| HELENA A request for $6.2 million in capital
improvements for the Agricultural Experiment Station's regional research
centers drew broad support from the agriculture industry during a hearing
Thursday before the House Appropriations Committee.
Committee leaders cautioned, however, that the request was probably too
much in one bite in a very tight state budget. They offered suggestions
for alternative financing.
The request, which is outside the normal budget process for the
University System appropriations, would be a one-time expense for
construction and renovation at 12 research centers across the state.
Sponsored by Rep. Monica Lindeen, D-Huntley, the appropriation from the
general fund would provide for a new office/lab building, machine shed and
other items for a total of $1.4 million for the Southern Agricultural
Research Center at Huntley. Lindeen is a member of the appropriations
committee.
Huntley is ranked first in the request as being most in need. Research
centers at Moccasin, Havre and Sidney are next in line for the
improvements. The Agricultural Experiment Station, and its affiliated
centers, provide on-going research for better crop varieties and livestock
production methods for Montana's farmers and ranchers.
In her opening presentation, Lindeen told the committee recent studies
showed every dollar invested in research returns $125,000. That is a
great return on your dollar, she said.
She acknowledged the tight budget and asked the committee to allow the
bill to go through the legislative budgeting process so that at the end of
the session it might be considered for any available funds distributed by
a free-conference committee which has the power to make those allocations.
Rep. Matt McCann, D-Harlem, the minority vice chair of the
appropriations committee suggested that the chances are pretty slim
of the bill going through as is. However, he suggested users of the
research stations assess themselves a fee to help provide the needed
money.
I realize that is not within the scope of this bill, he said. Maybe
you can discuss this. If anyone has a bill draft, throw it in the hopper.
Panel Chairman Steve Vick, R-Bozeman, asked proponents to consider a
revenue bond issue that would cost about $600,000 a year for the debt
service. It was noted that revenue bonds require only a majority vote in
each chamber rather than state bonding appropriations that require a
two-thirds vote.
Sharron Quisenberry, dean of the College of Agriculture at Montana
State University and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, told
the committee it should see the request as rural economic development. If
you don't do both urban and rural economic development, you'd be remiss,
she said.
Yellowstone County commissioners emphasized that the success of
agriculture shows up on Main Street in Billings and in rural Montana. He
estimated agriculture contributes at least a third of Yellowstone County's
economy.
Rep. Don Steinbeisser, R-Sidney, said the Eastern Agricultural Research
Center operates out of a Word War II Quonset structure. He said area
potato producers were attempting to attract a processor, but could not do
so unless they could provide a two-year baseline research of the area's
climate and soil.
Terral Balzer of Worden told the panel recent help from the Huntley
station saved him $3,600 in spraying expense to protect his sugar beets.
All the state's major agricultural producer organizations directly or
indirectly signaled their support for the money.
Steve Raska, who farms outside Great Falls, said he survives directly
by the research done at the centers. He emphasized the research is
unbiased and related that one of the four members of the external review
team indicated he was going to kiss the ground when he got home. 'Thank
God I don't have to do research in Montana, Raska said.
The external review team was made up of four ag researchers from across
the United States. Its report found facilities and equipment at most
locations substandard and often unsafe. It also rated the faculty
and staff as excellent.
Dick Crofts, commissioner of higher education, did not oppose the
proposal, but noted that the University System itself has about $100
million in deferred maintenance for its statewide facilities. He said the
top 17 out of 20 projects on his deferred list would require $49 million. |