Funding from state will be scarce

Flathead County officials met last week with state lawmakers to let them know about some local government priorities and learn more about what to expect from the upcoming legislative session.

And it was clear from the start that funding will be scarce, in light of a wobbly economy that has already severely dented a state surplus that exceeded $700 million just a couple months ago.

At that time, Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, had drafted a bill that would provide up to $100 million in funding for county roads, to be distributed similar to the way gas tax revenues are sent to counties.

But at the meeting in the county commissioners' office, Jackson acknowledged that kind of proposal now will have little chance in the budgeting process that gets under way Jan. 5.

"If you have a so-called surplus, that's something you could get passed," he said.

Even so, Commissioner Joe Brenneman said the county will assert its positions in the coming session as best it can.

"We do understand that part of our job is to lobby where we can," he said. "Our primary interest is how do bills affect the taxpayer in Flathead County."

Commissioner Dale Lauman added: "We all understand the economy downturn and budget constraints."

There are some areas where the county will be aggressive in seeking additional state support.

Flathead County Clerk of Court Peg Allison referred to studies that have shown for several years that the county - based on population, caseloads and other factors - needs two District Court judges in addition to the current three judges.

She said the county will pursue legislation requiring the state to establish one more judge position.

Allison said she also will oppose additional funding that will be requested by the Montana Supreme Court for a District Court record-keeping program that has proven to be immensely cumbersome for county clerks of court.

Keith Regier, a newly elected Republican legislator from Kalispell's House District 5, urged the county officials to provide strong evidence about state-mandated programs that are not working.

Also at the meeting was Jim Atkinson of the local Area Agency on Aging. Atkinson said state support for the organization in recent years has been level, despite a 'silver tsunami" in state population trends.

"We have a population that's graying faster than our ability to provide services to them," Atkinson said, later urging the legislators to consider those demographic trends.

Local lawmakers are sponsoring other kinds of legislation that would have an impact on county operations.

For example, Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, has a bill draft in the works that would put an end to specialty license plates in Montana, with provisions requiring proof of insurance to be displayed on all state plates and eliminating the requirement for vehicles to have a front plate.

Barkus said the program has gotten out of hand, with more than 240 plates for colleges, schools and scores of nonprofit organizations that share a percentage of proceeds from plate sales.

The state license "has lost its identity," Barkus said, and state and county governments have been burdened by the responsibilities of accounting, collections, inventories and distribution of the plates.

Barkus said he intends to modify the bill so that organizations can assume all of those responsibilities and still have a fundraising option - uniform plates would be designed with a space for custom decals that can be managed and sold by the groups themselves.

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