County still hoping for stimulus money

The Flathead County commissioners on Monday gathered department heads together to discuss priorities for the forthcoming federal stimulus money, but there's no consensus yet on which projects should top the list.

The county has compiled a list of more than $71.3 million worth of projects, including roughly $59.9 million for construction or renovation of county buildings and $11.4 million for road work. That wish list will come into play once the Montana Legislature decides how to divide the state's share of money coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Commissioner Dale Lauman said he's concerned about strings that may be attached to the federal money that would impact the county's budget.

"We need to be really careful of accepting something that will affect us year after year," Lauman cautioned.

Pending state legislation details how most of the stimulus money will be spent in Montana, but about $100 million could be freed up for reassignment, according to Commissioner Joe Brenneman.

Of that $100 million, it's speculated that $10 million would be divided among Montana's 56 counties.

A couple of funding scenarios have been proposed to divide that money among counties using a distribution method similar to the gas tax formula. In one case, Flathead County would get about $429,000; in a second scenario Flathead would get somewhat over $600,000.

Either way, it's enough money to pave about a mile and a half of roads, county Administrative Officer Mike Pence said.

Despite Lauman's reservations about possible strings attached to the federal money, he said Flathead County nevertheless needs to get its share.

"I have no objection of one or all of us going to Helena" to lobby, Lauman said. "We need to be vocal and we need to be present."

Department leaders agreed it's difficult for them to prioritize the wish list because they all have viable projects on the list.

"We're having to fight against one another," Agency on Aging director Jim Atkinson said. "If I say AOA should get" a new facility, "that puts out the library, and so on."

The Agency on Aging has penciled in $1.5 million for a new facility, while $18 million has been flagged for a new main county library.

The county could put 'shovel-ready" projects at the top of the list, or it could prioritize projects based on the number of jobs they would create, several department heads agreed.

"To be legitimate, the county needs to look at the benefit in jobs created," Atkinson said.

County officials agreed to meet again next week to continue discussion about the stimulus money. The commissioners conceded they're still unclear about the funding process.

House Bill 645, the legislation that will allocate the federal money, is still being fine-tuned.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com