Jackson seeks road solutions

By JIM MANN/The Daily Inter Lake

Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, has been pondering Flathead County's road problems, and he recently came up with proposed remedies he will pursue in the upcoming legislative session.

He has had a bill drafted that would appropriate $100 million to the Montana Department of Transportation to be distributed to counties exclusively for high-priority county road improvements.

"A lot of that depends on how much of this so-called surplus we have," Jackson said. The most recent report from the Legislative Fiscal Division on Friday dropped the projected surplus estimate from $787 million to $287 million due to the faltering economy.

And many legislators expect the state's revenue forecasts to shrink in the months to come.

But Jackson still said he will pursue the measure because he thinks it is a growing infrastructure need.

"I'm finding that a lot of people think it's time to do something about our roads," he said.

Jackson is not talking about Flathead County residents alone; he discussed the matter this week with lawmakers from other parts of the state.

"People I'm talking to from Eastern Montana also think it's a good idea," he said.

Some legislators suggested that he revise the bill to include limitations to ensure that counties put the money toward actual road improvements rather than doing things such as expanding road department staffs.

"They would want to put some detail in there about how the money would be spent, because it is one-time money," Jackson said.

Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman said the county's road department is looking for all the help it can get, with increasing complaints in recent years about dust and gravel road conditions.

"Obviously, I would be in favor of anything that would provide a revenue source for us to improve our roads," he said. "We certainly wouldn't turn down that money."

Jackson has another bill draft request that involves creating tax-increment finance district authority for counties as another tool for improving roads, but that measure still is being developed.

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