Hometown Helena, February 9th: Chamber of Commerce, DHI, MBAC

This weeks guests:

  • Helena Chamber - Callie Aschim
  • Downtown Helena - Jordan Conley
  • MBAC - Brian Obert

Watch Hometown Helena, February 9, 2023, courtesy of Pinion 

Message from out host Jim Smith:

Greetings Everyone,


        Well, Montana made the national headlines this past week. Billings blew the whistle on the big balloon in the sky.  Governor Gianforte appeared on the news channels explaining what he was told, or not told, about the balloon over Montana.  It’s tough not to get all involved with this event, or any number of other 'big picture' type stories.  But nowadays I try to keep my eye on the 'little picture.’  And we—me and the team--- decided at the outset, back in 2020, to keep Hometown Helena “Helena-centric.’  As it’s always been. So, tempting as it is to comment we’ll leave international incidents and foreign relations to the federal government. Even the Montana Legislature seems like it’s long way away some of the time.  In truth, however, it’s very close to home and what happens in the capitol will have a direct impact on the people Helena. I was very interested in Commissioner Hunthausen’s comments last week regarding affordable housing, property taxes and the session generally. The first half of the 68th Session wraps up at the end of February. Perhaps we can get an update over the transmittal break from our local legislators.
Meantime, we have another great morning lined up this week (see below). Our guests are leaders in Helena’s business community. Their remarks and insights will be most interesting and informative. 
      As Commissioner Hunthausen noted last week, state government is largely funded by revenue from the income tax, while local government and K-12 education is largely funded through the property tax.  The money to fund, for example, the state employees' pay plan (House Bill 13) comes from the income taxes paid on wages and salaries by employees working in the private and public sectors.   State workers pay income tax on their own earnings, as do folks working for local and federal government. Other sources of income tax revenue include corporate income tax, land sales, interest earnings, and other capital gains. However, individual income tax is the major source of income tax revenue flowing into the state treasury. And that means business. That means wages and salaries. That means people employed and working. That means investments in land, equipment, and technology. That means borrowing capital from time to time. That means risk.  Success is not guaranteed. If you get a notion, take a look at House Joint Resolution 2, the Revenue Estimate for the 2025 biennium. It’s an education all by itself.  The document lays out where the state expects the money to come from for the next two years (July 1, 2023 thru June 30, 2025). A financially healthy state depends, in no small part, upon a robust private sector economy and a vibrant business community. 
We’ll get a good idea Thursday morning about how well our own local economy is doing.  Please plan to join us either in person on the sixth floor of the Montana Club, or via the zoom.

Jim Smith

Jim(at)HometownHelena.news