Ennis School District bond ballot mailing soon

Madison County residents will soon have a chance to vote yea or nay on a $59 million bond to fund an Ennis School District expansion. The project would replace the existing high school building with a new junior high and high school building, renovate the high school gym and add a third gym, repurpose the current junior high wing into elementary and other classrooms, and more.

For details of the proposal and answers to frequently asked questions, visit https://www.ennisschools.org/ennis-schools-facility-expansion-project

Ballots for the upcoming Ennis School District expansion bond will mail out Jan. 19, 2022 for an all-mail ballot election.

According to the Ennis School District, in a regular election, if there is less than a 30% voter turnout the bond resolution cannot pass. If the voter turnout is greater than 30% but less than 40%, a 60% yes vote is required to pass a bond resolution. When running a mail ballot election, the voter turnout requirement does not apply. To pass a mail ballot election a simple majority of those voting is all that is needed. A home with a market value assessed at $300,000 would pay just over $100 per year if the bond is passed.

Some Madison County Big Sky residents have expressed concern that, if passed, a substantial amount of funds will come from Big Sky, a community with its own school located in Gallatin County. To address those concerns a special joint school board Zoom meeting at Ennis School District is scheduled for Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m., with a facility tour followed by an agenda item labeled, “Increasing Collaboration Between the Two Districts.”

Voter Info

Ballots can be mailed in or dropped off at the Madison County Clerk & Recorder’s Office in Virginia City which will serve as the only polling place. Office hours on election day are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Leading to election day the office is open the usual hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ballots must be received by the office by 8 p.m. on election day to be counted. They will then be counted by hand tally on election day.

There is an Express Vote machine set up in the Clerk & Recorder’s Office for anyone needing handicap assistance in voting.

Need to register? Close of voter registration is Jan.10, but starting Jan. 11 the Clerk and Recorder's Office is open for late registration during regular office hours until Monday, Feb. 7 at noon.