1. Property taxation for homeowners and small business;
  2. Workforce challenges, i.e. housing, recruitment & retention, health care and childcare
  3. Public education

I believe that small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy and we must focus on their ability to recruit and retain workers; provide health insurance for them (ie. Keep Medicaid Expansion) and provide infrastructure to support (broadband) particularly in rural areas. I am open to other legislative initiatives, and carried a few when I served 1997 to 2012

I believe that funding/training of police (including the highway patrol) are some of the fundamentals of public safety; we also need to take another look at the Youth Court Act.  I think dealing with some of the state’s pervasive mental health issues is also important, particularly those related to substance abuse.  As with all of these issues, I am open to discussion and have no preconceived or ideological biases. I initiated and directed a $2 million Workforce/Education program in the MWP for several years, and know that recidivism can be reduced through job training/post incarceration initiatives.  The Downtown Billings community and many businesses were very, very helpful and engaged.

 I am serving on the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation Workforce Housing task force.  I think land acquisition is one of the problems and possibly would like to see some funding directed toward this aspect (possible seed money, low interest/revolving loan funds, other). I also know that infrastructure costs are high and know there are some funding sources (BOI) but the magnitude of the problem may require more….than tax credits—especially in rural areas. The size of rural projects does not offer developers the economy of scale as with larger projects and needs some targeted resources

Honestly, at this point I would have to see the economics of the proposals, in terms of impact on revenue and replacement.  I carried a small business equipment tax exemption (targeted) my first session in 1997.

First, we need to go back to the Nov 2022 recommendation to reduce the rate as recommended by the MTDOR!  This approach has been used in the past and approved on a bipartisan basis. I still wonder how this was ignored during the 2023 session.  With this as a starting point, I have some legitimate concerns about some of the new proposals, because they make the 2023 increases (due to escalation of housing/commercial prices) permanent.  This was not necessary.  The Homestead exemption has some promise. This is very critical for rural areas, and to help with workforce housing. We should include rent property tax relief as possible.

When I served in the legislature, I was recognized for my willingness to put politics aside and try to find common sense solutions. As a problem solver in my professional life and as a former legislator, I have 16 years of experience and believe that my experience could be helpful in many areas