NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of K-12 School District No. 25 (Hobson), Judith Basin County (the “District”), that pursuant to a certain resolution duly adopted at a meeting of the Board on February 12, 2024, an election of the registered voters of the District will be held by mail ballot election on May 7, 2024 for the purpose of voting on the question of whether the Board may sell and issue general obligation school building bonds of the District in one or more series in the aggregate principal amount of up to Four Million Six Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($4,600,000.00), for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of designing, acquiring, constructing, renovating, equipping, and furnishing improvements to the District’s school facilities, to include: replacing the steam boiler system with a hot water heating system; remodeling kitchen to meet code requirements; replacing and adding egress windows; upgrading bathroom fixtures; remodeling classrooms, the library and multi-purpose room, and shop to meet code requirements and address deteriorating finishes, flooring, and inadequate insulation; replacing lockers; upgrading flooring, furnace, ceiling and lighting fixtures in the gymnasium; purchasing and renovating a duplex for teacher housing; repairing the teacher trailer and superintendent house; related improvements and costs; and paying costs associated with the sale and issuance of the bonds. Each series of the bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates to be determined at the time of sale and be payable semiannually during a term of not more than twenty (20) years.

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 $69.47 in the first year, of $200,000 would increase by $138.94 in the first year, and of $300,000 would increase by $208.41 in the first year. An increase in property taxes may lead to an increase in rental costs.

The election will be conducted by the County Election Administrator solely by mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed to all eligible registered voters in the District on April 17, 2024, and must be returned by each voter either by mail to Judith Basin County Election Administrator, P.O. Box 427, Stanford, Montana 59479 or in person to the Judith Basin County Election Administrator, 91 3rd Street North, Stanford, Montana, during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), weekdays (exclusive of holidays), April 18, 2024 through May 6, 2024.

On Election Day, May 7, 2024, the only place for deposit of voted ballots will be the office of the Judith Basin County Election Administrator, 91 3rd Street North, Stanford, Montana, which will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All ballots must be in the office of the County Election Administrator by 8:00 p.m. on May 7, 2024 in order to be counted. All ballots will be tabulated in accordance with Montana law with the preliminary results, if known, expected to be released after 8:00 p.m. that day.

A qualified voter who will be absent from the District during the time the election is being conducted may:

(a) vote in person in the office of the County Election Administrator as soon as the ballots are available and until 8:00 p.m. Election Day; or

(b) make a written request prior to noon on May 6, 2024, signed by the applicant and addressed to the office of the County Election Administrator requesting the ballot be mailed to an address other than that which appears on the registration records.

An elector may obtain a replacement ballot if his or her ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received by the elector by filling out and mailing, emailing, or faxing back a completed replacement ballot request form or by the elector personally appearing at the office of the Judith Basin County Election Administrator, located at 91 3rd Street North in Stanford, Montana.

Ballots may be returned in person at the place of deposit listed above, or returned by mail. If returning by mail, please use the then-prevailing first-class-postage price or one Forever Stamp. Postmark date does not apply; ballots returned by mail must be received at the office of the County Election Administrator by the 8:00 p.m. Election Day deadline to be counted.

Please note, all electors, as defined in Section 20-20-301, M.C.A., are those who reside within the District and are registered to vote by the close of registration on April 8, 2024.

For electors who miss the close of registration deadline, such electors may register late and vote in the election by appearing in person at the Judith Basin County Election Office located at 91 3rd Street North in Stanford, Montana and providing to the County Election Administrator the electors’ voter registration information in verifiable form prior to 8 p.m. on May 7, 2024.

DATED this 12th day of February, 2024.

/s/Amanda Kelly
Judith Basin County Election Administrator