ASUM Senate supports six-mill levy

The ASUM senate made clear their support for the six-mill levy with a unanimous decision to pass a resolution formally endorsing the levy Monday night.
They are the first student government in Montana to officially report their endorsement to the six-mill levy campaign, said campaign coordinator Crystine Miller.
ASUM president Trevor Hunter, who authored the resolution, said that he wasn’t surprised that it was granted unanimous consent.
“I think we really made a huge point of hammering home how important it is,” he said.
Aside from the adjustment of the word “came” to “come” and the addition of the phrase “amongst others” to a series of levy supporters, the bill passed the senate without argument. 

The ASUM senate made clear their support for the six-mill levy with a unanimous decision to pass a resolution formally endorsing the levy Monday night.
They are the first student government in Montana to officially report their endorsement to the six-mill levy campaign, said campaign coordinator Crystine Miller.
ASUM president Trevor Hunter, who authored the resolution, said that he wasn’t surprised that it was granted unanimous consent.
“I think we really made a huge point of hammering home how important it is,” he said.
Aside from the adjustment of the word “came” to “come” and the addition of the phrase “amongst others” to a series of levy supporters, the bill passed the senate without argument.
“(The resolution) is a great idea,” said ASUM senator Matt Fennell. “This is really important to students in a really tangible way.”
At the close of the senate’s weekly meeting, Hunter thanked the senators for their endorsement. 
“It means a lot to us,” he said.
Hunter added an amendment to the original resolution, stating that “ASUM will begin working on voter education and general outreach to University of Montana students in regard to support of LR-118.”
The levy applies to the entire state of Montana and the money raised is distributed among the 11 college campuses in the state. 
It has passed every time it has been placed on Montana ballots.
Although the six-mill levy was added in 1948, the property tax has been around since 1920.
At the senate meeting, Hunter said that because of the current state of the economy and because the levy is the last item on the ballot, it’s important not to take it for granted.
ASUM senator Jon Dempersmier said it’s necessary to ensure that the levy passes in the upcoming election.
“It’s something that’s direly important for students at this time,” he said. 
allison.maier@umontana.edu