A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Thanks to Flathead Memo’s sources, tipsters, readers, and the individuals who took the time to provide feedback. You helped make this a better blog. I look forward to hearing from you, and working with you, in 2016.
Will lieutenant governor designee Cooney be Teflon Mike? I think that’s likely. He earned his reputation of being one of the nicest people in politics by being just that. Nevertheless, Republicans will try to tear him down. A long discredited accusation that he used government equipment to run his campaigns surfaced on Twitter soon after his being tapped was announced. And because he’s a lifelong public servant, he’ll be accused of never having held a real job.
Flathead taxpayers successfully protest new 911 tax district. No one should be surprised. Our county commission, sheriff, and 911 overlords, handled this just about as poorly as was possible. They started with a bad idea, a capitation tax for residential property owners. Then, after their bad idea was voted down in 2014, they sought to bypass the voters and establish the tax district by fiat. That won’t be forgotten by the voters in 2016.
Part of the problem is the irresponsible way government finances public buildings. In the world of private business and individual home ownership, the costs of buying or building a structure and operating it are considered at the same time. But government takes a different approach. When that Cold War structure off Stillwater Road was built, the bond issue paid for the bricks, but not for future operating expenses. Now it’s clear that from the gitgo the operating principle for the people behind the center was “If we build it, the taxpayers will be forced to pay later to operate it.” Taxpayers seldom take kindly to be manipulated that way.
A tax revolt could be brewing in Flathead County. School District 5 wants new schools and levies. The sheriff wants a new jail. The Flathead County Library (AKA ImagineIF Libraries) wants a new building. The 911 directors want a dedicated source of operating funds. Each project may seem affordable when viewed in isolation, but add them up and the total can be staggering and unaffordable.
Instead of building new schools, let’s operate existing schools all year long. The current school year is an artifact of the era when children were needed down on the farm during the growing season. Let’s fully utilize the classroom space we have now instead of building more classrooms that will sit empty for months.
Incandescent lighting finally retired at Flathead Memo. The last incandescent light bulb in my home, a 52-watt wimplight, was taken out of service yesterday, replaced with a 10-watt (measured) LED bulb that allegedly emits 800 lumens. This completes a years long project during which I was transformed from a risk taking early adopter of innovative lighting technology to a cautious, risk averse, late adopter. Along the way I learned some things I’ll share with you next year.