Schweitzer:small business key to the economyt
Pub Date: 12/1/2006
Guest Editorial
By Montana Gov.
Brian Schweitzer
Taverns and other small businesses play a central role to Montana' economy. It is an honor to be your Governor, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to make your businesses, communities and our state a success.
Montana' economy can only be as strong as our Main Streets. Economic development has been a priority for my administration, and I assure you it will continue to be a driving force: Montana is open for business! Improving the economy of Montana is a never-ending process that begins with our small businesses.
That is why I support the current liquor license quota system. Montana' quota system has served the state well. It supports local businesses that support their communities. Current license holders have made an investment in their license, and played by the rules. We should recognize that investment. There is no need to change the rules of the game.
The court system has ruled that out-of-state residents must be allowed to apply for liquor licenses. We will implement that decision with new legislation that makes sure the playing field is level and that out-of-state residents will go through the same careful background investigation as Montanans.
Small businesses are also a cornerstone for me in our 2008-2009 biennium budget. My budget is fiscally responsible and sustainable–and includes $150 million in tax cuts for small businesses and homeowners. Unlike the tax cuts in the 1990', my tax cuts are actual cuts for Montanans, not tax shifts that give out-of-state residents and corporations a break while forcing an increase in small business and homeowners taxes.
In addition, I have again proposed the Small Business Property Tax Relief Plan. The plan will raise the threshold for imposition of the business equipment tax for businesses with equipment of $150,000 or less–and would completely remove from the tax rolls 14,000 more Montana small businesses that currently pay the tax. (Last session we eliminated the tax for 13,000 small businesses). This stops the tax shift to our small businesses while maintaining a competitive position on business equipment taxes.
My administration is also supporting more funding for the Insure Montana program which provides tax credits to businesses that offer health insurance to their employees, as well as helping to establish purchasing pools to make it easier for small employers to band together to buy lower-priced health insurance.
A few other proposals in my budget include:
• Zero Tuition Increase: The College Affordability Plan (CAP) proposal gives the Montana University System and the community colleges the money needed to hold tuition at current levels for the biennium. This would be the first time since 1991 that tuition did not increase.
• State Parks and Fishing Access Site Acquisition: Funds would be allocated for the acquisition of state parks and public access sites for hunting and fishing, and a "Families Fish for Free" program.
• Increased Public Safety: Investing in more community facilities, including methamphetamine treatment, more parole officers and chemical dependency counselors, better wages for employees, additional correctional officers and meeting the needs and the capacity up front.
Growing our state is something I can't do alone–I want to hear from you. Please visit our website at and submit your good ideas or apply for boards or councils. Or stop by when you are in Helena--the door is always open.
Montana is a special place. It is the best place to start a business, raise a family and build a community. Thank you for your commitment to Montana' Main Streets--I appreciate all that our tavern owners and small businesses contribute.
Happy holidays!
Editor's note: The Montana Tavern Times frequently invites officials who exercise authority over business matters related to licensed alcohol sales and gambling, such as the Governor, Attorney General, Department of Revenue Director, Gambling Control and Liquor Division Administrators, Gaming Adisory Council Chairman and so on, to author personal guest columns and editorials. The opinions are the authors' and may not necessarily be shared by the Tavern Times or other business organizations. Of course, we would entertain guest columns from other state officials from time to time as well.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Dec., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.