HomeMy WebLinkAboutMontana League of Cities & TownMONTANA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS
PO Box 1704, Helena MT, 59601 * Telephone (406) 442-8768 * Fax (406) 442- .*L~-mk~l n~,' '
04/28/o0 i,,,,"-,,","
Dear League Members: CITY 0 F L A U R E L
I am writing this letter as an expression of the sincere appreciation of the staff of the League of Cities and
Towns for your support, assistance and fdendship during the past year.
The Board of Directors voted earlier this year to maintain the current dues structure. There were no
changes in population numbers used to calculate the rates for cities and towns, which means your payment
will be the same as last year.
During the past year, the League has been working with interim committees in preparation for the 2001
Legislature. Our message is simple and direct. We are encouraging Legislators to recognize the
importance of municipal governments to a majority of the people of Montana and to back up this
understanding wit~ a funding system that is sufficient to cover the' costs~f the legitimate service:
requirements of local government.
We are prepared to renew an energy supply contract that will save 21 cities and towns more than $80,000
on their electricity rates over the next two years. We have also been working with some of the larger cities
to investigate the possibility of setting up a non-profit corporation to acquire and operate the electrical and
natural gas system offered for sale by the Montana Power Company. Public power is a difficult issue and
an expensive proposition, but it may be the best way to maintain quality service and affordable utility rates
in Montana.
A special session of the Legislature will convene next week for what could be the political equivalent of a
dysfunctional family reunion. We expect the Legislature to approve the Administration's economic
development package with some adjustments and to refer income and property tax reductions to the voters
for the fall elections.
Once the special session adjourns, we will schedule the District Meetings, which are the first step in
deciding the direction cities and towns will take during the 2001 Legislature. I am looking forward to a
thoughtful discussion of option authority, property tax reform, state transfers and reimbursements, land use
and development policy and a variety of other issues important to cities and towns. These discussions are
vital in our work to speak for your interests, and I hope representatives from your city or town can attend the
meeting in your area of the state.
The 2000 Annual Conference will be October 11-13 at the Holiday Inn Parkside on the river in downtown
Missoula. We are working with Mayor Kadas and his staff to arrange an informative and entertaining
agenda, and will provide more details on the program and special events as soon as information as
available. We suggest that you make your room reservations as soon as possible.
In February, we hired Suzie Poppe as an accounting technician. She also helps Pebble with other office
duties, and you can see some of the benefits of their work on the League Web Page at www.mlct.orq.
Again, we thank you for your support this year and look forward to seeing all of you out there in the real
world next month during the District Meetings.
Best wishes,
I?cas', e;p_o
Alec Hansen