News

2011 Legislature: Eastern Montana schools seek to protect energy funds

In Lambert, a small community in eastern Montana’s oil-rich Richland County, oil-and-gas tax revenue poured nearly $6 million last year into the treasury of its 88-student public schools.

That money, as well as the additional $30 million it received the previous four years in oil-and-gas taxes, has helped Lambert do many things to maintain its schools.

In addition, the school district has purchased and brought in 12 homes and a triplex, which are leased out to teachers and other school staff at a bargain rate, so teachers and staff can live in Lambert instead of being forced to fight for expensive housing in Sidney, an oil boomtown 25 miles down the road.

The money also funds more than half the school budget and has paid for many building upgrades and repairs – while homeowners and businesses pay no local school property taxes.

By MIKE DENNISON Missoulian State Bureau

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_712fa738-002f-11e0-bc02-001cc4c03286.html

Posted in:

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.