| A resolution of the Constitution Party of Montana stating opposition to LR-118 and encouraging voters to oppose continuation of the statewide 6-mill levy for the Montana university system. Whereas, the Montana legislature passed SB 16 during the 2007 session to refer to the voters the question of whether or not to continue the statewide 6-mill levy on property as a source of funding for the Montana university system and; Whereas, the 2007 legislature had a budget surplus of some $1.5 billion and yet did not grant long term property tax relief to taxpayers who struggle to pay outrageously high property taxes in Montana and; Whereas, the 2007 legislature increased funding for the Montana university system by 23.87% while enrollment increased by a mere .07% and; Whereas, the budget for the Montana university system has increased by 86.2% while student enrollment has increased only 6.4% since 1998 when the 6-mill levy was last voted on and; Whereas, because the Montana Constitution establishes that “the government and control of the Montana university system is vested in a board of regents” and as such there is no direct accountability to the taxpayers of Montana for funds appropriated by the legislature to the university system and; Whereas, we disagree with some of the very questionable policies demonstrated by the university system, including the decision by the law school to reject recognition of the Christian Legal Society as a student group, the sponsorship and hosting of a “Sex-a-Paloosa,” questionable administration of research funds which have created a funding deficit in a department at the U of M, an almost $300,000,000 debt obligation on Montana taxpayers, and depriving students and citizens of their right of self-defense with campus policy that prohibits legally owned and carried firearms to be allowed on campus; therefore, Be it resolved by the Constitution Party of Montana that we oppose continuation of the 6-mill levy on property in Montana. While the 6-mill levy is a small percentage both in terms of total funding for the university system and the total amount of taxes paid by property taxpayers, over the ten year period for which it will be in effect the tax will total some $150 million. We believe it is imperative that voters send a message to both the board of regents and the legislature that we want both accountability and lower property taxes. We encourage all voters to help us “send a message” by voting against LR-118 and continuation of the 6-mill levy. |