Article published Mar 27, 2008

Several special levies could be on ballots

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

Great Falls-area voters might encounter several special levies on their election ballots this year.

In addition to the possible property tax levy to fund Great Falls Fire/Rescue, Fire Chief Randy McCamley said the Great Falls Police Department also is considering a levy request.

Police Chief Corky Grove is expected to unveil his suggestions in a budget session at 9:30 a.m. today in the Civic Center Missouri Room, 2 Park Drive S.

City Commissioner John Rosenbaum said rising costs of fuel, wages, utilities and equipment are taking their toll on the city budget.

"I think there are some real challenges," Rosenbaum said Wednesday. Some city agencies either will need more money to operate or the city might have to cut back on services, he said.

Rosenbaum said the city has been "extremely fiscally conservative" over the years, but he said police and fire operations are strapped.

"I think we ought to ask the voters," he said. "That's the best way to find out what they're thinking is just ask them." A majority of the City Commission would need to agree with him to place a public-safety levy on the Nov. 4 presidential election ballot.

Great Falls Public Schools will seek a $2.71 million property tax increase during a special mail-in election set for May 6. If both the elementary and high school levies pass, the owner of a $100,000 house located in the district would pay an estimated $55.02 extra in property taxes each year.

School officials are nervous about the spring election, in part because voters will mail in their ballots. Great Falls school elections have typically featured a low turnout, and school levy requests rarely have been defeated.

Rosenbaum said he believes the May school levy vote in Great Falls will indicate what mood voters are in. Great Falls retains some of the state's lowest urban incomes, he said, but Montana also appears to be somewhat insulated from the slumping national economy.

Also this year, Cascade County's Search and Rescue group will ask county voters June 3 to approve a modest $36,000 levy that would cost county property owners an estimated 90 cents per year.

"I think that will pass," said Lance Olson, Cascade County Commission chairman.

And Great Falls Development Authority officials have raised the possibility of a special bond election to support construction of a new industrial park north of Great Falls near the malt plant.

Deb Mart, county Elections Office supervisor, said she believes the Search and Rescue issue will be the only special levy on the June ballot.

"My ballots go to print next week," she said. But other issues could be placed on the Nov. 4 general election ballots.

One group that isn't planning to float a special levy before voters in 2008 is the City-County Health Department, said Allene Mares, executive director.

"Not this year," Mares said Wednesday. "There's a lot on the taxpayers' plates this year." Mares said the agency hopes to create a countywide health district as soon as this year, giving the agency a measure of independence. However, she said a special property tax levy and creating the district are two separate issues.