State infrastructure gets bad grades

According to a Nov. 18 report by the Montana chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the state’s schools, wastewater treatment facilities and other infrastructure are in disrepair and in need of investment.

The state’s cumulative grade was a C-minus, which “basically says that our state’s infrastructure is mediocre,” according to Melissa Matassa-Stone, the Missoula engineer who chaired the committee that produced the report.

“We see functioning systems — don’t get me wrong,” Matassa-Stone said. “But we see general signs of deterioration. It’s not good enough.”

Lowest marks went to the state’s public school system, which received a D-minus. Most of Montana’s 2,000 public school buildings were built before 1970. The engineers said 66 percent of the schools need repairs and recommended that state officials create an endowment program to help pay for improvements.

Wastewater treatment, dams and drinking water systems also got below-average grades. The highest mark — a B-minus — went to solid waste disposal, which the engineers said was in relatively good condition with reasonably affordable rates for consumers.

The group’s report card was released one day after Gov. Steve Bullock proposed a budget calling for investing $300 million in water, sewer, roads and broadband Internet projects across the state.

His proposal is being met with criticism by Republicans, who hold the majority in both Montana legislative chambers. A major impasse is over money — in 2013, Bullock vetoed a Republican proposal to use cash from Eastern Montana oil revenue to pay for infrastructure improvements. Bullock says using cash is more expensive than using bonds. Cash on hand will generate more money in-state than the money spent on the interest on bonds, he says.

Sen. Debbie Barrett, R-Dillon, the newly elected Montana Senate President, said Bullock will run into trouble getting the legislature to approve the bonds. She also said he needs to reduce the overall spending figure.

Bullock’s spending list includes $39.5 million for the Montana Heritage Center, which would be the new home for the Montana Historical Society in Helena, and about $45 million for infrastructure in the Eastern Montana oil counties.

Rep. Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, the newly elected House Speaker, said the Eastern Montana communities need much more than that.

“Sidney needs about $60 million now for sewer projects and upgrading water lines,” he said.