Vote for a better future in Flathead

Inter Lake editorial

Flathead County voters will have an opportunity on Election Day to have a say on their quality of life, and they should take advantage of it.

A $10 million bond issue will be on the ballot for the purpose of protecting clean water, family farms, unique habitats and access to outdoor resources. On a $200,000 home, it will cost just under $19 a year for 20 years.

It's understandable that some voters are wary of more increases in their property taxes, but they have to weigh the cost versus the benefit. For roughly the cost of a cup of coffee every month, voters can provide conservation easements, outright land purchases or combinations of the two with will benefit the public for generations to come.

Of course, how effectively the funds are managed will be the measure of success for the program. The bond issue requires that the Flathead County commissioners establish an advisory committee to consider proposals, with the commissioners having final say on what proposals are funded.

Backers of the bond issue envision a competitive application process where multiple proposals are considered, and the ones providing the greatest benefits for the cost are selected. A major consideration for voters is the likelihood that they will be getting far more bang for their buck than $10 million.

That amount is expected to serve as seed money for leveraging grants from federal programs and foundations to accomplish specific goals such as fishing access sites, continued farming, or water quality.

It's not a new concept. Gallatin County voters approved a similar open space bond several years ago, and the money was leveraged to gain roughly $3 for every $1 in bond funding that was spent. At that ratio, Flathead County could be poised to gain $40 million in conservation if voters approve the bond issue.

And the time is right. The current lull in the real estate market could present bargain opportunities, compared to prices that are certain to go on the rise again later.

Growth and development are also certainties in Flathead County, and as it happens, valued open spaces and access will be gradually whittled away. The Clean Water and Open Lands bond issue provides a way to protect the best of those last, best places we all treasure in the Flathead.