Editorial: Schools, infrastructure among key concerns

The 2017 session of the Montana State Legislature started earlier this month in Helena.

In the first few days of the session, there were a lot of concerns voiced about the budget and how it will affect communities across the state.

While it is never easy dealing with less money, the primary concern of this budget should be schools, towns and communities, safety and infrastructure.

The students in each and every school need to be taken care of during this session. This means a top priority is the funding that will allow for quality staff, learning, and facilities. Education should never be put on the back burner.

Legislators also need to be concerned about infrastructure across the state, especially in the smaller communities that really need it. The state cannot just focus on larger communities; it has to keep an eye on smaller towns that are the heart and soul of Montana.

Safety cannot be overlooked. There do not need to be significant cuts to the Montana Highway Patrol. This cannot happen. There also needs to be a focus on providing enough money to keep Montana roads in good condition. This is a safety issue and when it deals with lives, it cannot be overlooked. From the outside this may seem simple, but I know it’s not. Our Legislators work hard, and need to figure out the puzzle of making this all work. There are certain things that should take priority in the Legislature, and the issues mentioned in this editorial are a perfect example of this.

Much as is the case in each session, some projects won’t get funded and there may be a shortage in some areas. I hope it’s not where it really counts.

JHS