by Gary Engebretson, Corvallis
I am retired and on a partial fixed income from BNSF Railroad, Highline area of Montana. I am a high school graduate only. I hired out in the railroad mechanic shop and eventually became a railroad locomotive engineer through on-the-job training.
I am looking at my 2021 property tax statement and total school funding is 57.73%. This does not include state or federal personal income taxes. As we all know housing and land have gone up at least 25% to 75% in the last several years. But our property and home insurance has not caught up to value increases.
Brace your feet!!
Option 1: Funding new college at request mill 9.75. Remember this is only the start. Presently the campus is leased from Hamilton school district at what cost and how long term?
So one day there will be a college campus at what cost? Presently there is no housing or food service facilities. We all know housing in Hamilton is not cheap so will students commute from Missoula on 93 or we need to build student housing in Hamilton?
Option 2: Forty plus miles north we have the University of Montana. Enrollment in 2014 at 13,552.
Enrollment in 2022 is 9807 students / 3745 student drop.
So there must be student housing there. I read they’re also getting a new Food Service area and their own classrooms.
Option 3: Let University of Montana run Bitterroot College. They have been running it for many years and know the angles on grants etc.
Option 4: On the job training (which I did) or for profit schools such as Trade schools and Charter colleges that specialize in one trade or career.
I see we have a beauty school along this line.
So now I see young adults have a lot of ways to a career and can be funded a lot of ways.
FELLOW TAX PAYERS, it comes down to how much and where should our tax dollars go to and for someone’s education??
Vote May 3rd, your choice, your tax dollars!
Helen Sabin says
Engebretson speaks well for defeating the levy vote coming April 15. MU states that the school is in DIRE financial straits and the building in which it is housed needs tremendous upgrades to it for safety purposes. In addition, there are NOT enough students to keep it open. NOt enough revenue is being generated here in the Bitterroot. There is a lack of interest in attending by students who do NOT even go to college when offered FREE MONEY!! I.e. scholarships that are going begging. NO one is applying for them.
PLUS it will cost at least 25 million to build a new campus as that old building where the college is housed may be recalled by Hamilton School District for their purposes. or even torn down as it has many safety issues.
Our economy cannot stand such a financial drain. Inflation is also eating every resident alive in this valley. Just today gasoline went up 8 cents per gallon and is on the way up.. NO MORE TAXES!
VOTE NO on the college!