by Joseph G Gallagher Jr, Stevensville
It was disconcerting to see that the BVCC Levy was defeated by Ravalli County voters on May 5th. For a $400,000 home in the Bitterroot Valley, that would be two good bottles of wine in one year, or the current price of a one time fill up of a tank of gasoline for a year or the price of a one time good dinner for two at a restaurant for a year.
The opportunity that the levy would have provided for the valley for getting a national concern to relocate here or several concerns because of the increase in the talent base that a community college would provide has been lost in the future by the result of this vote’s outcome. I guess is it true when they say there are many shades of color on any issue. Maybe next time, a vote on this issue will pass.
It should be noted to those that voted it down that the unintended consequences of a no vote and not getting national concerns to relocate to the Bitterroot Valley is probably (1) the jobs potential the levy would have provided as a result of the increase in talent a community college degree would offer and (2) the subsequence property taxes that new industry would have paid which in turn would have slowed the rise of personnel property taxes in the future and finally, (3) the availability for young Montanans to stay in the valley as a result of the opportunity for higher paid employment.
Oh well, as I said, maybe next time it will pass.