Elections 2026
Election Information
Voter Registration
Voter Registration
To vote in the Belgrade School District, one must be:
- At least 18 years old on or before Election Day.
- Be a registered voter no less than 30 days before the election.
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Reside in the Belgrade School District.
To register to vote in Montana, you must provide a Montana Driver's License number. If you do not have a Montana Driver's License, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have a Montana Driver's License or a social security number, you must provide an alternative form of identification as outlined on the Montana Secretary of State website (sosmt.gov/elections/).
Please print completed application and related documents and return to:
Gallatin County Election Administrator
311 West Main Rm 210
Bozeman, MT 59715
Trustee Candidate Info
Trustee Candidates
Thinking about serving as a School Board Trustee? Individuals interested in serving are encouraged the complete the forms below to submit their intent.
The deadline to file for regular Trustee candidacy is February 9, 2026 at 5 pm. Please use this link:
The deadline to file for write-in Trustee candidacy (with your name NOT on the ballot) is March 2, 2026. Please use this link:
To Report Your Campaign Finance Activities
Pursuant to 13-37-206, MCA, all candidates for trustee positions in first-class districts located in counties
with populations of 15,000 or more OR in county high school districts having student enrollments of 2,000 or
more must report their campaign finance activities to the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices.
Current forms are available at:
Commissioner of Political Practices
State of Montana COPP Candidate Forms Guide
Bond Information
FAQ
How do we get money in the general fund?
The General Operating Fund is paid for by both the state of Montana and local taxpayers. Here’s how the funding works: 80% from the State: The largest portion of the General Operating Fund comes from the state. The state allocates money to school districts based on a formula that takes into account the number of students and other factors. 20% from Local Mill Levies: The remaining 20% of the funding comes from local mill levies. These are taxes voted on by the people in the community. The mill levy is a way for residents to contribute more money to their local schools, allowing the district to have extra resources for things like salaries, new technology, better facilities, or additional programs.
How does the District plan on using these funds?
High quality education requires excellent teachers and staff. To attract and retain the best team, we need to increase salaries to stay competitive in the local market. Currently, our district is below neighboring districts in wages. These levies are part of a larger financial plan of the district, including anticipated STARS act funding, to ensure we're not only providing raises for our teachers and staff, but keeping up with increases in expenses such as utilities, insurance, and maintenance.
Does Belgrade receive federal funds for the General Operating Fund?
No, the general operating fund is composed of state and local dollars. Federal funds provide additional funding to support programs like Title 1 and Special Education.
Why are there two levies on the ballot?
Belgrade School District is divided into an Elementary (K-8) and High School (9-12) district. While the boundaries are similar, the High School District is slightly larger and encompasses more people/students. These are separate line items on the ballot and voters are able to vote on each one independently. Montana law does not allow a school district to combine the Elementary and High School levy requests into one cumulative amount. For those only in the high school district, the only levy on your ballot will be the high school levy.
How does the funding the Governor approved affect the district?
House Bill 15 allocates $52 million to the state budget for K-12 public schools. This funding offsets inflation increases associated with the 80% of the school budget funded by the state of Montana. This bill has no overall impact on the levy request.