voters in Carter County High School districts will also be voting on two levies for the high school. These levies are for the same three years, same purposes, and same amounts as the building reserve and safety levies for Elementary Dist. No. 15.

Of note, the bond to build Ekalaka Elementary School will be paid off this year, so taxpayers in the elementary district will see a decrease of 21.09 mills on their taxes.

A meeting about the proposed levies on the upcoming ballot was held at CCHS on Tuesday. Additional meetings about the levies are scheduled for April 2nd at 4 p.m. at the Alzada School and April 2nd at 6 p.m. at the Hawks Home School.

Ballots for the upcoming school election will be mailed to active voters on Wednesday, April 17th.