Breakfast group told of need to invest in
services, education
By JAN FALSTAD Of The Gazette
Staff
While labor income has risen significantly in
Yellowstone County in recent years, economist Larry Swanson told a
Billings audience Wednesday that the city hasn't invested enough in
its roads, sewers and other critical infrastructure to accommodate
growth during the next 15 years.
Swanson, director of the
O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of
Montana, told a Celebrate Billings breakfast gathering that
continued prosperity of the state's largest city depends on
improving public services to handle the robust
growth.
"Billings is an area where you can invest money and
get return," he said. "We're working from a position of strength in
Billings."
Starting in 2000, personal income growth in the
state rose 17 percent in five years. Montana is above the national
average in growth in personal income, including some years when it
grew 5 percent, which Swanson called "amazing progress."
Despite that good news, he said the population is aging and
the good times in housing and construction won't last
forever.
"We're getting a tremendous bump out of construction
and construction workers' earning and real estate, but that is
leveling out," he said.
Some of the illustrative slides
Swanson showed the group indicated that public spending is not
keeping pace with private-sector growth.
In one decade,
spending from all revenue sources in Billings and Yellowstone County
fell from 4.6 percent of total personal income to 3.8 percent in
2002.
The Celebrate Billings partners include The Billings
Gazette, St. Vincent Healthcare, Billings Clinic and Montana State
University-Billings, which hosted the breakfast meeting. The group's
goal is to make Billings a better community in "economic
development, civic climate, and education" by the year
2020.
The enthusiastic crowd of about 300 listened as Swanson
laid out economic statistics that will affect growth.
The
conventional wisdom that the cities are booming and Montana's
countryside isn't doesn't hold true anymore, he said. In fact, 70
percent of Montana's residents live within 40 miles of the seven
largest cities, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Increasingly,
wages from the "rural" people who work in the cities come back to
benefit the surrounding towns, Swanson said.
"They are now
distributing to the surrounding counties 12.5 percent of personal
employment earnings from jobs in the cities," he said.
As he
has in previous talks in Billings, Swanson said Montana depends too
much on property taxes.
"As growth continues, it keeps
squeezing, squeezing, squeezing public services in terms of the city
and schools," he said.
Spending on education also is
inadequate and he invited community leaders to attend school board
meetings as he has for 10 years.
"Those folks have their
backs to the wall and that's not the way to move confidently into
the future," Swanson said.
Billings City Administrator Tina
Volek pointed out that Billings is serving 6.4 more square miles
within its city limits and 12,000 more people than five years
ago.
"Yet growth hasn't paid its way," she said. "All the new
growth only generated $300,000 last year in property
taxes."
John Brewer, executive director of the Billings Area
Chamber of Commerce, asked for a local-option tax so that
out-of-state tourists could help pay the bills.
"Forty seven
other states in our country don't have it wrong. We do," Brewer
said. "We need to complete tax reform."
Several speakers,
including Big Sky Economic Development Authority Executive Director
Joe McClure, called for more job-specific training for workers.
Billings needs to increase the amount of money flowing through the
local economy and the city's leaders need to direct the future,
McClure said.
"If we're going to look to Helena to solve our
problems, we're going to be standing around a long time," he
said.
College of Technology Dean John Cech said the city is
approaching a "perfect storm."
"Montana is probably the
fourth-oldest population state," he said, "and by 2030, 26 percent
of our population will be 65 and above."
With fewer than half
of the state's high school graduates going on to college or
post-econdary school, more spending is needed on the Career Center
where high-school-age students can learn a trade, several speakers
said. The Career Center is packed and turning students
away.
Cech announced that the College of Technology has been
awarded a federal grant of $1.9 million to train students for jobs
in the energy industry. The grant is a done deal, he said, and isn't
tied up in congressional budget review.
"The bottom line is,
the money is there," Cech said. "It's part of the president's
budget."
The loudest applause went to comments made by
MSU-Billings Foundation Chief Executive Marilynn Miller. During a
question-and-answer period, Miller said the Billings campus needs to
have its "Ivy League handcuffs removed."
Whenever Billings
wants to add a program to help its people, she said, campus leaders
in Bozeman or Missoula say no.
"The programs we need for the
people of this city are not allowed in because Bozeman won't allow
it," Miller said. "It's turf protection."
MSU-Billings
Chancellor Ron Sexton agreed with Miller in an
interview.
While he said he understands the need to avoid
program duplication and to keep tuition affordable, he said Billings
is growing and needs more educational choices.
Sexton's top
picks would be a more futuristic graduate-level business education
focused on international relations; pure research, especially in the
energy sector; and more health care programs to serve an aging
population.
