A $500,000 proposal placed in the Department of Public Health and Human Services budget to help Boulder recover from the financial impacts of the impending closure of the Montana Developmental Center began its journey through the maze of state funding last week. In a hearing before the Health and Human Services Appropriation Subcommittee Tuesday, January 24, representatives of the Boulder Transition Advisory Committee (BTAC) explained to subcommittee members why the money was important to the community. Speaking before the lawmakers on behalf of the BTAC were Jan Anderson, Boulder Mayor Gary Craft, and Jefferson County Commission Chair Cory Kirsch. The trio told the legislators that the potential loss of up to 250 jobs in a community of about 1300 is major. The money would enable the community to take steps to secure a brighter economic future, they said. Legislators asked no questions but commented on the unusual nature of the request. As of press time, no action had been taken on the proposal. For a full transcript of the leading testimony presented, see page 11.
