Vote yes to continue supporting Montana's universities

For the past 70 years, Montanans have supported our state’s public colleges and universities by voting “yes” to renew the 6-Mill Levy that appears on the voting ballot every ten years. This small portion of our state property tax bill currently keeps higher education affordable for all Montana residents and supports a stable Montana workforce and economy. For a Montana family owning a $200,000 home, the 6-Mill Levy costs about $24/year.

The 6-Mill Levy will be up for renewal again this fall, and it’s important for voters to know not only the positive impacts of supporting it but also the negative impacts that may result if it fails. The primary intent of the 6-Mill Levy is to provide educational access and affordability for all Montana residents. By offsetting Montana resident tuition costs, it decreases financial dependence on families and promotes economic stability. Should the levy fail, tuition rates for public institutions in Montana will likely increase by around 20 percent for in-state residents, e.g., for example over $1,000/year for Montana students attending Montana State University-Northern. Higher tuition costs often result in more student debt and lower college enrollment overall.

Investment in higher education has high returns not only for students but also for society as a whole. Studies show, for instance, that college graduates earn over $1 million more throughout their careers than non-college graduates. The Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research reports that college graduates have a 45 percent lower unemployment rate than those with only a high school diploma. The social, cultural, and economic impacts of our own regional university are also important to consider. For instance:

• MSU-Northern is one of Havre’s largest employers; it also brings hundreds of students, faculty, and staff into the Havre/Hi-Line area each year, many of whom bring new money into our local economy when they spend on food, housing, services, entertainment, etc.

• MSU-Northern currently offers affordable tuition for one, two, and four-year programs, allowing north-central Montana students to stay close to home and save money while they obtain a degree that is aligned with regional workforce needs.

• MSU-Northern provides community enrichment by bringing educators, researchers, industry partners, sporting and other performance events into our rural area.

• MSU-Northern, along with all of the public colleges and universities in Montana, train qualified workers for high-demand sectors such as education, healthcare, human services, law enforcement, trades, business, agri-business, etc. The Havre/Hi-Line area in particular has a continually high demand for qualified professionals.

• MSU’s Northern Ag Research Center conducts crop and livestock research that provides vital information to area farmers and ranchers.

• According to a report from the BBER, MSU-Northern generates a 2:1 return on investment of state dollars.

Groups like the Montanans against Higher Taxes are encouraging Montanans to reject the 6-Mill Levy under the premise that new taxes should be stopped. Please remember that the 6-Mill Levy is not a new tax or a higher tax but, rather, an existing one that has been renewed by Montanans every 10 years since 1948. The greatest generation chose to invest in higher education because they understood its critical role in laying the foundation for prosperity in Montana. Please continue this commitment to Montana’s future by voting yes for the 6-Mill Levy in November.

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Jim Bennett, Havre

Northern Alumni Association executive director