"In order for us to grow and develop, we need
major programs and a mix of programs in health care," he said. "This
is inevitable."
When asked to sum up how Billings is doing in
planning its future, Swanson said he attends 80 meetings a
year.
"This is one of the best gatherings in the state of
Montana in terms of trying to keep the ball moving down the field,"
Swanson said.
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MR - A citizen of Billings wrote on
December 14, 2006 1:03 AM Why does Missoula and Bozeman
have the say in what Billings does? Ignore Them!
Yipee! More Taxes! wrote on December 14, 2006 2:07 AM Uh, oh ... here we go again ... another
special interest group lobbying for more SPENDING and MORE TAXES!
Sheesh! It doesn't matter how much money we taxpayers shell out to
our city, county, state and federal government, each one of them
will ALWAYS come back for more - the greedy buggers! Liberals such
as Larry Swanson want to add ANOTHER tax to our already heavy tax
burden? He and others are being deceptive when they tell you
tourists are going to take over some of our tax burden ... A LIE.
Billings is a great city but not a lot of tourists come to Billings.
Most drive pass Billings by on the interstate and a small number may
gas up and some may spend the night in the hotel but they're just
passing through. Tourists already pay gas taxes and lodging taxes.
Larry Swanson and others will razzle dazzle us with statistics,
charts, rah-rah speeches, etc because he and others advocate more
money to the government and less money for us. Do you really think
the special interest groups such as the Teacher Union Bosses want to
do this new sales tax to get the same amount of revenue? Heck no!
They know darn well they'll get more money and all of that is coming
from OUR WALLETS. So you see folks, the propaganda for another TAX
has begun! Why would anyone want to give even more of his/her
hard-earned money to the government? Sales tax proponents argue they
will lower property taxes to only 4%! They're being deceptive again
here folks, be careful! Unless you kill the property tax completely
that 4% property tax will slowly creep back up again because in the
years to come another special interest group will come down the pike
and tell us we need a small increase in our property taxes and/or
sales tax for schools, roads, etc. They will argue, "Well its only a
SMALL increase" but when they do that every couple years or so it
eventually becomes a an even bigger tax. Once you create a NEW tax
it will NEVER die, ever. It will start out small but will slowly but
surely get BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER. Its disappointing that the
Billings Gazette chose to give such exposure and for the sales tax
advocates. When a business tries to sell a product or service they
have to buy advertising in the paper. Here, the Billings Gazette
gives free front page advertising for tax proponents to sell their
ideas. Will the Billings Gazette be fair to Billings residents and
give the same coverage to those who are against this proposed new
sales tax? There are many who believe the Billings Gazette has
reporters and editors who are liberal and thus generally support
bigger government and more taxes. Lets see if the Billings Gazette
will be balanced in their coverage and give the same front page
coverage to the majority of people who HATE the idea of new
taxes!
Yeah, we know wrote on December 14, 2006 3:26 AM The streets suck and many are without
sidewalks; the water is horrible and getting worse, but we'd rather
have a new ballpark.
Los Cangrejos wrote on December 14, 2006 5:34 AM Uh oh. Hold on to your wallets.
Speak Out Against Sales Tax! wrote on
December 14, 2006 6:08 AM If the government and
politicians truly wish to help people they can by putting money in
the pockets of as many people as possible. The best way to do that
is to let Billings residents KEEP THEIR MONEY. Don't force citizens,
through more taxation, to give it to greedy government bureacracies
that serve only special interest groups. Watch out, folks, these
special interest groups are coming after your wallets and have
teamed up with the media to sell you on the new sales tax. This is
the beginning of their slick, organized sales tax campaign. Keep an
eye out for more snake oil propaganda from these sales tax
proponents. If you want to prevent these greedy tax and spenders
from confiscating more and more of your money you must FIGHT BACK!
Don't let other people do your fighting for you because the more we
stand up to these tax and spenders the more powerful we become.
Speak out against bigger, more expensive government. And don't
believe for a second these tourists are going to be footing the bill
- we are, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Bye John wrote on December 14, 2006 7:02 AM John Brewer should resign his position
with the Chamber of Commerce so that he can pursue his political
career. A local option tax is not an option. The gasoline and bed
taxes are already collected from the tourists. He is completely out
of step with the voters.
Reality Check wrote on December 14, 2006 7:12 AM I really love Billings but we have some of
the darkest streets I have seen in any city. We are going to have a
ball park for our children; not my first choice, but come on friends
let it go. What I am concerned about is how dark the streets are at
this latitude this time of year when kids are still out and about.
