by Bob Pauley, Hamilton
As you may have heard, some political activists are proposing major changes to our property tax system and our Constitution with CI-121. The initiative is essentially a carbon copy of the unsuccessful Proposition 13 in California, enacted in 1978.
In 2016, the Legislative Activist’s Office in California concluded that this initiative had resulted in disparities between similar properties. This is because under Proposition 13, a property’s assessed value depends on when it was purchased. If CI-121 is passed, owners of similar homes in the same neighborhood that get the same services will pay drastically different amounts of property taxes, all because of when they bought their home. That isn’t fair, and it isn’t right for Montana.
When those pushing CI-121 try to tell you how well Proposition 13 has worked, ask yourselves – Is California affordable? Would you want to live there? This harmful initiative needs to stay off the ballot to ensure Montana stays great and never resembles California. If supporters of CI-121 ask for your signature, I encourage you to decline to sign.
Helen Sabin says
I agree with Bob Pauley. When my military husband was assigned to an AFB in CA we had a most difficult time trying to pay our real estate taxes on a military salary. I was forced to go to work just to afford them Then when he retired, and we wanted out of that high priced state, the couple who bought our house had to pay almost $14,000 in taxes as they were NOT covered by Proposition 13.
CI121 is an idea that needs work. The intention is good – to reduce real estate taxes – the implementation of it is not.
Clark P Lee says
When “The Market” goes nuts, like it is now, it seems to me that some legislative buffering is a good idea. That said, in my experience, when folks start talking about “don’t Californicate (fill in the blank), it is too late, they are here, it has already happened. We sent them brochures and encouraged them to bring their money.
Stephen Svelmoe says
You haven’t been in CA in the last 60 years or so, I see. Oregon got Californicated a long time ago, but not here, not yet.