The Montana School Boards Association revealed a significant drop in both the number of levies proposed by districts and voter approval rates, a trend that has worsened since the Great Recession and accelerated through the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline undermines a key mechanism for districts to supplement state funding for basic operational needs.

In 2006, nearly all 125 proposed levies passed with approval rates above 90 percent; by 2025, proposals were halved, and nearly half failed at the ballot. Bond measures show a similar erosion of voter enthusiasm, with approval rates falling from 11 of 12 in 2016 to 9 of 16 in 2025. Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Boards Association, noted the critical nature of these levies for supporting essential services while questioning the viability of continuing to run them. The school funding commission, which examines these issues every decade, is preparing recommendations for the 2027 Legislature, and some advocates may pursue legal action over the state’s constitutional funding duties.

For Montana’s largely rural and economically diverse communities, the growing difficulty in securing levy support could intensify budget pressures on schools. The combination of inflation and local voter resistance may compel districts to rethink funding strategies in an environment where property tax increases face increasing scrutiny.

“Montana Schools are Struggling to Pass Funding Levies”