Montana Firefighters Say No To CI-97

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2006

CONTACT: Doug Neil 406-899-0246
Marissa Kozel 406-465-0283

Helena - Montana firefighters are taking a stand against CI-97 (SOS) and the devastating effect it will have on state and local services.

The Montana State Fireman's Association is joining the Not in Montana Coalition and scores of other Montana organizations in the fight against CI-97. More than 50 business, education, heath care and seniors groups are making their voices heard.

"CI-97 has the potential to financially cripple Montana's fire departments," Great Falls Fire Rescue Captain Doug Neil said. "Departments don't have enough resources as it is. CI-97 would cut our funding, and we can't do with less."

CI-97 supporters claim the initiative will cap state spending and still allow room for growth. In reality CI-97 ties the hands of state government, preventing legislators from funding essential programs that protect public safety.

"CI-97 will choke basic services, and taxpayers will end up with the short end of the stick," Neil said. "In the 1970s we had 104 firefighters working for Great Falls Fire Rescue, now we have 61. On average we're answering 3,500 more calls a year than we did in the 70s. CI- 97 would mean more cuts for a department that's already working at full capacity."

Montana's cities and counties depend on state transfers (state revenue that is shared with local governments) for about 25% of the money they spend for police and fire protection, streets, road emergencies, medical, and other essential services. Deep cuts in the state budget caused by CI-97 would threaten these transfers. The responsibility to pay for these lifeline services would then shift to local property taxpayers.

"If we have to start cutting services, we'll be forced to ask people where they'd like us to cut," Neil said. "When people dial 911 we can't say no."

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Not in Montana: Citizens Against CI-97, 1232 E. 6th Ave., Helena, Montana 59601, 406.443.3374, David Smith, Treas.