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Missoula County, MT ballot

DeSmet School District No. 20 Bond

Missoula County, Montana · November 3, 2026

Up to $2.4 million in bonds, repaid with property taxes over as long as 20 years, to build a track and field for DeSmet School District No. 20.

Full ballot text

Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 20 (DeSmet), Missoula County, Montana (the "District") be authorized to sell and issue general obligation school building bonds of the District in the aggregate principal amount of up to Two Million Four Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($2,400,000.00), bearing interest at rates to be determined at the time of the sale, payable semiannually, during a term of not more than twenty (20) years for the purpose of providing funds to pay the cost of constructing a track and field and acquiring equipment for the maintenance thereof; related improvements and costs; and paying costs associated with the sale and issuance of the bonds? The track and field is expected to be constructed on real property located to the east of DeSmet School owned by the City of Missoula (the "City") and leased by the City to the District for a term of up to thirty (30) years. Approval of the bond proposition above constitutes approval of the term of the lease. If the bond election passes, based on the taxable value of the District, the property taxes on a home with an assessed market value for tax purposes of $100,000 would increase by $9.58 in the first year, of $300,000 would increase by $28.75 in the first year, and of $600,000 would increase by $61.41 in the first year. An increase in property taxes may lead to an increase in rental costs.

What it does

This authorizes DeSmet School District No. 20 to borrow up to $2.4 million, repaid with property taxes over as long as 20 years, to build a track and field on City of Missoula land next to DeSmet School that the district would lease for up to 30 years. The ballot estimates the first-year tax increase at $9.58 on a home assessed at $100,000 and $28.75 on one assessed at $300,000. Only voters in the DeSmet school district decide it.

How it lines up with you

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Dossier

Researched 2026-09-23 · Claude Code research agent with web search

A yes vote lets DeSmet School District No. 20 issue up to $2.4 million in bonds, repaid over up to 20 years, to build a track and field on City of Missoula land east of the school, and approves a lease of up to 30 years; the district estimates first-year taxes would rise $28.75 on a $300,000 home. A no vote means no bonds are issued. The district's trustees and superintendent put it on the ballot; we found no organized opposition.

For
  • DeSmet School District No. 20 Board of Trustees (adopted the bond resolution unanimously, Aug. 10, 2026) source
  • Superintendent Matthew Driessen (proposed putting the track on the November ballot, May 18, 2026) source
Against

None found.

What it does

A yes vote lets DeSmet School District No. 20 borrow up to $2.4 million over up to 20 years for a track and field and maintenance equipment (resolution, official). It would sit on City of Missoula land east of the school; yes also approves a lease of up to 30 years (resolution, official; minutes, official). The district's first-year tax estimate: $9.58 more on a $100,000 home, $28.75 on $300,000, $61.41 on $600,000 (resolution, official). A no vote means no bonds. Enrollment: about 90 pre-K-5 and 37 grade 6-8 students (NCES-based listings, year unclear: listing, data; listing, data).

Why it's on the ballot

On May 18, 2026, Superintendent Matthew Driessen put the track's cost at "around $2million," and trustees unanimously voted to pursue a bond (memo, official; minutes, official). On Aug. 10 the three trustees present (two absent) unanimously adopted the resolution, cutting the lease from 99 to 30 years (minutes, official). Earlier, Nov. 7, 2023 questions sought $280,000 for county land and $1.35 million for construction (KPAX, news; KPAX, news). In May 2024 the district asked voters to reject a $100,000 land bond after the city agreed to lease the land (KPAX, news; KPAX, news).

Who supports it and why

The trustees and superintendent (official). KPAX reported in 2023 that students ran track on nearby roads and the complex would be open to the public after hours (KPAX, news). April 20, 2026 minutes describe "a track for the community to use" (minutes, official).

Who opposes it and why

We found none.

Money

We found no campaign committees or reported spending.

What to watch

  • A simple majority decides; turnout minimums don't apply alongside a general election (MCA 20-9-428, law).
  • The district expects no state debt-service aid (resolution, official).
  • Earlier borrowing: a $6 million building bond approved in November 2019 (KPAX, news).
  • Recent levies: May 2025's general fund levy passed by five votes, initial count (Montana Free Press, news); a May 2022 technology levy passed 167-153, unofficial (NBC Montana, news).

What we couldn't find

The lease or City Council approval; 2023 and 2024 results; the 2019 bond's balance; campaign finance filings. The posted resolution draft still reads 99 years. KPAX pages are undated; years inferred from content. Checked Sept. 23, 2026.

Sources (15)