The tribal water rights compact, tax reform and infrastructure needs statewide are shaping up to be priority issues as the Montana Legislature prepares to convene in January.

Local business and government leaders met with Flathead Valley legislators in Kalispell on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming legislative session during a breakfast sponsored by Montana West Economic Development.

Speaker of the House Mark Blasdel of Somers, who will take a Republican seat in the Senate on Jan. 5, predicted strong leadership from Flathead’s legislative delegation. He noted that incoming House Majority Leader Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, is representing the Flathead in that position for the first time since Paul Sliter held that post.

Blasdel said the tribal water compact will be one of the biggest issues facing lawmakers. He acknowledged it’s a difficult proposal to understand and discuss, and that “eyes glaze over” for many during those discussions.

Negotiations have been ongoing between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission for a compact that aims to quantify the tribes’ water rights.

“One of the reasons it’s so important is that it’s permanent,” Blasdel stated. “It can never be changed.”

Another of Blasdel’s priorities will be to help Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, with tax reform legislation. Tutvedt is chair of the state Senate Taxation Committee and has been an advocate for tax reform to spur economic growth.

While the Legislature made progress during the last session in reducing business equipment taxes, Blasdel said he believes even more can be done to “chip away” at those taxes. He said businesses mandated to have pollution-control equipment shouldn’t have to pay taxes on that equipment.

Flathead County Administrator Mike Pence outlined a number of resolutions recently passed by the Montana Association of Counties that will be drafted into proposed bills by the association’s Resolutions and Legislative Committee.

Because counties often don’t have the financial resources to pay for state and federal mandates regarding environmental stewardship, the association is proposing legislation requiring the state to coordinate with local governments when asked by any state or federal agencies “to protect and promote the health, safety, welfare, livelihood and property” of Montana citizens.

Another proposal by the county association will be a bill to amend the current appeal process for Board of Adjustment decisions. Currently an aggrieved party must appeal a Board of Adjustment decision directly to a court of record. Proposed legislation would bring county commissioners into the process as the first step in the appeal process, Pence said.

“It’s an opportunity for commissioners to weigh in [on a board] decision and possibly eliminate lawsuits,” he said.

The Montana Association of Counties supports legislation that would set maximum access conveyance fees that can be charged by the state Board of Land Commissioners. Currently state law sets the compensation for a proposed easement across state trust lands at full market value, but proposed legislation would allow a process for easements across state lands for subdivision purposes that wouldn’t discourage land-use development.

Another resolution supports permanent funding for the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species.

Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell based his presentation on the Montana League of Cities and Towns’ legislative priorities. He wants to see laws governing tax-increment finance districts kept in place, with a 20-year sunset. During the last session a proposal to limit tax-increment districts to 10 years didn’t pass.

“We want to maintain the tools we have,” Russell said.

Kalispell will once again support a local option tax largely to give city residents property tax relief similar to what Whitefish’s 2 percent resort tax offers in property tax mitigation.

Russell echoed the county’s concern over unfunded environment-related mandates.

Columbia Falls City Manager Susan Nicosia cited infrastructure funding as one of Columbia Falls’ greatest needs. The city is still playing catch-up to a huge 23 percent growth spurt in six years in the early 2000s.

Infrastructure for 911 communications is also a “big need,” said Nicosia, who serves on the Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board. She told about a communications tower outside Polson that was damaged by lightning and caused a problem for Flathead County. Funding to fix the tower was elusive.

“There should be some funding in place” to make sure communication systems are functional, she said.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.