Legal fees draining irrigation board budget
Recently the Flathead Joint Board of Control held a meeting and presented the 2016 actual budget and proposed 2017 budget. In 2016 the actual assessment revenue collected from the irrigators for administration purposes was $554,293.35. The 2016 budget $545,313.60. The money actually spent for Lawyers in 2016, including legal fees, consulting and lobbying, came to $596,691.01. A total of $90,000.00 for legal council will be carried over to 2017 as the lawyer has agreed to take payments. All told, the 2016 actuals came to $677,800.49. FJBC went over the budget by 38 percent in 2016.
The controversy comes when almost 80 percent of the administration funds come from the Flathead Irrigation District, while 14 percent comes from the Mission District and 6 percent comes from the Jocko District. All three districts in the past have voted on the rulings, however the Flathead District had only two commissioners that support the water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The remaining eight commissioners and the one commissioner at large do not support the compact and there lies the problem. They are the ones who have mandated where and what the administration dollars are spent on. Eighty eight percent of the 2016 budget went for lawyers.
My reason for writing this letter is to inform the public and especially the irrigators where their dollars are being spent. Someone told me they don’t care. It is my opinion the irrigators are unaware of what their administrations dollars are being spent on. I think it is time to let your commissioners know how you would like them to represent you. This past week Lake County District Court Judge James A. Manley ruled that the commissioners elected in May shall be seated. Hopefully our names will be on the web site along with the budget. Take time to go to: www.flatheadjointboardofcontrol.com for contact information. I think you do care. Let us know how you want us to use your irrigation administration dollars.
– Janette Rosman was elected in May to represent the Flathead Irrigation District on the Flathead Joint Board of Control