School Bond Budgetary Process and Guidelines

The financial figures presented in this section serve as budgetary guidelines and are provided for informational purposes to outline the estimated scope of the proposed Columbia Falls High School remodel. These figures do not represent final construction costs.

Statutory Design and Funding Phasing

Under Montana law (Title 20, Chapter 9, MCA), school districts follow a specific legal sequence for facility projects:

• Pre-Bond Estimation: Prior to a bond election, districts utilize professional estimates to determine the bond amount to be requested from voters. As per Mont. Code Ann. § 20-9-422, the trustees' resolution must fix the "exact amount of the bonds proposed to be issued" based on these early-stage estimates.

• Authorization Requirement: A school district is prohibited from issuing bonds for remodeling unless authorized by the qualified electors at an election (Mont. Code Ann. § 20-9-421).

• Post-Bond Design: Because the district cannot expend significant public funds on a full, shovel-ready architectural design until funding is secured, final design intricacies—and the resulting final costs—are only determined after a successful bond election.

Understanding Bond vs. Purchase

Unlike a private real estate transaction with a fixed closing price, a school bond is a voter-authorized borrowing limit. If approved, the district is authorized to sell bonds up to the stated amount to fund the project. The actual expenditures are then managed through a public bidding and construction process, as the final project design is completed post-authorization.

Additional Resources

• Click here for the Tax Impact Estimator