Insect control back on ballot

By WILLIAM L. SPENCE

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead City-County Health Department will once again ask voters to approve a levy request for mosquito control.

Thursday was the deadline for putting any levy requests or initiatives on the November ballot. The Health Department request was the last item to be submitted before the deadline.

A previous effort to pay for countywide mosquito control efforts was defeated in June by a vote of 9,207 to 8,622.

That proposal would have allowed the Health Department to levy up to two mills, or about $360,000. The new request, which will go on the Nov. 7 ballot, would allow up to one mill to be levied, or $180,000.

Other items on the fall ballot include:

. A total of 18 contested elections, plus a handful of uncontested races - Both state Senate and all nine state House races in Flathead County this year fielded multi-party candidates. Races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and Montana Public Service Commission District 5 are also being contested.

Locally, the Flathead County commissioner, county treasurer and both justice of the peace positions are being contested.

. Whitefish voters are being asked whether they want to increase the mayor's term of office from two years to four years.

. Two local bond requests - Helena Flats residents are being asked to approve the sale of $2.38 million in general obligation bonds to pay for an addition and remodeling of Helena Flats Elementary School.

The Smith Valley Fire Department submitted a $1.5 million bond request to pay for a new fire station and to purchase a fire truck and equipment.

. A half-dozen statewide initiatives - These address both constitutional questions and legislative matters.

Constitutional Amendment 43 would change the name of the state auditor position to the insurance commissioner.

Constitutional Initiative 97 would put a limit on state spending increases.

The Montana Constitution currently prohibits appropriations (budgeted expenditures) by the Legislature that exceed anticipated revenues. This initiative would prohibit any increase in appropriations greater than the combined growth rate of population and inflation. Emergencies, debt payments and various other expenditures would not be subject to the cap; the spending limit could also be exceeded with voter approval.

Constitutional Initiative 98 would allow state justices and judges to be recalled for any reason. Currently they can only be recalled for specific reasons, including physical and mental fitness, incompetence, official misconduct and being convicted of a felony.

Initiative 151 would raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour, or to the federal minimum, whichever is higher. It would also add a cost of living adjustment to the state minimum.

Initiative 153 would restrict lobbying by former state government insiders. Former state legislators, appointed officials, department heads, elected official and their personal staff would be prohibited from becoming licensed state lobbyists within 24 months of leaving the government.

Initiative 154 would prohibit state and local governments from adopting any new regulations that might reduce private property values, unless they compensate owners for the reduced value. This would not apply to regulations related to public health and safety.

The initiative would also prohibit them from taking private property if they intend to transfer it to another private party, excluding private utility, water, transportation or mining projects that are currently defined as public uses.

Currently, state law allows state and local governments to take or damage private property for public uses, on payment of just compensation. This initiative essentially equates a regulation with a taking.

Anyone who would like to stay home and vote can now apply for an absentee ballot.

The applications are available through the county election department, or online at sos.mt.gov/ELB/Voter_Information.asp

After filling them out, the applications should be mailed or dropped off at the election office. The ballots will be mailed out beginning Sept. 22, and must be returned before the polls close on Election Day.