Montana News Roundup: More Money for You, Less for the State

Not everyone will be getting the same savings, but Governor Gainforte and GOP Legislative leaders are touting the positive impact of the new income tax cut approved this week.

HB 337 trims the bill for those in top tax brackets, while spreading the lower income tax bracket to some higher-income taxpayers.

-Impacts for you? Gianforte says that it reduces the top income tax rate and increases the earned income tax credit from 10% to 20%.

READ MORE: Gianforte Demands Action on Property Rax Reform

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That's not the flat cut Gianforte asked for, but he seems pleased.

"This proposal is in line with our conservative principles, allowing Montanans to keep more of what they earn. Recognizing that the money belongs to them, and not the government," Gianforte said during his weekly press conference.

The governor had been pushing for a flat cut from 5.9% to 4.9%, but the proposal had run into concerns over the impact on state revenues. Even with this bill, which was approved close to party lines, state revenues are expected to drop by $267-million in the next 5-years.

"This is a great step towards our ultimate goal of a flat income tax in Montana"- Gov. Gianforte

 

Money for Women's Prison Crunch

That's lost revenue from the income tax cut is about the same amount of money the Legislature is committing to begin expanding correctional operations for Montana's growing number of women prisoners.

HB 833 cleared the Senate Wednesday, where Senator Jon Esp of Big Timber explained the crunch that's developed because of a lack of beds for female inmates.

"There's probably about 85 or so at the present time waiting for one of the 250 beds in Billings"- Senator Jon Esp, R-Big Timber

Estimates have already placed the future need for bed as high as 500 in the coming years. $250-million would provide for some existing facility renovation and start the process for building a new women's prison.

More Montana Spring Grizzly Problems

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed a section of the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Montana, after two anglers had a run-in with a grizzly bear in the Centennial Valley.

Montana FWP reports the pair ran into the bear while they were fishing along Red Rock Creek. One of there anglers shot at the bear, but wardens aren't sure if the bear was injured.

The Last Pro-Am Logging Show in the Last Best Place

This weekend is the 28th Annual Forestry Days at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.

In addition to fun watching the active displays of historic Western Montana logging equipment, the event is also the only remaining Pro-Am logging sports event in North America.

College teams from the University of Montana and other forestry schools around the region will compete in events like chopping, sawing, pole climbing and log rolling from 9 am to 4 pm Friday.

Then Saturday, the students will join with the pro competitors for daylong competitions.

Admission is by donation, with proceeds supporting The Fort.

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Montana Friday Fact:

100 years ago, a "basic laborer" at the Bonner sawmill (one of the largest in the world), made $3.36 a day, sawyers made $5 for a day's work, with the head sawyer walking home with $8. Most men worked six days a week. (Bonner Milltown History)