HB 225 was passed on the House floor and will be heard in front of the Senate Highway and Transportation Committee Thursday afternoon, March 16.  

The bill establishes an optional $5 donation on vehicle registration. When registering a vehicle, a person will need to check a box to donate the $5.  80% would be used for maintenance of shared-use paths and 20% would be used for bicycle and pedestrian education.  More information about the bill is here.

Billings TrailNet’s mission is to promote a complete, community-wide trail system. It is our job to raise funds to build trails and thus, our Board of Directors supports legislative actions that fund trails to improve our community.

Billings TrailNet’s Board of Directors support HB 577 and SB 331, both of which give our community the option to find local solutions, and gives voters a reason to explore creative, innovative, funding options.

This initiative is called Authorize Community Transformation.

Reasons:

1. Authorize Community Transformation is not a tax. it gives communities the option to vote on a tax in their communities if they have a project they would like to fund.
2. Many conversations among residents and businesses in the Billings area have identified the need to complete the Marathon Loop. There are three missing pieces, which include a trail along Highway 3 (to connect Zimmerman Park to Swords Rimrock Park) Western Sugar Connection along the Yellowstone River, and Coulson/Corette Park development for recreation purposes).
3. Trails are a significant element to our quality of life as evidenced through the research results our Parks and Recreation Department recently collected from Billings residents. Trails rise to the top of the list of things our community desires are one of the top areas of support from our community population.
4. More than 15% of revenue would be collected from tourists. 
5. Property tax payers would receive a rebate. 
6. If the people want the project and are willing to pay the tax, they can vote yes, if not, the project fails.

For more information on ACT, please see their website by clicking this link.

The ACT committee asks you to take 60 seconds and email both the House and Senate Tax Committees that have local option bills in front of them. Just click both links below and quickly-and-easily message the committees about your support.

—> Email House Tax Committee <—

—> Email Senate Tax Committee <—