Twenty-four taxing districts in the Bitterroot Valley, not counting the school districts, had board positions up for re-election this spring but just two elections are to be held. Those two are the Florence and Three Mile Rural Fire Districts, with the Florence Fire District election by mail along with the Florence-Carlton School District. The Three Mile Rural Fire District Trustee election will be held at the polls on May 5, 2015. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters on the absentee ballot list.
These taxing district board positions are volunteer, but put the board members in a position to manage public meetings, public funds, and public facilities. It’s an inside deal for the most part with little notice that the board positions are up for election.
Fortunately, people in the Florence and Three Mile areas have come forward, allowing the rest of us to exercise our right to vote. Using that right will make the taxing district board positions less of an inside deal.
Don Baty
Three Mile area, Stevensville