Proposed bill would shorten property reappraisal cycle
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Last week, three young violin/fiddle players from Shepherd performed for us on the Senate floor. That was the best part of the day. I always feel honored to be entertained by groups.
It is still unbelievably busy around here. They formed a special committee to deal with the $4 billion pension problem. Last month, our pension systems paid out $45 million and only took in $42 million. That will not work for the public employees in the long run.
In the Senate Taxation Committee, we heard a property tax bill that would change the six-year reappraisal cycle to two years and then yearly. This prevents what is called “sticker shock,” when you get the huge increase or decrease every six years.
The state lost and is currently appealing a court case from Gallatin County. The judge declared that the real estate recession must trigger a mid-term reappraisal. But there is always so much more to the story.
We all laughed at the “tax geek speak” comment, but there is really no way to explain just how property taxes are figured. But here is the real problem: the county and city need to budget. Permissive levies allow the county to collect the same amount of money plus a small amount of inflation each year.
So if everyone’s property tax were to decrease, the county would have to increase the mills. Most property taxes fund the county. And most of that is for schools. The state share is mostly used for school equalization as well.
Sen. Llew Jones has a school funding bill that is nearly as complicated as property taxes. Some of the legislators from the oil producing counties are not happy with the plan because it takes some oil and gas tax money and reduces property taxes for schools from across the state.
On another note, please go to leg.mt.gov/districting to see what the redistricting plan has done to Lake County. We will have two representatives that have districts within the county and two that have districts with most of their population outside of Lake County.
The worst part for Lake County is that these four House districts will all be parts of four Senate districts. Each Senate district is made up of two House districts. None of them will be totally within the county for the first time ever. Reps. Hertz, Salomon and I will continue to voice our objections.
I am trying to answer all the emails I have received, but there is no way I can respond to all the out-of-area comments and all the form emails. But I read them all. Leave me a message at (406) 444-4800 or my cell, (406) 253-8766. Never forget that I work for you.
