Vote threatens project funding

The Daily Inter Lake

HELENA - Hanging in the legislative balance this week is a laundry list of infrastructure projects across Montana, including several in the Flathead Valley.

House Democrats joined with Republican and Constitution Party representatives last week to defeat 51-49 a bill that would have fully funded 57 Treasure State Endowment projects.

The vote was met with surprise from Republicans who had backed the bill.

House Speaker Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, wondered why Democrats would reject a bill that provided enough money to pay for all the projects on the grant program's ranking list.

"They killed the bill, so I'm in no hurry to correct their mistake," Sales said.

The Treasure State Endowment Program is a fund within the state Coal Trust fund, with interest earnings directed mostly toward water and sewer projects in rural communities. The amount of projected interest earnings available this year was about $32 million.

House Bill 11, sponsored by Rep. Dave Kasten, R-Brockway, would have transferred to the endowment program an additional $15 million in general fund money that had been set aside in Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proposed budget to acquire state park and recreational access lands.

And that was the rub for many Democrats. The defeat of the bill could jeopardize the entire endowment program.

Some legislators, including Rep. Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish, and Rep. Doug Cordier, D-Columbia Falls, voted against the bill and its funding for Treasure State Endowment projects in their own districts.

The extended funding in HB 11 would have provided $750,000 for water and sewer projects in Whitefish and Columbia Falls and $191,000 for the Panoramic Heights Water Improvement Project in neighborhoods just east of the Flathead River along Montana 35.

Jopek explained that HB 11 won't be the end-all for Treasure State Endowment funding. Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, has had an alternative funding bill waiting in the wings and it is expected to come to the floor for debate before Wednesday's deadline to transmit legislation between the House and Senate.

With that in mind, Jopek said, he also opposed HB 11 because the source of funding for its additional revenue was unclear.

That's because the governor's structured budget proposal was dismantled by Republicans in favor of having six separate appropriations bills that have yet to be released.

While Republicans question the disruption of Treasure State Endowment funding, Jopek said, the "six-pack" budget makes it difficult to determine where funding for anything is coming from.

Jeff Pettison, a former legislator and leading aide to the speaker, said there are no guarantees that Windy Boy's legislation will get a better reception.

Because HB 11 didn't pass, "all of these projects are in jeopardy," Pettison said.

Pettison said transferring money from future park and public access acquisition to infrastructure needs is more in keeping with GOP thinking.

"They don't have to spend that much more money to grow government and expand government lands while reducing private ownership," he said, adding that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks already has roughly $15 million for land acquisition.

Jopek is confident legislation eventually will pass to fully fund all Treasure State Endowment projects.

"We're going to take care of it," he said. "I have assurances from people that we will."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com