State Legislature 2022: Jodee Etchart

Public service is a privilege. Consensus building is an important part of the role of a public servant and vital to the business community which helps sustain safe, thriving communities.  Economic success in Montana and Billings will promote strong businesses and help to achieve the environment we all desire. An environment of Freedom and Prosperity. I’m running for Montana Legislature to lead by example and promote strong, safe, thriving communities to live and to raise our families.

Important policy priorities include strengthening Montana’s business climate through workforce development and readiness by working with school districts, colleges, and technical schools; exploring tax reform and infrastructure development while maintaining a balanced budget that controls government spending; implementing ways to lower prescription drug prices and health care costs without limiting reimbursements to health care facilities are top policy priorities.

Local businesses and government can more easily identify areas of need than state governments but should identify areas of cooperation for optimal infrastructure development.

Montana’s recidivism rate is 42.4%. Other sources put this number higher.  The cost of incarceration per inmate in Montana is over $33, 000.00. Education and job skills development programs and treatment programs while incarcerated prove instrumental in reducing recidivism as does assistance with job placement. Jail overcrowding continues to be an issue.  Prevention programs that include drug trafficking enforcement and support of local police and state agencies can assist in crime reduction.

Finding ways to use the money spent for incarceration for proven programs to reduce the rate of recidivism in Montana would be an area of focus that would benefit all Montanans. Supporting Billings Chambers’  Crime Prevention through Environmental Design model as well as others will further safe communities and assist in crime prevention.

We can be sure to support already established sources of power, the companies generating and delivering that power and their projects; while promoting responsible mining of the Rare Earth Elements (REE) needed to produce the batteries to store the power for EV’s, and for the manufacture of the wind turbines and solar panels. Montana Technological University published an article titled “Metallic Ore Deposits of Montana”.  California is currently looking to extend the life of the Redondo Beach gas powered plant because current renewable energy sources are not able to meet need as the transition from carbon-based fuels takes place.  To avoid this, we can extend the life of Colstrip 3 & 4 and continue to promote base load power with Montana clean coal, gas,  and construction of nuclear energy generation. Wyoming is installing a nuclear power reactor in Kemmerer Wyoming.

The Montana General Fund receives 75% of the revenue generated from the 4%  Lodging Sales Tax. In addition,  the 4% Lodging Facilities Use Tax  is distributed to various Montana organizations, including the General Fund before allocating the remainder to State Special Revenues which includes the Department of Commerce and Regional Non-Profit Tourism Corporations.  The current budget surplus that is enjoyed by the State of Montana, and the likelihood that the surplus will continue, indicate that the allocation could be increased to benefit local communities to promote tourism.

Montanans have indicated that they do not support a sales tax.

An 8% total tax on lodging already exists. So where do we go from here to decrease Montanans property taxes? As more people move into Montana and the property tax base broadens this will increase revenue. Implementing fair reappraisals of property and limiting the number of new exemptions can help to decrease property taxes. Providing local communities, the opportunity to vote for themselves on what is best in their backyard are options worth considering. Any legislation in this area must receive careful consideration to avoid burdening Montanans with another tax without providing definitive and meaningful property tax relief.

Decreasing regulations and zoning restrictions such as adding an accessory dwelling unit to a residential property and ensuring reasonable permitting fees can help to alleviate the housing crisis. Other government regulations that restrict building are lot coverage ratios that dictate the percent of the lot that can be built on and exclusionary single family zoning areas. Streamlining, simplifying, and offering clarity in zoning regulations that open the door for builders and developers to construct more housing units at lower development costs will assist in providing more affordable housing. Increased logging and increased local processing lumber mills could potentially provide more building supplies;  if we can recruit the labor necessary to sustain the harvest and production.  This could also decrease the fuel during fire season and provide accessible roads for teams fighting the forest fires, thus decreasing the amount spent on fighting summer forest fires while decreasing the expense that the tax payer shoulders.