Fern gives legislative update
Following my fourth term in the Montana House, I faced either political extinction (term limits in Montana limit the number of terms served for legislators and state office holders), or a run for a newly configured senate district comprising Whitefish, Columbia Falls and surrounding areas. I was fortunate to defeat a more than worthy opponent, Doug Adams. We conferred and broke bread together during and after the campaign. It was a cleanly run affair and to that I am grateful. Asked why I ran for the seat, I often mentioned in a light-hearted tone that the Senate offered more comfortable chairs, office space and perhaps less drama than the larger House.
High drama started about fifteen minutes after being sworn in. Rules regarding the reassignment of legislators to the proposed full time Executive Committee, previously an on-call committee to confirm the Executive’s office department confirmations, was rejected by 27 senators.
Nine Republican senators opposed the proposal. The formation of the proposed full-time committee would have siphoned senators from their full-time committees such as Business, Labor, Economic Affairs or Finance and Claims (creation of the budget). The surprise vote caught the majority leadership by surprise, with resulted in hurt feelings and the need for an alternative proposal. Another vote failed which defaulted our senate rules to “permanent” temporary rules… unless, of course, a rules vote comes before the body once again.
This modest kerfuffle seemed to take a life of its own resulting in a slow-down of the process, bill hearings and votes on the floor.
Though not assigned to Finance and Claims (Senate Tax was my first choice), it is of paramount importance that the state has predictable and stable revenues, and sustainable tax policies in order to meet the aspirations enumerated in the final budget.
The Legislative Fiscal Division (LFD), is non-partisan and works on behalf of the legislature.
Tasked with a third eye on the governor’s budget and in the out years, the latest report predicts a structural imbalance in the year 2029. In simplest of terms, the state may lack the necessary revenues beyond the upcoming biennium. In 2017 we were called to special session as our cash flow became dangerously low. There were reverberations from cuts from the session, especially in services for behavioral health and developmental disabilities. Hopefully, not to repeat again.
There will be several proposals to reduce the burden of property taxes on residential and commercial property owners. The bill from the Property Task Force, to which I was a member, will target mainly full-time residents with a homestead exemption that will lower the rate or multiplier applied to the appraised value. The proposal will also lower the rate for small and medium size businesses. Businesses too have been burdened with higher appraised values, especially here in Flathead County.
Recommendations from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, which I sit, will have hearings in Section B (a joint House and Senate committee) of the Appropriations Committee. These recommendations are included in the Executive Budget, and I will be advocating for their passage,
I will have bills including the increase and expansion of the Elderly Homeowners and Renters Tax Credit, an amendment to the Lakeshore Protection Act to better account for damage to our lakes, changes in our resort tax community and district eligibility and revisions to the investment allowances to the Coal Trust Fund to increase earning.
I look forward to serving you, the constituents of the North Flathead. I can be reached at Dave.Fern@legmt.org or 406-212-0674
Dave Fern
Senate District 2
Whitefish