5 Democratic lawmakers on Monday referred to as on state well being division management to make clear the company’s intentions for the struggling Montana State Hospital (MSH) and urged the division to publicly help the hospital regaining accreditation from federal well being authorities.
The state’s solely public psychiatric hospital, which gives short-term and residential remedy for Montanans with severe psychological sicknesses, misplaced its accreditation from the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies (CMS) in April after investigations by federal officers highlighted vital shortfalls in affected person well being and security protocols that resulted in preventable affected person accidents and deaths.
Within the letter addressed to Division of Public Well being and Human Companies Director Charlie Brereton, legislators cited a July Montana Free Press article during which Brereton and his predecessor, Adam Meier, mentioned they’d not selected the “finest use” of the power or whether or not pursuing re-accreditation made sense.
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On Monday, Democratic state Sen. Jessica Wicks and Rep. Sarah Novak of Anaconda, Sens. Mary McNally and Jennifer Gross of Billings, and Rep. Mary Caferro of Helena referred to as the well being division’s noncommittal stance deeply regarding.
“[R]e-accreditation for the State Hospital may go a good distance in the direction of stabilizing MSH’s monetary scenario and safe its long run viability as an vital part of our psychological well being care system,” the letter mentioned. “It’s irresponsible for the State to proceed funding MSH utterly out of the state funds when federal funds could possibly be drawn down for this objective.”
Whereas the hospital’s roughly $49 million annual funds is primarily funded by state taxpayer {dollars}, the power was receiving roughly $7 million a 12 months in remedy reimbursements for its Medicare-eligible sufferers. These funds dried up when federal authorities pulled the hospital’s accreditation, as did any alternative for any further Medicaid reimbursements sooner or later.
The letter’s signatories mentioned funds will not be the one purpose to pursue re-accreditation, an industry-wide designation displaying a hospital is in compliance with federal well being and security requirements. When positioned in “rapid jeopardy” standing, because the Montana State Hospital was earlier this 12 months, federal authorities have discovered {that a} hospital “has positioned the well being and security of recipients in its care in danger for severe harm, severe hurt, severe impairment or dying,” in accordance with the federal government’s operations handbook for services lined by Medicaid or Medicare.
By not in search of re-accreditation, the letter mentioned, the state has not made it clear that it’s dedicated to “correcting the intense wrongs” that induced the hospital to lose its good standing with the federal authorities.
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“Montanans should know that sufferers dedicated to the State Hospital are being handled humanely and with a excessive commonplace of care. The workers of MSH deserves to know their office is secure and that they are going to be handled with respect and dignity,” the letter mentioned. “With DPHHS unwilling to decide to re-accrediting MSH, it raises questions as to DPHHS’s dedication to the State Hospital as an entire.”
State well being division spokesperson Jon Ebelt mentioned Monday that the company is reviewing the letter, which it obtained that afternoon, and had no rapid remark.
Beforehand, Brereton and Meier informed MTFP the state would think about the way forward for the hospital with enter from the non-public consulting agency it employed earlier this 12 months to supervise state-run well being services. In a July report card, consultants from Alvarez & Marsal discovered that the state hospital confirmed “vital deficiencies,” the identical because the month prior. The report additionally confirmed that the hospital has spent $17 million greater than its allotted funds for the present fiscal 12 months, largely due to hiring costlier touring workers to cowl current workers vacancies.
Brereton and the consultants from Alvarez & Marsal are scheduled to look at a Friday assembly of the Youngsters, Households, Well being and Human Companies Interim Committee, in accordance with a draft agenda of the assembly posted on the committee’s web site. A last agenda has not but been launched.
Legislation also offers incentives for student achievement, housing help for costly districts
By Keila SzpallerDAILY MONTANAN
Molly Blakely has taught teachers in Montana, the “best and brightest,” and they’ve asked her what they can earn in the Treasure State.
Blakely, who has been an adjunct instructor at the University of Montana for 18 years, said when she offers an honest answer to their questions in an interview prep class, the future teachers ask one question: “How do I get certified (to teach) in another state?”
State institutions are doing great work training teachers, Blakely said, but Montana is losing them, and a bill to increase starting teacher pay would help.
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Blakely and other educators testified Wednesday before the House Education committee in favor of House Bill 252, the Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success, or STARS Act, intended to boost teacher pay.
“Those teachers are leaving for one reason, and one reason only, and it’s for finances,” said Blakely, also superintendent of Hellgate Elementary School District in Missoula.
In Lolo, Superintendent Dale Olinger said recruiting and retaining teachers is harder than it has ever been. Olinger said staff share housing to make ends meet, and many teachers work second jobs.
“I have many staff with a side hustle,” Olinger said. “It used to be a joke. Now, it’s not.”
In Montana, 26% of teachers work second jobs and earn an extra $4,700 on average, according to a Department of Labor and Industry Report from December 2024. The report said average earnings increase their pay by roughly 8%.
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Olinger said the STARS Act could mean another $185,000 for the moderately sized district, and it would also help special education cooperatives, which support multiple districts, and district clerks.
