Cathy Mitchell, DNP-FNP
Occupation: Family Nurse Practitioner at an outpatient clinic that provides healthcare to all patients. Married to a retired Marine Corp Fighter Pilot. Our address is Kalispell, and our school system is Whitefish. Born in Youngstown, Ohio
I believe I would make a great and effect legislator due to my numerous years of education and experience in all types of medical settings. I am organized, responsible, and dependable. I manage my time effectively, prioritize tasks, and follow through on commitments. I am curious, creative, and willing to discuss opposite points of view. I am also personable and respectful of others.
Since the 2023 legislative session, a housing task force was created to address the housing crunch. One suggestion was to reduce regulations on building homes and apartments. Forty percent of the cost of building, according to the housing task force, is government regulations. By reducing regulations and increasing supply, the average rent cost would decrease by 24%. Cities would have Master Plans for growth. The master planning would go before a public hearing process. When the Master Plan is approved, builders would not have to go through the process again, as long as they adhere to the requirements in the Master Plan. This would provide affordable housing for employees in our communities.
I support Governor Gianforte’s property tax advisory council’s suggestion regarding a homestead exemption. This would give a lower tax rate to Montana residents who own and live in their primary homes. Out-of-staters, with secondary homes in Montana, would be taxed at a higher rate. According to the advisory council, that should decrease the primary Montana residence’s tax bill by 15 – 20%.
I would like to address the mental health crisis in Flathead County. There are far too many patients with mental health issues and not enough providers or facilities. Governor Gianforte formed a task force to address this issue with a budget of 300 million dollars from a bill passed last legislative session. Suggestions include building a comprehensive statewide crisis system, investing in clinically appropriate state-run health care settings, expanding the capacity of the adult and children’s behavioral health service delivery systems, expanding the capacity of the “mental” developmental disabilities service delivery system, and enhancing family and caretaker supports. Priority should be hiring more mental health providers.
Public K-12 school funding: 42% local sources in FY 2022, 13% federal sources, and 41% from state sources.
Montana is ranked 27th out of the 50 states by the World Population Review.
a. We should look to other states’, whose education is ranked in the top ten in the nation, sources of funding for their K-12 education.
b. Use an appropriations method, Weight Pupil Unit, that follows each student even if they are not in a public school.
c. Determine why numerous families in Montana are choosing to home schooling, Montessori schools, or private/Christian schools.
d. Determine where current funds are spent. Room for improvement?
e. Hold principles, school boards, and teachers accountable.
f. Encourage parental participation.
My father served in the military as a career Naval aviator which is why I was born in the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and moved a lot while growing up. I now live north of Polebridge, Montana next to Glacier National Park surrounded by public land. I am a retired public-school teacher and principal. I served as the Representative for House District 3 for more than a year after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2019.
I have a proven track record of working with diverse groups of people to reach consensus on important issues. My leadership and public service as a public-school teacher and principal, conservation advocate, community leader, and former Montana state representative have prepared me to be an effective legislator..
The most important issues facing Montana are affordability for working and retired Montanans, passing on a stable climate system for our youth, ensuring quality public education, and maintaining an independent judiciary to safeguard our fundamental rights. I will work with other legislators to develop solutions to these challenges facing us.
The first thing that needs to happen is for the Legislature to fulfill its constitutional obligation to equalize taxation between corporations and residential property taxes. The Legislature has failed to maintain equalization and while residential property taxes increased by $259 million last year, corporate taxes declined by $76 million. Notably, while our homes are assessed at their full market value, corporations are allowed to negotiate their values. We need to have tax fairness.
Second, we can institute a homestead exemption (which would be a reduction of the taxable value) for homeowners who reside fulltime in Montana and pay their income taxes in Montana and would not be available for those with second and third homes here.
It is vitally important that the Legislature pass Medicaid Expansion in 2025 for the sake of Montana citizens, our rural hospitals, and our economy. If the Legislature fails to pass this, thousands of hard-working Montanans and children will go without healthcare insurance. Our economy needs a healthy workforce, and our education system needs healthy children. Most of our rural hospitals and clinics depend upon Medicaid to keep their doors open. Medicaid is not a hand-out; it provides affordable healthcare insurance for low income workers and their families. 80% of the cost of Medicaid comes from the federal government rather than Montana. It is essential that we do not turn this federal money away at the expense of our citizens.
We need to: (1) Change the State Funding Formula for Public Schools to alleviate chronic budget shortfalls and not force schools to rely so heavily on local property taxes and annual school levies; (2) Recruit and Retain Quality Teachers by raising starting teacher salaries which are the lowest in the nation; (3) Special Allocation for Public School Infrastructure to maintain minimum school building standards and the necessary technology needed for a quality education.
The Legislature has a constitutional duty to provide a quality public education for every child in Montana.
