Sen. Taylor asks how many bake sales does it take to fund firefighters' workers' compensation?

Here’s some good news — the Polson water infrastructure project was rated number 27 in the Treasure State Endowment Grant program and they only funded the top 23 requests. The members of the House Appropriations Sub-committee on Long-Range Planning expanded the list to cover all 50 projects.

Polson will receive $625,000 for their much needed water project. The TSEP bill still needs to make it through the House and Senate, but this is a great use of coal trust fund interest. These projects across the state not only help communities, they will help put people to work.

Jobs are very important, but like usual, we get the most comments about wolf hunting and buffalo management. Are buffalo wildlife or livestock, or both? We need to keep our brucellosis-free status in order to market cattle, and ranchers worry about free-range bison.

The budget comes from the House first and then on to the Senate, although the sub-committees of House Appropriations all have senators as well as representatives. I serve on the Senate Tax Committee and there is lots of work there, but I still like to follow the money.

We are close to a property tax plan that is actually understandable! The appraised value of your home will be multiplied by a rate that is determined to keep the total money collected at a uniform amount. This rate, often called the multiplier, will be around 2.6 percent. The appraised value times the rate equals the assessed value, then that number is multiplied by the local mills.

That’s where the problems occur. Counties can budget the same amount as they did the year before, with a small inflation amount. When the property values decrease, when the number of properties, like Kerr Dam, are removed from the rolls, or when levies are voted in, the mills increase.

The Legislature can change the cycle, the new bill is two years instead of six, but we cannot affect the other variables. Without sales tax, local government is mainly supported by property tax and state government is supported by income tax. As long as most Montanans do not want sales tax we are stuck with income and property to support government services.

Here’s a problem: should I vote for an unfunded mandate? Of course, volunteer firemen and women should have workers’ compensation. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation requires that any department that has any of their firefighting equipment must have coverage.

But who pays? Most of our volunteer fire departments do not have extra money. And in our area, property tax payers are not anxious to see their taxes increase. How many bake sales does it take to pay for their workers’ compensation?

Keep the emails and calls coming. Leave me a message at 444-4800. My cell phone number is 253-8766 or email me at jannataylor@montana.com. Never forget I work for you.

Sen. Janna Taylor,

Dayton