The Clancy Elementary School Board is confronting a nagging but fortunate challenge: How to spend over $1 million in Metal Mines Tax funds.
The school currently has $1.2 million in funds distributed over the years from the Metal Mines Tax, which under Montana law is collected from mining companies to offset the potential impact on communities of local mining operations.
Clancy Elementary’s balance was generated from operations at the Montana Tunnels Mine outside Jefferson City, which last produced ore in 2008. The school received $1.2 million in 2021, part of a payment from Montana Tunnels to Jefferson County of $5.2 million in overdue taxes. Clancy still stands to collect another $1 million if the company, now navigating bankruptcy, ultimately pays its debts.
