Local Option Tax Gets BSEDA Support

Written by Evelyn Pyburn
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 18:25

Economic development interests across the state are putting their all behind a bill this legislative session to open up a new revenue stream for local governments. The idea is that local governments need revenue sources to maintain and develop infrastructure and infrastructure is vital in attracting new businesses and growing existing businesses.
Focus on empowering local governments – cities and counties – with the option of instituting a local option tax was initiated several sessions ago by the Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSEDA). Having confronted the proposal’s failure before, its proponents are optimistic that they have finally straightened out its kinks and will garner the support necessary to get it passed this year.

http://www.bigskybusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=193:local-option-tax-gets-bseda-support&catid=18:citycounty&Itemid=15

Failing Infrastructure Cannot Support A Healthy Economy

Civil Engineers’ New Report Card Assesses Condition of Nation’s Infrastructure

Washington, D.C.—Decades of underfunding and inattention have jeopardized the ability of our nation’s infrastructure to support our economy and facilitate our way of life. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure—assigning a cumulative grade of D to the nation’s infrastructure and noting a five-year investment need of $2.2 trillion from all levels of government and the private sector. Since ASCE’s last assessment in 2005 there has been little change in the condition of the nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works, and the cost of improvement has increased by more than half a trillion dollars.

http://www.asce.org/pressroom/news/display_press.cfm?uid=4511

Stimulus Isn’t Enough to Fix State Budget Woes, Governors Say

Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Aid to state governments in the $787 billion economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama this week won’t be enough to balance budgets as costs rise and tax revenue shrinks, governors meeting in Washington said.

Governors welcomed the $787 billion stimulus legislation signed into law Tuesday by President Obama as a source of much- needed, albeit temporary, financial assistance. About $100 billion of that is set aside for state road building, bridges, and other infrastructure spending.
Putting the money in context, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, said the stimulus will add about 5 percent to what his state usually gets in federal spending.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aR_T22Ls4D6s&refer=us

Governors debate how to handle stimulus billions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Governors said Saturday they welcomed the money flowing to states from President Obama's landmark stimulus plan and played down disagreements among some Republicans in their ranks about how the dollars should be spent."

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, dismissed GOP concerns about the plan as inconsistent with their willingness to accept federal money in other cases."It does seem out of character for a governor who has been receiving billions of dollars for years to suddenly say 'I'm not so sure I want these dollars,'" he said, noting that a provision in the law would allow state legislatures to accept the stimulus money even if a governor rejects it.

http://http//mtstandard.com/articles/2009/02/21/breaking/hjjajhhiigfhhg.txt

Blackfoot - Clearwater Stewardship Project

"After two years of extensive dialogue, a diverse group of conservationists, loggers, snowmobilers, outfitters, and local landowners have crafted a pioneering vision for the upper Blackfoot Valley. The Blackfoot Clearwater Landscape Stewardship Project uses a landscape-level focus to achieve diverse goals."

Learn more about this mutually beneficial agreement where everyone wins. So much of the history has been based on conflict where everyone loses. We think this a great new direction.

http://www.blackfootclearwater.org/

American Recovery & Investment Act

Infrastructure Funding Formulas for Montana
Clean Water State REvolving Fund - $ 19,194,714
Transit Capital Grants - $ 15,611,710
Highways & Bridges - $ 211,793,391
Large Urban Areas (>200k) - $ 000
Rail Transit - $ 000