Month: August 2022

Tomorrow is the day (Aug 2), when the assigned four members of the Apportionment and Redistricting Committee, representing the two party interests, will release their house of representatives maps. The maps are a response to the latest census data. The fifth member has been chosen by the state supreme court to be a neutral chairman, tasked with arbitrating the differences. Perhaps the formation of such a committee prevents gerrymandering of districts. Leaving redistricting solely to the legislature is akin to an NFL football game without a referee. The Montana constitution, maybe a document entering middle age, wisely understood the potential problem of political boundary cartography without a referee. We see that in Democratic New York and Maryland, Republican Texas and toss-up, North Carolina. There are guidelines that will challenge the chairman. For example, it is preferred that smaller cities like Whitefish, Havre and Livingston remain undivided. However there is also a potentially contradicting guideline that allows for the consideration of competitiveness in districts. I believe the idea behind this is to allow for not so straight boundary lines to be justified in creating a state landscape that yields legislative representation based on recent historic outcomes. Simply extrapolated, as might be the case in Montana, a 60% vote for Republicans in state wide elections should allow for 40 Democrats to be elected to the Montana legislature. A larger minority makes a difference in the composition of committees and the ability of factions (moderate Republicans and Democrats for example), to craft legislation.

The Montana Legislative web-site will lead you to the Redistricting and Apportionment Committee including upcoming meeting dates state wide and your opportunity either in person or on-line to provide comments on the maps. We are very fortunate for such a commission. Members of the 1972 constitution were wise in placing a firewall between the legislature and the lines to be drawn on a redistricting map.

1. More affordable housing: At some point the in-migration to the Flathead will level off. Some people may leave. There may be adequate supply of market based multi-family housing in the future. This is good but the market based product will be beyond the reach of a sector of our workers, many service related, many starting their careers in professions such ias education, childcare, law enforcement and other essential emergency services. I do support reforms that may hasten the reform of regulatory barriers; building accessory dwelling units, residential zoning that includes multi-family housing, flexibility on parking mandates, set backs, and height requirements. There are proven incentives that increase the inventory of deed-restricted, moderate prices rent that should be available. These include a state low income tax credit to compliment the federal low income tax credit, property tax abatements for rental units targeted for working residents earning below the average county income, availability of trust land where deed restricted homes may be situated, the use of instruments such as tax increment financing (TIF’s), within designated areas of municipalities and expanding loan programs through the Coal Trust.
2. Public Pre-K, child care assistance: In 2019 there was not consensus on the framework for a public pre-k program. This was the last chance (for the foreseeable future), for a Democrat administration and a Republican sponsor to make such a proposal. Such a program would use state funding based on ANB (annual number belonging), to build an opt-in program. We see good outcomes with pre-k and the most excellent child care. Child care access will require incentives on both ends; providers and consumers need tax credits and direct aide to start businesses and retain affordable care for the folks stressed to make ends meet.
3. Residential Property Taxes: We need expanded relief to residents who suffer under escalated and unaffordable property taxes. Taxable values of homes have increased. Fast growing counties and cities have expanded services to meet needs. Schools, counties and cities are capped. But taxable value increase (more development), or student growth allows taxing districts to grow beyond inflationary restrictions. I will consider the expansion of the elderly homeowners tax credit to include property owners and renters of all ages and expand the income eligibility. I will look at an adjustment of the residential tax rate. I will look at an increase of the property tax assistance program (PTAP), that uses in district funds to reduce eligible property tax burden (the elderly homeowner tax credit is state funded).
4. Improve our roads, more shared use paths for bikes and pedestrians: I’m committed to working with the city of Whitefish and MDT to prioritize needed projects in District 5 to improve flow and safety.
5. Retain Local Control: I support local authorities such as the city commissions of Whitefish and Bozeman, (The 2022 legislature stripped away such rights, I opposed), the right to implement inclusionary zoning, following a lengthy public process (time consuming and expensive!),and a vote of an elected city commission. This was an affordable housing strategy, in my opinion, stolen by the legislature in favor of special interests. Montana used to be bastion of local control, trusting our local elected school boards, health boards, and city commissions to make decisions in the interests of local constituencies. I support local control!
6. Mental health funding. School based programs need to be adequately funded. We need reforms to address deficiencies at Warm Springs. We need community based care and federal reforms for the flexibility of medicaid reimbursement for our facilities.