HELENA – Montana tax collections through the first four months of the budget year are $92.8 million, or 22 percent, less than a year ago, according to a new legislative report.
Terry Johnson of the Legislative Fiscal Division said taking into account potential revenue shortfalls from individual and corporate income taxes and potential higher oil and gas production taxes, the state's general fund revenues for the fiscal year could be anywhere from $51 million to $129 million less than lawmakers forecast.
Health care reform shines a light on hospice care
Giving Comfort When There is No Cure
Aaron Jordan, right, watches as case manager and registered nurse Donna Nelson, left, physically assesses hospice patient Cheryl Swan during a home visit. Nelson works with Frontier Home Health and Hospice, which provides hospice care throughout the valley. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead
A couple weeks ago, Aaron Jordan lifted his long-time girlfriend, Cheryl Swan, in his arms and carried her to their second-floor bathroom in their Kalispell home.
Jordan stepped into the bathtub to help her into the water, getting his socks and pant legs wet. It didn’t bother him.
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Jordan stepped into the bathtub to help her into the water, getting his socks and pant legs wet. It didn’t bother him.
Governor blames GOP-led Senate for any problems with appraisal
Schweitzer Rejects NMAR’s Request for Special Session
Senators fill their seats on the Senate floor in Helena. - File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
A request by the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors calling for a special session of the state Legislature to address “current inadequacies” in the property tax reappraisal carried out in the 2009 regular session was immediately swatted down by Gov. Brian Schweitzer last week.
The letter, written by NMAR President Barb Funk, notes that 11 counties, including Flathead and Lake, will be “disproportionally affected by higher than expected residential property values,” and asks Schweitzer to convene a special session to immediately adopt a “stop gap” measure to solve current reappraisal problems, and establish an interim committee to deal with long-term property tax issues and draw up a bill for the 2011 session.
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The letter, written by NMAR President Barb Funk, notes that 11 counties, including Flathead and Lake, will be “disproportionally affected by higher than expected residential property values,” and asks Schweitzer to convene a special session to immediately adopt a “stop gap” measure to solve current reappraisal problems, and establish an interim committee to deal with long-term property tax issues and draw up a bill for the 2011 session.
BNSF
Political, Agriculture Leaders React to Buffett’s BNSF Purchase
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A Burlington Northern Santa Fe engine pulls cars from the Glacier Park area in this file photo. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon |
HELENA – Montana political and agricultural leaders hope Berkshire Hathaway's planned purchase of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad will lead to lower shipping costs in Montana, but they doubt much will change.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a farmer and rancher, said Tuesday he had spoken to both Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and Matthew Rose, BNSF's chairman, president and CEO.
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Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a farmer and rancher, said Tuesday he had spoken to both Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and Matthew Rose, BNSF's chairman, president and CEO.
Eureka shook up after judge’s office is burned, FBI asks questions
‘It’s Put the Community on Edge’
The fire in Justice of the Peace Stormy Langston's office burned her desk at the North Lincoln County Annex in Eureka. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
EUREKA – A late October fire here reduced a judge’s desk to ashes and scorched her robe, engulfing the entire room, melting her computer and spreading into the duct system. A quick response from the local fire department saved the rest of the building, but not before smoke crept to every corner of the 14 offices. The judge, who had previously received threats, believes she was targeted and watches her back now.
In a way, for a small town unaccustomed to major crime, the smoke still lingers.
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In a way, for a small town unaccustomed to major crime, the smoke still lingers.
N.Y. Special Election
Democrat Holds Off Conservative in Closely Watched U.S. House Race
ALBANY, N.Y. – A Democrat running in a historically Republican stronghold won a closely watched special congressional election in northern New York on Tuesday, capitalizing on a split that emerged between moderates and conservatives for control of the GOP.
With 92 percent of the precincts reporting early Wednesday, lawyer and retired Air Force Capt. Bill Owens defeated businessman Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, 49 percent to 45 percent, after a boost from unified labor efforts in the last days of the campaign and the withdrawal of the Republican candidate over the weekend.
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With 92 percent of the precincts reporting early Wednesday, lawyer and retired Air Force Capt. Bill Owens defeated businessman Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, 49 percent to 45 percent, after a boost from unified labor efforts in the last days of the campaign and the withdrawal of the Republican candidate over the weekend.
Kennedy: “I feel proud about the job I’ve done"
Fisher Ready to Get to Work as New Kalispell Mayor
Tammi Fisher, right, talks with Kalispell Sen. Bruce Tutvedt at Scotty's Bar as election returns come in Tuesday. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
Upon learning that she was defeated in her run for a third term as Kalispell’s mayor, Pam Kennedy called it, “a tough year to be an incumbent.”
“Mayors across the United States have been losing this year and it seems as though many have been blamed for the national economy,” Kennedy said.
Local attorney Tammi Fisher, in her first run for public office, defeated Kennedy handily with 63 percent of the vote. Fisher received 2,325 votes to Kennedy’s 1,363, with voter turnout at 31 percent. As of Tuesday night, some absentee ballots still needed to be counted, so official results were unavailable from the Flathead County Election Department, but it was not enough ballots to change the outcome of the mayoral race.
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“Mayors across the United States have been losing this year and it seems as though many have been blamed for the national economy,” Kennedy said.
Local attorney Tammi Fisher, in her first run for public office, defeated Kennedy handily with 63 percent of the vote. Fisher received 2,325 votes to Kennedy’s 1,363, with voter turnout at 31 percent. As of Tuesday night, some absentee ballots still needed to be counted, so official results were unavailable from the Flathead County Election Department, but it was not enough ballots to change the outcome of the mayoral race.
Kahle and Mitchell Also Voted In
Sweeney Loses Whitefish Council Race, Hyatt Wins
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Illustration by Stephen Templeton/Flathead Beacon |
In the weeks leading up to election day, the Whitefish City Council race increasingly turned into a showdown between incumbent Frank Sweeney and the three other candidates, with controversial mailers and gossip on the street helping to intensify that division.
On Tuesday, voters continued that trend, casting ballots for Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell to fill three vacant council seats over Sweeney. Hyatt received the most votes with 28 percent, followed by Kahle with 26 percent and Mitchell with 21 percent. Sweeney received 19 percent of the vote. Incumbent Nick Palmer dropped out of the race after announcing he would run for re-election.
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On Tuesday, voters continued that trend, casting ballots for Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell to fill three vacant council seats over Sweeney. Hyatt received the most votes with 28 percent, followed by Kahle with 26 percent and Mitchell with 21 percent. Sweeney received 19 percent of the vote. Incumbent Nick Palmer dropped out of the race after announcing he would run for re-election.
