What's at stake?
-- Agriculture

CI-97 (SOS) threatens vital services that help Montana farmers, ranchers, and rural communities:

The Montana Department of Agriculture, which is essential in helping keep Montana brucellosis free, could face severe cuts under CI-97.

Wildfires have consumed hundreds of thousands of acres in Montana in recent years. Local and state fire fighting efforts rely on state funding to save lives and property. CI-97 would threaten the state’s ability to respond to wildfire and other disasters.

CI-97 would likely prohibit Governor Schweitzer’s suspension and refund of the water tax.  Ranchers pay the bulk of this tax.

State funding for agriculture research at UM and MSU could be cut or capped. Without state matching funds, our universities could lose federal ag research dollars.

Water & soil conservation programs could be cut. Again, federal dollars would be lost if state matching funds were unavailable.

Renewable energy opportunities would likely be lost. Montana ranches are hard hit by high fuel and fertilizer prices. CI-97 would hamstring state programs that seek to invest in alternative sources that add value to our ranches and farms, like bio-diesel and ethanol.

State-funded programs for water quality, irrigation, crop failure, livestock disease, and commodity marketing are essential in helping landowners. The funding for such programs would be in jeopardy if CI-97 were adopted.

Lessons from Colorado
Colorado has seen services for its agriculture community deteriorate since passage of its version of CI-97 (called TABOR) in 1992:

State funding for the Colorado Department of Agriculture was cut by nearly 50%.

In 2002, the state cut the budget for the Agricultural Extension Service by about 18%. By 2005, the Extension Service began charging fees for such popular programs as 4-H clubs and agriculture technical assistance for ranchers and farmers.

The Colorado Conservation Board’s budget was reduced by almost $800,000. As a result, technical assistance programs, local conservation district operations funding, soil survey services, matching cost-share conservation grants, and Noxious Weed Grant programs were eliminated.

To keep other agriculture programs funded, the Colorado Legislature raided various rural economic development grant fund programs.

Well inspection fees increased 300%.

What's At Stake:

Senior citizens

Public health and safety

Local communities

Jobs and economic development

K-12 schools

Higher education

Montana's most vulnerable citizens

Agriculture