Montana University System Tax Levy, LR-118 (2008)

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The Montana University System Tax Levy Referendum, also known as LR-118, was on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Montana as a legislatively referred state statute, where it was approved. The measure continued a six mill tax levy to support the Montana university system.

Election results

Montana LR-118 (20008)
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		264,158	56.79%
No		200,957	43.21%

Election results via: Montana Secretary of State

Text of measure

The text of the measure can be read here.

Support

Supporters included:

• State Senator Robert Hawks
• State Representative Margarett Campbell
• Former Montana Secretary of State and 2004 gubernatorial candidate Bob Brown
• Montana Chamber of Commerce
• Montana State AFL-CIO
• Montana Farmers Union
• Montana Farm Bureau (dead link)

Arguments in favor of LR-118

Notable arguments made in support of the measure included:

• The initiative does not represent a tax increase, just a continuation of a tax that has been active since 1948.
• The 6 Mill Levy is "a tiny fraction" of a home owner's taxes, but it accounts for "about 9%" of the total state support for higher education.
• The levy pays for educational programs for nearly 42,000 students.
• The 6 Mill Levy is "an important Montana tradition," having been around since 1920 and having been approved by voters every decade since.

Opposition

Opponents included:

• House Speaker Scott Sales
• Montana State Senator Joe Balyeat

Arguments against LR-118

Notable arguments made in opposition to the measure included:

• It is unfair for Montanans to be forced to pay for other people's educations.
• The Montana university system spends too much, adding to the state's debt.
• Some Montanans might object to funding a university system that "attempted suppression of a Christian group while funding 'Sex-a-Palooza'" and enacted policies which disarm students.
• If the levy were defeated, it might inspire a new "'bottom-up' funding approach" which could grant students consumer power and lead to "healthy competition" between universities.

A Taxpayer's Perspective from NTU

Legislative Referendum No. 118 asked Montana’s voters to continue a special 6-mill levy on all real estate and personal property, with the funds going to support the university system. The current 6-mill levy will stay in effect between January 2009 and January 2019.

Polls

See also Polls, 2008 ballot measures.

Month of Poll	Pollster	Yes	No	Undecided	Reference
Sept 2008	MSU Billings	69 percent	-	-

See also

Suggest a link

• Montana 2008 ballot measures
• 2008 ballot measures
• List of Montana ballot measures
• History of Initiative & Referendum in Montana

External links

• LR-118 ballot language
• Montana Constitutional Amendments
• Montana Initiative and Referendum
• Legislative Referendum No. 118

Footnotes

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This historical ballot measure article requires that the text of the measure be added to the page.