Letters to the editor Sept. 1

Property taxes

I am grateful for the work done by the governor’s task forces to craft a plan to help not only our sharp rise in property taxes, but our affordable housing issues as well. Housing, perhaps the most urgent of needs right now, also affects Montanan’s mental health! 

By offering a tax credit/exemption to property owners that may be willing to leave the rabid vacation-rental market and lease long-term to our community again may prove a good move for so many working Montanans.   

I’ve worked many jobs here, in government and in the private sector. It was difficult 20 years ago. It has become nearly impossible now to live and work here, for the majority of the working class that serve the affluent who come for a while. 

Let’s hope Gov. Greg Gianforte can enlist some good legal minds to draft a clean bill for our legislators to adopt and move into action in January.

I believe we’ll all be grateful: nurses, plumbers, waitstaff, chefs, teachers, landscapers, counselors, road workers, secretaries, janitors, electricians, farriers, bookkeepers, office assistants, housekeepers, bus drivers, foresters, salespersons, para-professionals and retirees.  

— Margaret Herron, Kalispell

Public lands

 Private lands are important for wildlife habitat, recreation and the local economy. But land sales often come with gates and “no trespassing” signs. Fortunately, we always have public lands to fall back on.

About 30% of Montana is federal land. That is why it was disconcerting to see U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy calling for turning control of federal lands over to states or counties. 

Over half the lands given to Western states at statehood have been sold and a transfer of federal lands would produce more sales. Sheehy has since tried to walk back that statement but he was also on the board of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) which advocates that private ownership will provide the best conservation outcomes. He has since resigned from PERC but his management stance hasn’t changed. His campaign website states “they need to let Montana start managing our federal lands.” 

Sheehy and partners founded the Little Belt Cattle Company. Their eastern boundary lies within a mile of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Haymaker Wildlife Management Area. Haymaker is open to anyone with a hunting license. Given access, hunters can help control deer and elk numbers. But the Sheehy ranch charges up to $12,500 for a five-day elk hunt. We can’t afford that kind of conservation outcome. Elk are smart, they will seek the relative sanctuary of the Little Belt Ranch. We doubt killing a few high priced bull elk there will control cow elk numbers.

Sen. Jon Tester is Montana raised and understands the history, culture and traditions of Montana life. He is committed to improving management of federal lands but retaining public ownership so all of us can enjoy the benefits. That’s the Montana way.

— Jim Vashro and Marty Petritz, Flathead Valley; Harvey Nyberg, Lewistown

One wish

Here we go with another election cycle. Lies are rolling off the tongue promises are flying into our ears.  

I have voted in enough election cycles to know what’s coming. Lies about who is coming for your guns and lies about fuel costs and personal health care choices and immigration.  

Looking forward to politicians actually getting held to account one day. But I bet I will cut and paste this submission in four more years.  

However I have one wish. My wish is that people of voting age can act like adults and say something with substance and truth rather than call names and then look around to see who else is laughing.

— Jeremy Phillips, Kalispell