Billings Gazette
The real estate industry has raised more than $600,000 so far to gather signatures for a ballot measure that would amend the Montana Constitution to forbid state and local governments from ever imposing taxes on real estate transfers or sales. The Coalition to Prevent Double Taxation has collected and spent more than any other group promoting or opposing Montana ballot measures this year, according to campaign finance reports filed this week with the state Commissioner of Political Practices Office.
If the school board tries to pass a bond issue, it won’t happen until 2011. Natrona County School District staff members and board members re-evaluated information from investment banking firm George K. Baum and Co. of Cheyenne on Monday concerning the possibility of asking district voters to authorize issuance of bonds for several construction projects. Several board members said gathering community support for such a proposal would not be possible before 2011.
City officials are pushing ahead with plans to move the Parmly Billings Library into the nearby Gainan’s building at 502 N. 30th St. Because the project partially relies on federal stimulus funds that must be allocated by the end of 2010, the city is moving quickly.
For some 140 years, Wyoming’s largest county has been run by the three-member board known as the Sweetwater County Commission. Come the fall of 2010, there could be four vacant commission seats up for election if a group of area residents get their wish. A group of non-partisan residents have been working for months on a petition drive that aims to let voters decide if the commission should be expanded from three members to five. The group spearheading the petition drive is asking that a special election be scheduled for Nov. 3 to decide the issue.
After a legislative review raised some legal questions about three proposed anti-abortion constitutional initiatives, their backers submitted a single revised measure this week. The Montana ProLife Coalition, based in Bigfork, turned in a modified proposed initiative to state officials Tuesday that addresses some, but not all, of the legal concerns raised by an attorney with the Legislative Services Division. The revised proposed ballot measure now goes to Attorney General Steve Bullock for his review.