In the 75 years it has spoken as the united voice of Montana's cities and towns, the League has been guided by general principles that have been consistently applied in developing Legislative recommendations and determining the policies of the association. These general principles are:
1. financial stability for municipal governments to assure the continuation and improvement of the services and facilities that make Montana cities and towns good places to live and work
2. diversification of revenues and support for option taxes with the understanding that local voters should have the right to decide municipal finance issues
3. recognition of fair principles of taxation, specifically the idea that nonresidents should pay for the services they use instead of laying the costs off on Montana property owners through higher mill levies
4. continuing distribution of state funds to local government through the Entitlement Program as provided in the 2001 Law
5. statutory appropriations and grant and loan assistance for capital improvements and other programs
6. protection from state and federal mandates
7. policies to promote economic growth, community development and historic preservation
8. laws and regulations to promote the use of community water and sewer systems to protect the quality of the Montana environment
9. programs to promote more effective management, share information and to generally improve the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal governments
10. opposition to measures and policies that would privatize solid waste, recreation programs and other municipal services
11. resistance to any attempts to shifts cost from counties to cities for detention centers and other services and facilities
12. recognition of the contributions of cities and towns to the history, culture and economy of Montana and appreciation for the idea that effective local governments will provide the ideas, energy and tools to build a better Montana.
Be it resolved that the officers, directors and staff will follow these general principles to determine the position of the League on bills introduced in the 2007 Legislature that are not covered by specific resolutions.
