GREAT FALLS LEGISLATORS HEAR CITY, COUNTY CONCERNS

City and county leaders bent the ears of eight Great Falls legislators
for 90 minutes on Monday, explaining their views on several complex
internal local government issues.

But the issues that drew the longest discussion -- state budgeting for
social issues and whether to repeal or modify the state medical
marijuana law -- were two that are expected to draw increasing
attention of legislators in Helena as they return today from their
mid-session break.

Cascade County Commissioner Jane Weber said preliminary legislative
cuts to the health and human services budget would mean a severe cut
of $190,000 a year to the county's Senior Nutrition Program.

That would result in a projected reduction of 25,000 meals a year to
homebound residents in the Meals on Wheels program, a reduction of
about 6,200 meals a year served at the county's six senior centers and
a small reduction in senior center staff.

Such programs help keep older folks in their homes, Commissioner Joe
Briggs said, and the state would pay more if they are sent to nursing
homes.

Legislative cuts recommended in the Family Health Services, Prevention
Services and Community Health Centers would eliminate the Women
Infants and Children and Maternal and Child Health programs that help
1,800 county clients a month with nutritious foods, education and
referrals that help assure healthier pregnancies for mothers of
working families, Weber said.

The Tobacco Use Program, projected to get a $173,000 cut over two
years, has helped reduce youth smoking by 45 percent and adult smoking
by 23 percent over the last decade, she said.

Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, said he believes there is now
budget money available to restore the proposed health and human
services cuts, but Republicans are resisting adding money back into
the budget for social programs.

Rep. Trudi Schmidt, D-Great Falls, said legislative fiscal officials
agree there is about $90 million more to spend, according to the
latest legislative projections.

Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, said that fiscal projections are
looking better, but the Legislature also has to weigh requests to
restore money for other programs, especially education.

Rep. Cleve Loney, R-Great Falls, said he realizes programs like Meals
on Wheels are doing a great job.

City Commissioner Bill Bronson and County Commissioner Briggs
advocated a multi-pronged approach in addressing the controversial
medical marijuana law.

Bronson said some cities, such as Great Falls and Helena, have decided
not to license marijuana businesses because of federal laws against
marijuana distribution, while others, including Missoula and Bozeman,
are regulating such businesses through zoning.

Bronson said he hopes the Legislature will take direct action of some
kind rather than leaving the law in place. If lawmakers don't ban
medical marijuana businesses, he hopes they will allow cities to
regulate where the businesses can be located.

Briggs said the rapid growth in medical marijuana businesses and user
cards has made it virtually impossible for county attorneys to
prosecute drug charges.

He said he'd like to see greater control over who is issued medical
marijuana cards, more inspection of growers and the charging of fees
or taxes to cover the costs.

Buttrey said the Legislature might repeal the medical marijuana law
long enough for "police to clean up the bad apples" among growers and
then reinstate it with better rules and regulations.

On other issues, city and county officials recommended the Legislature:

* Define spot zoning in a way that gives local government some
influence.

* Be aware that eliminating or reducing the business equipment tax
will have a negative impact on other local taxpayers who would end up
paying more.

Briggs said he supports lowering the business equipment tax because it
will encourage business growth that eventually could result in more
local tax revenue. But it will take time, and during that gap, other
taxpayers will pay more to pick up the difference, he said.

* Allow counties to add two members to the pool of three people who
serve on county tax appeal boards. Doing so will allow faster hearings
and decisions about such appeals.