Home Owners 43% Property Tax Increase.
supporter
Posted by Hanson (+3157) 2 months ago
In 2016 I warned against Montanans ever putting Gianforte in the governor’s mansion. In my comments and letters to editors I warned that Gianforte is pushing the same old problematic ideology of giveaways to corporations, thoughtless elimination of regulations, and fiscal recklessness, including slashing taxes for the wealthy.

Well Gianforte and his super majority Repupublican legislature are again running us into the an economic barrow pit. I suggest anyone disturbed by the massive increase in property taxes Gianforte and his Repubican cohorts have bestowed upon us read prior governor Brian Schweitzer’s editorial in the July 9, 2023 Billings Gazette.

Schweitzer correctly points out Republican false claims of “less government and lower taxes! The political slogan from Republican candidates early and often while they are campaigning. Then comes political reality. How did the largest percentage of Republicans elected in Montana history grow government at the fastest rate in state history - and at the same time raise property taxes on your home?”

“During the pandemic years, the (federal) administrations poured federal funds into states to prop up slowing economies. Funds went directly to state governments and into businesses. Budget surpluses ballooned nationwide. Montana normally receives about $1.59 of federal funds for each $1 paid in federal income tax, more than almost all other states. One-third of Montana’s state budget is federal funds. By the time our Legislature met in 2023, the state budget surplus had exploded to a record $2.6 billion.”

“A month and a half before the Legislature met, the Montana Revenue Department warned the Legislature and governor that home appraisals had increased by 43%, and unless they took action, home property taxes were going to rise substantially. Those who own their own homes and those who rent would shoulder those rising property tax costs. The Legislature and governor worked 87 days on the budget, spending more new money than any Legislature in history- by far! They blew through the huge $2.6 billion surplus. They ate the thick steaks and drank the old whiskey provided by lobbyists and spent money on those lobbyists’ special interests. And then they raised taxes on your home.”

“Now, Republican leadership is trying to spin their blunder. They claim it’s county commissioners and cities who are raising your taxes. False!”

“State law only allows local governments to raise spending by a small percent unless voted on by local voters. Since the Legislature met, not one county has voted to increase spending or raise your taxes. * * * They claim they will send you some one-time money to partially offset your permanent taxincrease - giving you a 45-day window to file government forms to get some of your money back. Why must you file paperwork? The Revenue Department knows you own the home and where you live.”

When Brian Schweitzer was governor, he mailed the one-time checks to homeowners. No bureaucratic paperwork was required. We know the bureaucratic paperwork is to make it difficult and therefore cause some homeowners to fail to get their one-time partial refund of the increase the Republicans gave them. Brian Schweitzer didn’t raise any taxes for eight years and he has the following advice for the inept Republicans:

“Let’s assume the Republican Legislature and governor just made a mistake by raising your property taxes. It’s not too late for the governor and Republican
super majority in control to do the right thing.
The fix is easy.
1. Republican legislative leaders and the governor need to call a press conference and admit they made a mistake in raising your property taxes.
2. They need to work with the Revenue Department to craft a one-page bill (that’s all it takes) that would stop this property tax increase on homeowners.
3. Call a one-day special session, pass the bill to stop the property tax increase and go home.
Pay more, what for?”

Brian Schweitzer, Democrat, was Montana’s 23rd governor, serving two terms from 2005 into 2013, when he was term limited out.
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+8
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Posted by tom regan (+3245) 2 months ago
The Republican solution to the high property taxes will be a sales tax. This is what Jersey Greg has always wanted.

Down here in Colorado, we are dealing with a similar situation. But the Democratic-run state government passed a law to address the situation. This is what the law will do:

Reduce the residential assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.7% in 2023 and 2024, and continue this reduction for primary residences.

Incrementally reduce the business property assessment rate from 29% to at least 26.9% by 2032.

Reduce the taxable value of residences by $50,000 in 2023 and by $40,000 in 2024, continuing this reduction for primary residences (not second homes or investment properties).

Cap the growth in district property tax collections excluding school districts at inflation and allow local governments to override the cap after giving notice to property owners.