Montana has struggled to offer starting teachers competitive pay. Legislation from 2023 tried to help, but just half of the school districts in Montana were able to tap into it last school year after the Office of Public Instruction bungled the data collection.
According to the DLI report, Montana’s full-time entry-level teachers earned an average salary of $38,800 in the 2022-2023 school year. It’s less than the national average of $44,530 and ranks Montana 46th among states.
Montana is also the lowest for starting teachers compared to surrounding states, the report said; Idaho is closest at $41,179, and Wyoming is highest, at $48,622.
At the meeting, STARS Act sponsor and Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, outlined the bill’s provisions to help teachers and students.
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The comprehensive legislation aims to not only boost new teacher pay, but close an inflation gap in public education, help districts in high-cost housing areas, and provide incentives to help students advance, among other provisions.
The Coalition of Advocates for Montana Public Schools described the bill as a “pivotal advancement” in school funding, increasing base salaries for teachers, offering incentives to recruit and retain educators, and expanding learning opportunities for students.
Teachers, parents, trustees, and other members of the public spilled into the hall in a room at the Capitol and testified remotely to support the bill. No one opposed it, although some said it could do more for veteran teachers and worried that a mechanism that ties funding to salary benchmarks could be a barrier for districts.
Melissa Smith, representing the Kalispell Education Association, said her district has seen school levies fail, it faces a reduction in force, and recent contract negotiations hinge on approval of the bill.
“We fought for months to raise teacher salaries, particularly for new educators,” said Smith, a teacher with Glacier High School.
However, Smith said the district still faces a reduction in force, and she worries that if struggling districts can’t push up salaries the way the bill requires, they’ll miss out on funding.
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A voluntary incentive in the bill offers districts more money if they incrementally bump up starting teacher pay from 62% to 70% of their average pay, a tool designed to decrease the wide salary spread between newer and experienced teachers in Montana.
According to Lance Melton, the executive director of the Montana School Boards Association, other states that rank similarly in both starting teacher salaries and average teacher salaries typically compensate beginning teachers at approximately 70% of the average salary for teachers overall. Melton testified on behalf of the Coalition of Advocates for Montana’s Public Schools.
Although Smith raised a concern about the bill, she said the association supports the legislation.
“The Kalispell Education Association believes House Bill 252 has the potential to uplift Montana schools and provide increased opportunity for our students and their learning,” Smith said.
The Montana Federation of Public Employees also spoke for it.
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Supporters came from schools and government agencies, a nonprofit group that supports public education, and one focused on limited government. They included newly sworn Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen, Commissioner of Labor Sarah Swanson, and the Governor’s Office.
Dylan Klapmeier, education and workforce policy advisor for Gov. Greg Gianforte, said the Governor’s Office committed $100 million to increase teacher pay and raise student outcomes as reflected in the bill. In particular, Klapmeier praised the focus on helping students get a jump start on college and careers.
A fiscal analysis of the bill has been requested but is not yet available.
The bill also aims to decrease disparities between educators in urban and rural areas. It offers tools such as stipends to help teachers with housing in costly districts; creates a school funding data dashboard for transparency; and offers incentives for districts to share resources, along with other proposals.
Jacob Warner, a math teacher at Capital High School in Helena and recipient of a presidential award for excellence in teaching from the White House, said the STARS Act is a good first step to improving education.
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Warner said teachers have not had it easy lately. He said class sizes have gone up, teachers are being asked to teach extra, and inflation is eating at the budget.
“Every spring, phenomenal teachers in my building get pink slips, causing uncertainty, stress for them, their families and their students,” Warner said.
Although Warner said recruiting teachers is important, he said retaining veterans is critical too, and salaries for all teachers should be increased — but the money is not there.
Warner said districts need dollars for other essentials, and his children’s school had to hold a fundraiser to fix a boiler.
“A boiler is not a want. A boiler is a need,” Warner said.
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In response to questions from Rep. Melissa Romano, D-Helena, Jane Shawn, a union president in Helena, estimated one-third or so of teachers hold second jobs. She said it’s not just the younger ones, but teachers with as many as 35 years of experience who have “side hustles.”
The DLI report said the rate of teachers who work other jobs is consistent across district size, and teachers who leave the profession earn higher wages in other industries. It also said teachers are more likely than other workers to hold more than one job.
In Eureka, Superintendent Joel Graves said the district interviewed a teacher for construction in CTE, career and technical education, one who would have been a great fit for the community, but they couldn’t agree on a salary or find the candidate a place to live.
The district started building tiny houses for teachers, but school districts can’t afford to stay in that business, and he said the bill will help.
Steve Thennis, with MOFE, Montanans Organized for Education, praised the support for educational costs such as advanced placement exams and incentives for housing.
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“In my time as an administrator, I lost countless candidates for open positions due to their inability to find affordable housing,” said Thennis, who worked in Helena.
Keaton Sunchild, with Western Native Voice, said the bill will help rural schools and many on reservations. He said it supports language immersion and Montana Indian Education for All, “programs that in the past have been neglected or left behind.”
Charlie Snellman, a student and member of the Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees, said he will attend Johns Hopkins University next year for a double major in violin and cello performance and molecular biology, with a goal to attend medical school.
