Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates funds for infrastructure projects.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $30 million from bond revenue to the Capital Projects Account to plan or improve certain projects including, but not limited to, the following projects (Secs. 1 & 15):
• The Romney Hall project at the Montana State University Bozeman;
• The Montana Heritage Center project; and
• The library renovation project at the Montana State University Billings.

• Appropriates $3 million to the Learning and Veteran Center at Great Falls College Montana State University, if $75 million are appropriated to the Capital Projects Fund in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (Sec. 11).

• Appropriates $30 million from bond revenue to the Local Infrastructure Loan Program to provide loans to local governments for infrastructure projects (Secs. 2 & 15).

• Appropriates $30 million from the general fund to the Local Infrastructure Grant Program to provide grant funding to local governments for infrastructure projects (Secs. 2 & 20).

• Requires a local government to match funding from state grants for infrastructure projects at the following rates (Sec. 3):
• For funds up to $750,000, the rate is 100 percent of funds; and
• For funds over $750,000, the rate is 1 minus the “relative participation rate,” multiplied by 50.

• Defines “relative participation rate” as the following amount (Sec. 5):
• An amount equal to the number of city-reported mill rates divided by the median rate of all cities, if the local government is not a county; or
• An amount equal to the sum of county mill rates divided by the median rate of all counties, if the local government is a county.

Full Bill Text