Time to thank our veterans - Support new veterans home

Editor,

Our veterans have waited far too long for the veterans’ home in southwestern Montana. The ground has been donated to build the home, and the state has allotted our share — 35 percent — of the project cost. Currently, the only piece still required to break ground on the project is the money from the Veterans Administration. Montana is on the Veterans Administration project list, which means that the federal government has permanently guaranteed the funds. However, due to our small population, Montana has continuously been ranked too low on the priority list to be funded, preventing the veterans’ home from being built.

It has been eight years since the project was approved by the state. Two years ago House Bill 493 proposed that the state take out a short-term loan from the Montana Facility Finance Authority to pay the remaining 65 percent until the Veterans Administration could pay back their portion. The bill requires a two-thirds majority to pass, but at the last session it was tabled in committee. In the current session, Rep. Jim Keane has proposed HB 5, requesting that the state use $16.8 million bond money as a “bridge loan” to cover the project until the federal government comes through. The loan would come out of bond money designated for infrastructure projects in HB 14.

Time is crucial for the fate of the veterans’ home. Due to inflation, the cost of construction increases every day that the project is delayed. Furthermore, the land for the project was doneated in 2009 by Don Harrington on a 10-year contract. If ground is not broken by 2019, the land will go back to the Harrington family. Because the Montana Legislature only meets every two years, the current session is the last chance to save the project and build the veterans’ home before the donation contract expires.

According to Charles Aull, nearly 10 percent of Montanans are veterans. Currently, the closest veterans’ home is in Columbia Falls, which is almost four hours away. Our veterans have waited long enough for this project; they should not have to wait any longer.

It is time to thank our veterans for their service. Please contact your representatives on this matter. We need their vote for the veterans of Montana.

Caitlin Carmody

Senior, Butte High School

Robert Pavlovich

Former Montana House member