Snellman said his opportunities have been “phenomenal.” However, he also said struggling teachers hurt student morale and have a detrimental effect on their educational experience, and high turnover makes it difficult to develop relationships with them.
“I’ve had the pleasure of maintaining great relationships with my teachers throughout my high school career, and have been given excellent opportunities, and I only hope that students after me will be given the same opportunities,” Snellman said.
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In Havre, Tim Scheele said he’s a trustee and parent, and he said if teachers have to get second jobs just to afford to feed themselves, they will be less focused on students. Scheele also said turnover means teachers don’t get to know a community.
“The more turnover you have, the less dynamic your teaching staff can be,” Scheele said.
The Frontier Institute’s Kendall Cotton said his organization is conservative but supports the bill because it puts money where it should go, to teachers, and not just to things like facilities. Cotton said he hopes student achievement increases as a result.
In response to questions about the lack of funds for more experienced teachers in the bill, Jones said resources are scarce, and the bill is targeted, designed to improve a persistent problem in Montana of low pay for starting teachers.
Jones said school boards have local control, and they are free to increase pay for teachers at the higher end as they wish. However, he said those who want money from the legislation will bring the bottom up.
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“We’ve been cannibalizing young teachers for a long time. It’s time we stop,” Jones said.
The committee didn’t take immediate action on the bill.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 30, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 30 drawing
09-13-18-23-40, Lucky Ball: 04
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 30 drawing
11-14-24-28, Bonus: 06
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Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
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Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Tourism is a double-edged sword, says Sen. Dave Fern.
The Whitefish Democrat has decades of experience living in one of the state’s top tourism destinations to back up that statement.
More than half the economy of towns such as Whitefish, a gateway community to Glacier National Park and home to Whitefish Mountain Resort, stands on the backs of tourism and recreation-based businesses.
The town of roughly 9,000 people welcomes around 1 million visitors each year, according to the University of Montana Institute of Tourism and Recreation Research, and those visitors have an impact on local infrastructures, trails, and rising property values — all things a local resort tax helps address.
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Fern, a Whitefish Democrat, said that West Yellowstone was the first community in the state to implement a local-option sales tax in the 1980s. Now, 13 communities in the state have a “resort” designation and leverage the resort tax.
“As tourism and visitation became more and more an essential part of the economy, lots of smaller communities — both unincorporated areas and municipalities — were adversely impacted by the effects of tourism and visitation,” Fern told the Senate Taxation committee on Wednesday. “You take some communities with a limited tax base and increasing infrastructure needs because of tourism, and you come into a collision.”
Fern is sponsoring Senate Bill 172, which would amend the current resort tax law to increase the population threshold for communities that can obtain a “resort” designation from the state, and allow an additional 1% tax to be collected and used for workforce housing.
“I think what is important is that the state recognizes that resort communities and areas face an extra hardship caused by tourism, and they need assistance,” he said.
Currently, cities with less than 5,500 residents and unincorporated areas with fewer than 2,500 residents that derive at least half their economy from visitor-based businesses can opt to enact a resort tax — with voter approval — and can extend the tax even if the population grows past the initial limits.
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Fern’s bill would raise the cap for cities to enact the tax to 10,000 residents, and for unincorporated areas to 3,500, saying he had Whitefish in mind as an example town.
“Over the years, Whitefish, in particular, has doubled, or nearly doubled in population,” Fern said. “And yet we haven’t grown ourselves out of the problem, the problem being increased visitation that has a continued impact on the need for infrastructure.”
The tax, capped at 3%, applies to sales of non-essential “luxury” goods and services sold by food, lodging and destination-recreation businesses within a resort area, while exempting a long list of “necessities of life,” with the goal of maximizing tourism dollars and minimizing impacts on local residents.
At least 5% of resort tax revenue must be used to alleviate local property taxes, with the rest determined by the local governing body.
Communities can also leverage an additional 1% to be used exclusively for infrastructure, but that addition is capped for cities below the population limits.
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Residents of Whitefish first passed the resort tax in 1995, and reauthorized it for 20 more years in 2021, when city officials said that annual tax revenue was around $4 million. Currently, the city of Whitefish allocates 25% of revenue to property tax relief, 48% to infrastructure projects, 10% to bike paths and parks, 10% to affordable housing projects and 2% to the local Whitefish Trail System.
Fern’s bill also focuses on workforce housing by removing the population cap for leveraging the additional 1% tax and allowing it to be used for infrastructure or affordable housing projects.
While new taxes are often perceived as unpopular, Fern pointed out to committee members that each time the Whitefish tax was put to voters, it gained support. The 2021 vote to extend the tax passed with 89% of the vote, while a recent vote to add a tax to the Big Mountain Resort District — comprising Whitefish Mountain Resort, which sits outside city limits — also passed with more than 80% support.
“I think that is because you can see progress. You see infrastructure changes, you see significant improvements in roads, side walks, shared use paths, that sort of thing,” Fern said. “And you get property tax relief, so that’s why it’s been very very popular.”
No one opposed SB 172 during the committee hearing, while a representative from Shelter Whitefish, a nonprofit focused on housing inequality, testified in support.