We've also had a couple of adult pedestrian accidents lately,
usually at night if I remember right. I don't like the property
taxes either but our city needs to catch up somehow.
Yeah, wrote on December 14, 2006 7:28 AM but we're building a baseball field. Who
needs streets and sewers when you have the best ball field in your
league?
Resort Tax wrote on December 14, 2006 7:59 AM I bet the politicians many year ago were
told that the new sales tax they were voting for would only be for
specific "resorts." See how taxes start out! Those guys who voted
for this resort tax probably told people, "Its only going to be for
a couple resorts" Taxes start off slowly then grow like a giant
snowball rolled down a hill. Whatever you do, don't let your
politicians vote for another new sales tax!
Tax the Rich State of Montana! wrote on
December 14, 2006 8:05 AM Why tax the people of Billings?
We're taxed enough already. Why tax the poor? Go where the money is
-- Helena! Creat a new Tax that will only tax the rich state
governement. They have over a BILLION dollars of OUR money and they
Won't give it back (except maybe 10% of it). So tax the RICH state
and federal governments. They got their hands in our bank accounts
already so we don't want more tax-hands picking our pockets dry as a
bone. Don't tax the poor with your sales tax, tax the very wealthy
state of Montana - they took our money already!
the solutions wrote on December 14, 2006 8:06 AM local option gambling tax; user fees for
new commercial development and subdivisions, $10,000 to $20,000 per
house; coal severance moneys -- billings pays for the coal
development out of its own pocket, our high schools are crowded and
we need a west end water and sewer complex....
DS wrote on December 14, 2006 8:20 AM Yep, we needed a new ball park!!!!!
tired of the same old presentations
wrote on December 14, 2006 8:23
AM reminds me of the
xerox commercial with monkeys making color copies, most of
presentation is useless at the best, the thing is we need to use
coal severance money and development fees NOW. i hope these
economist jokers do this for free.... its worth it....
local wrote on December 14, 2006 8:25 AM I fully agree that education options at
MSU and Rocky are limited. If you want to work on a Masters degree
you get to choose out of 4 generic programs, and none of those
programs meet the needs of the Billings community. Lame.
Don't Create a New Tax! wrote on December 14, 2006 8:29 AM Why is it liberals always whine when our
gas prices go up, electricity goes up, cost of medicine goes Way Up,
etc but when a NEW tax comes around that will take money away from
Montana residents 24/7/365 they actually ADVOCATE for the new tax?
We have way too many liberals in this state and They need to be
taxed only. They LOVE taxes so they will be happy because they are
able to walk the talk and the rest of us will be happy because we
can keep our money to pay for food, rent, mortgage, TAXES, college,
gas, mediicine, etc. Maybe the high taxes on Libs will push them out
of Montana so they can live in LIBERAL states like California which
has oodles and oodles of taxes big and small. The libs will be happy
there because they are able to pay for all these taxes 24/7. Don't
shoot yourself in the foot, kill this tax NOW.
seperate Billings from MSU wrote on
December 14, 2006 8:51 AM seperate Billings from MSU; it
should be University of Billings......
free key wrote on December 14, 2006 8:51 AM What's with the right wing nutcase
posters? It seems you all don't even read the article before you go
on your all knowing, conspiracy theory
taxes are too low wrote on December 14, 2006 9:14 AM taxes are too low and we need higher
paying jobs and compensation from polluting industries.....
Los Cangrejos wrote on December 14, 2006 9:23 AM On the other hand, we keep electing and
re-electing these idiots, theives and liars. I love the part about
how all this growth hasn't paid for itself. I wonder if it ever
will. Probably never with this batch of elected doofusi at the city
and county government.
Annual Tax Increases Stink wrote on
December 14, 2006 9:25 AM Every year some special interest
group, teachers union, politicians, et. al. are lining up to suck
more and more money from the city, county, and state governments.
EVERY YEAR! Any politicians that votes to allow the city of Billings
to raise taxes will FEEL THE WRATH of Billings area voters. If they
allow this possibility these sales tax proponents will come back
every year until finally they get their new sales tax! Any
politician that votes for this new sales tax option will be kicked
out of office!!!!
playground first wrote on December 14, 2006 9:30 AM Ya let's get the ballpark (playground for
theVIP) first, be sure and tear down the swimming pool for the kids
right away so the old babies can have their fun, oh well we don't
need any roads anyway cause very few will support this corncobb
anyway, just call it polluted park!! In the end the goodoleboys
haveing their way will be the downfall of billings, kinda like
cutting their own throats!
See the presenation by Larry Swanson
about economic improvement strategies in the Billings area.
This presentation was originally delivered by Swanson in
October 2006.
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