Dear Editor,
I think there are false statements and serious omissions in the One Big Sky article written by Evelyn Pyburn in the last issue of The Yellowstone County News. First it states that when private funding reached $300 million the City and State would both put in $75 Million. But where is that money coming from? I see no explanation at all.
The article states that after 10 years the private investment would be $1 billion and public would be $350 million. Again where does the private money come from? What will the private money be used to do? The figure of $350 million is different than the amount shown in Bob Dunn’s presentation of December 17. The power point of that was released in an email from Kevin Ifland to City Council on December 18. Page 61 (in an attachment) clearly shows the private money is $250 million.
There are omissions of what the legislature is being asked to approve and there is no mention of the Quality Opportunity Zone that has been set-up and the huge profits associated with investing in them. I found some info on quality opportunity zones and am attaching it in an attachment as well.
As Mr. Arveschoug stated in the public meeting of January 4, the legislature will be asked to approve a bill allowing all new taxes in the district including corporate taxes and bed taxes as well as property taxes are to be collected and held in the district.
Does anyone think our legislature can balance the budget and restore the cuts from the last special session and give up this money? I think an in-depth follow-up should be printed.
Tom Zurbuchen,
Billings, Mt
