HomeMy WebLinkAboutLeague of Cities and TownsMemorandum
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Montana League of Cities and Towns
P. O. Box 1704, Helena, MT 59624-1704
(406) 442-8768 FAX (406) 442-9231
E-mail mlct~mt, net
All Cities and Towns
Alec Hansen
Public Defender Legislation
January 28, 2005
d~ 31 2005
The Legislature is working on a bill that would provide for state assumption of public
defender services currently handled by municipal and county governments. Under this
bill, cities would be required to finance about 6.75% of the costs of state assumption,
currently estimated at about $730,000 per year. In return, they would no longer be
responsible for providing public defender services.
The intent of the bill is to make the cost of assumption equal to the mount that dries and
towns are currently spending on public defender services. The estimates that are being
used to determine how much cities and towns should pay are based on a very narrow
survey and are not reliable.
I am to, king League members to provide better information. Specifically, I need the
amount that each city and town has spent on public defender services for the last
three years.
This data, if we can collect a representative sample, will be used to estimate current costs
and set the municipal conlxibutions for the statewide public defender system.
This bill is on rails and is likely to be approved. The challenge is to assure that the
funding formula is fair and does not become a subsidy fxom local government to state
government like conviction sumharges, environmental fees and other laws and
regulations that have been used to exact money fxom cities.
We do not want cities to pay more for public defender services, and we need the
information requested in this memorandum to assure that this does not happen!
Timing is very important! Please fax or e-mall this information as soon as possible!
Hearin~ Calendar
Hearings on important city bills are scheduled in the House and Senate Local
Government Committees over the next two weeks. These bills are all adverse to
municipal interests and we should be prepared to stomp them into the linoleum.
House Local Government Committee
(meets at 3:00 p.m. in Rm. 172)
Feb. 1 I-IR-342
Revise laws on special improvement distriels
This bill would severely restrict the use of
$IDs for improvements. We have to hit this one
hard
Feb. 8 ml-431
Revise property owner fight to protest sewer pro~ecls
This is another dangerous bill that should be opposed
for numerous reasons including threats to public health.
Feb. 1 SB-262
Feb. 8 SB-253
SB-289
Feb. 15 SB-309
Senate Local Government Committee
(meets at 3:00 p.m. in Rm. 335)
Compensation for takings
This is an extreme property rights measure that needs
to be nailed
Revise municipal voting to include residents of
planning and zoning iurisdictions
This is another attempt to restrict and complicate
planning and zoning. Strong opposition is recommended
Exemption from city licensino, for professional~
This bill was requested by realtors to protect them
from a Lewistown ordinance. There are other laws and
court cases that have the same effect.
Eliminate distance restriction on incorporation of city
This is a tricky way to protect contiguous areas from
annexatior~ It is a bad bill that deserves a quick death.