Vote 'No' on CI-97

Editor,

As Board members of Mission Mountain Enterprises, Inc., which is one of the largest human services agencies and employers in Lake County, we would like to encourage voters of Lake County to vote "No" on Constitutional Initiative 97 (CI-97) on Nov. 7.

CI-97 would inappropriately change Montana's Constitution by placing a constitutional cap on state general fund spending, limiting the spending to the combined rate of inflation and population growth. While limiting spending may be a good idea, changing the most important document in the State of Montana is not the proper way to do so. We already have a constitutional requirement of a balanced budget within our existing Constitution.

It seems that these days anytime anyone wants to pass a law, they try to amend the Constitution. Passing and rewriting laws are what we elect our legislators to do — if the electors are not happy with the way their legislators vote on budgetary (and other) issues, they can vote them out of office.

CI-97 would be devastating to the people served by Mission Mountain Enterprises. MME employs over 130 people and serves nearly 70 people with mental and physical disabilities in Lake County. Passage of CI-97 would result in a reduction of the monies paid by the State of Montana to care for people with mental and physical disabilities, which in turn would lead to a reduction in qualified staff and essential services for the many people we serve. Those that already suffer would suffer most by passage of CI-97.

Please … vote "No" on CI-97.

Board of Directors:

Tom Kuhn

Randy Ingram

John Payne

Chuck Wall

Donald Lucas

Keith Lundvall

Shane Roberts

Nicole Harris

Graydon D. Moll