BBER PUBLICATIONS SEARCH RESULTS

This economic impact study report produced by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) - University of Montana and funded in part by a grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation considers the potential economic impact of a state of Montana Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.
The report highlights the opportunity to use a state of Montana LIHTC program meant to "piggy back" on the Federal LIHTC program to leverage currently underutilized federal LIHTC resources and related private investment to develop and preserve additional affordable rental housing to address community housing needs across Montana.

Includes sections on: Statewide Economic Performance - Is Montana''s Economic Hole Shallower Than the Rest? The Performance of the BBER Forecast - Economic Shocks Challenge Forecast Montana?s Regions and Cities - Seeing Beyond the Pandemic''s Grip State Revenue Report - Montana''s Employment Losses Slow Growth Major Economic Events of 2019 - A Year We Won''t Forget

This report presents the findings of research intended to quantify the potential size of the recreational cannabis marketplace in Montana, and the potential tax revenue that could be collected in the event that recreational cannabis achieves legal status as envisioned in initiatives CI-118 and I-190 on the November ballot. This independent effort conducted by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana was commissioned by New Approach Montana, a political campaign aimed at passing the initiatives. The research uses publicly available data and draws on similar research conducted in other states.

The year in review has sections covering Statewide Economic Performance: Montana''s Growth Engine is Humming, The Performance of the BBER Forecast: Improving Accuracy, Montana''s Cities and Regions: Gallatin County Now State''s Second Largest, State Revenue Report: Another Strong Year, Major Economic Events of 2019: Another Year of Growth.

Taxes are an important and often contentious public policy issue. What one pays and what those taxes pay for varies state to state. So, how does Montana?s tax system compare to other states?

What would the economy of the state of Montana look like if the eight largest hard rock mines did not exist?

What would the economy of the state of Montana look like if the eight largest hardrock mines ? producing copper, palladium, gold, talc, cement and other products and materials ? did not exist? The communities in which those facilities are located ? the businesses, the households and governments whose economic fortunes are closely tied with the success of Montana?s mines ? already understand the importance of the hardrock mining industry to their own prosperity. It is perhaps less apparent ? but no less important ? to the population of the state as a whole.

Medicaid expansion has a substantial effect on Montana''s economy. Assuming that enrollment plateaus near current levels, Medicaid expansion will introduce approximately $350 million to $400 million of new spending to Montana''s economy each year. This spending ripples through Montana''s economy, generating approximately 5,000 jobs and $270 million in personal income in each year between 2018 and 2020. In addition to generating economic activity, Medicaid expansion appears to improve outcomes for Montanans?reducing crime, improving health, and lowering debt. While the state pays a nominal amount for these benefits, the costs to the state budget are more than offset by the savings created by Medicaid expansion and by the revenues associated with increased economic activity.

We asked speakers from the 2018 Economic Outlook Seminar to share their insights on the prospects for some key sectors of the state economy.

General fund revenues are weak and grew by just $20 million in 2017. Why aren't revenues coming in as they should be? With 32 taxes, fees and other sources of revenue, what's causing the state's tax collection shortfall?

Look at any of the ?best places to live? lists and you will see many college towns. These small to mid-sized cities offer an appealing mix of amenities, but they also tend to offer something else ? a high cost of living and low wages, particularly for people with a college degree.

The Department of Revenue revalues - or reappraises - residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and forest properties once every six years. The department uses three approaches to valuing property: sales comparison, cost, and income.

This is a study of the economic contribution of Montana craft brewing to Montana?s economy. The first study of this nature on the brewing industry was conducted in 2012, based on operating conditions in 2010 and 2011. The current study builds on that work by investigating the trends during 2012 and 2013 and estimating the current economic contribution of the industry. There were 40 breweries operating in the state by the end of 2013, with another 11 breweries in planning. This ranks Montana third in the nation in breweries per 100,000 adults over age 21, according to the Brewers Association.

About 77,200 off-highway vehicles (OHVs) were registered for off-highway use in Montana during 2013. These vehicles are used both for pleasure and work. OHV-owning households own an average of two machines, and two family members usually participate in outings. Montana OHV users spend between 4.2 million and 5.9 million days recreating. This project was sponsored by Montana State Parks. Montana State Parks administers the OHV Program.

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research''s most recent surveys suggest that about 8 percent of the state''s households include snowmobile recreationists. Nearly always, the whole family participates. With an average household size of about 2.5, perhaps as many as 100,000 Montanans participate in the sport each winter. Nonresident snowmobilers are important contributors to the Montana economy. Our estimates suggest that nonresident snowmobilers spend about $147 per activity day, including food, lodging, and often, snowmobile rental costs. Nonresidents accounted for about 97,000 activity days during the 2013-2014 snowmobile season, spending an aggregate of nearly $14.3 million in Montana. That spending supports about 200 winter jobs. This project was sponsored by Montana State Parks, which administers the Snowmobile Trails Program.

This is a study of the effects on the Montana economy of the operations of the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology (MBRCT), a program established by the Montana Legislature in 2000 to encourage economic development through investment in Montana-based research projects with a clear path to commercialization. The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana (BBER), using a state-of-the-art policy analysis model and publicly available data on program spending and associated impacts, produced a detailed assessment of the ultimate impact of the operations of the program on employment, income, output, and population in the Montana economy.

Migration had dramatic impacts on Montana during the past two decades, affecting the total population, its distribution between rural and urban areas, and composition by age, including school-age populations.

A lot of things started to fall into place for the recovering Montana economy in 2012. We estimate that the state economy grew by about 2.7 percent in 2012.

According to the report, "The Economic Impact of Increased Production at the Spring Creek Mine," commissioned by the Montana Chamber of Commerce, a proposed increase of coal production by 20 million tons at the mine owned by Cloud Peak Energy would more than double output at the facility and require expansion in capital and equipment, labor force and new purchases of resources such as electricity and work uniforms.

This report summarizes the findings of an investigation into the likely impacts on the Montana economy of a significant expansion in coal production at the Spring Creek mine operated by Cloud Peak Energy near Decker, Montana.

Craft brewing is a healthy and growing sector of Montana's economy. From 2010 to 2011, production increased by 18 percent, employment was up by 39 percent, and sales rose by 20 percent.

Alcohol taxes increase beverage prices and thus influence drinking among teens and adults. Higher taxes and prices have the potential to reduce alcohol abuse and traffic fatalities and injuries. This study examines alcohol taxes and beverage prices in Montana in relation to these issues.

The new health care legislation is slated to change the health care marketplace gradually through numerous provisions. Three of these provisions are already out of the starting gate: tax credits for small employers offering health insurance to their employees; the closing of the 'donut hole' for Medicare Part D enrollees; and the creation of a state high-risk pool for individuals who have been without health care insurance for at least six months.

This report documents the research findings of how the operations and the output of The University of Montana-Missoula contributes to Montana's economy.