Cost of litigation a fraction of property value losses
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Editor,
Our ranches, farms, orchards and lands adjoining the beautiful snow-capped peaks all contribute to weave this paradise otherwise known as the Mission Valley.
We are now threatened with the garbling of this utopia by reason of the CSKT tribe’s claim of ownership along with the right to measure and limit the amounts of irrigation waters we have previously enjoyed. This right to water was purchased from and paid to the United States government under the provisions of the homestead acts. We have exercised this right to compliment the facilities we have developed over the past hundred years.
One can only conclude the underlying motive is the almighty dollar.
Let us assess this motive:
If irrigators cannot receive the necessary irrigation waters the value of their properties will be diminished by 50 percent.
If property values are reduced by that amount, then, of course, income and state and local property taxes will be adjusted accordingly.
With the latter reduction there must be an accompanying reduction in government services such as welfare, educational services, road and street construction and maintenance, police protection, ad infinitum.
My dilemma is shared by thousands of other irrigators and entities in the Swan, Flathead, Hungry Horse, Libby, Clark Fork, Missoula and Bitterroot drainage areas.
Although the CSKT tribe claims to be a sovereign nation, without the help from federal, state and local taxes, it would be extremely impoverished.
In closing, I maintain that cost of litigation, if any, would be but a fraction of the citizens’ property value losses if the proposed compact is enacted.
Additionally, the State of Montana must represent us in any litigation that might be brought, first, to protect its tax interest. Second, the State has an absolute duty to protect the citizens when its laws and provisions of its State Constitution are being violated. This is especially true when property rights are involved. Finally, it has a duty to vigorously contest an interference with established law by a would-be sovereign nation.
The United States Department of Interior Department of Reclamation should also join in any litigation to uphold the fact that its age-long grants are valid and undeniable.
Lloyd Ingraham
Ronan