Protect funding for public education and backfilling revenue to fire districts, water districts, ambulance, and hospital districts in areas of the state that aren’t growing as fast by dedicating a portion of the state's TABOR surplus to backfill.

Provide seniors who currently receive the Homestead Exemption a larger reduction of $140,000 and allow them to continue to receive this reduction if they move.

I sure am glad I live in a blue state where the right-wing lunatics aren't running the show. Even though I live in a red district represented by "Insurrection Barbie" Boebert.
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+5
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12754) 2 months ago
One advantage to eastern Montana. My older brother's property values in Belgrade skyrocketed to ridiculous levels while my house in Miles City dropped by $1,000.
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+2
Posted by Sam Handwich (+53) 2 months ago
https://dailymontanan.com/2023/07/13/they-had-one-job-and-the-montana-legislature-failed/



This is a good commentary about the continuing sheet-show unfolding due to the inaction of our legislature. I wondered all session why the Republican majority was trifling with violating our human rights, instead of getting some work done.


(Sorry I could not figure out how to paste the link...)
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+2
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Posted by Robert Martelle (+1269) 2 months ago
If they cannot control our lives by dictating who we associate with, what we read, what children learn, what medical care we seek, or any other issue that may not equate with their sense of morality, they will control us through our pocket books by giving to their cronies (the rich, the ultra religious right, the bigots, the racist, etc.) and toss us a few tax rebate cookies and say "good people, see what we did for you". These so-called rebates do not even come close to the long-term effect of property assessment values that are based on real estate sales to aggressive out-of-state buyers with mega bucks from selling their McMansions.
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+2
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Posted by Earl Bennett (+1011) 2 months ago
Reply to Hanson (#384373)
Anyone going to the forum tomorrow at 9:00 AM at the Event center where they will try to inform us about our appraisals ?
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Posted by Hanson (+3157) 2 months ago
Reply to Earl Bennett (#384384)
22 people were there for the big show about the increase. I guess property owners in the Miles City area have plenty of money.
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supporter
Posted by Tim Miles (+500) 2 months ago
In defense of many of my neighbors, most folks in this town were at work during this meeting.
It shows the care and consideration of the people taken by our overlords public officials.
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+1
founder
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Posted by Earl Bennett (+1011) 2 months ago
Reply to Hanson (#384385)
I thought it was a good meeting. If their estimates are correct all of mine went down except 1, all but one appraised higher. The one that estimated higher is the one I am gonna look over the best. Kudos to our county commissioners, I saw 3 of them there.
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Posted by Gunnar Emilsson (+18634) 2 months ago
Curious, Earl, how many county commissioners are there in Custer County? I know many of the smaller ones only have 3.
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+1
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Posted by Richard Bonine (+15536) 2 months ago
Spot-on editorial. Holding public meetings at times during the day to limit the peons who show up with pitchforks is absolute balderdash. Do better!

https://flatheadbeacon.c...meowners/
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+7
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Posted by Earl Bennett (+1011) 2 months ago
Reply to Gunnar Emilsson (#384388)
Well Gunnar, as far as I know we have 3.
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+2
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12754) 2 months ago
We have three. Yellowstone County has three. I'm not sure about the others.
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Posted by Gunnar Emilsson (+18634) 2 months ago
Thanks Earl and Amorette. I have been working with Anaconda -Deer Lodge County government for over 20 years, and they have 5 elected commissioners.

Now my curiosity has been piqued. How the 56 counties in Montana were established, set up their governments, etc. I think this would be a great book for Amorette to write.
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+1
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Posted by Richard Bonine (+15536) 2 months ago
Reply to Gunnar Emilsson (#384393)
Gunnar Emilsson wrote:
Thanks Earl and Amorette. I have been working with Anaconda -Deer Lodge County government for over 20 years, and they have 5 elected commissioners.

Now my curiosity has been piqued. How the 56 counties in Montana were established, set up their governments, etc. I think this would be a great book for Amorette to write.


Particularly interested in the Simpson chapter on how Park County got screwed to the benefit of Powder River county.
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