by Hillery Daily, Darby
Although I am grateful to Governor Gianforte for last and this year’s property tax rebate checks, these don’t do much to offset a permanent 62% increase in our property tax. The governor’s rebates won’t even cover these two years of increased tax. Residential property taxes increased by 40% in Ravalli county and by an average of 21% statewide. In contrast, commercial property tax increased by less or even decreased. NorthWestern Energy, the state’s largest taxpayer, paid about $36 million less for 2023 taxes than they paid in 2022.
Gianforte gave himself tax breaks while increasing taxes on his neighbors and the rest of us homeowners living a more modest lifestyle. I will be voting for Ryan Busse because he will lead the Legislature to adjust the property tax rate. Busse supports the wealthy and corporations paying their fair share. Gianforte looks out for his billionaire and millionaire friends to ease their tax burden.
WMA says
Tracy, I would not dare to suggest I know anything about anyone’s property values but my own. And my own did not go up anywhere near 46 percent. Gianforte and his Republican cronies OWN this problem and you really should stop making excuses for their failure.
Helen says
Consider that our taxes help run the government. That includes the Montana Department of transportation. They are insisting on putting in an almost $9 million roundabout that no one wants except them, when a red light option with slow down signs approaching that light would probably work as well. The same Montana department of transportation, put in roundabout in Kalispell a Couple of years ago , and now are tearing it out to put a flyover or raised road over the intersection . Before raising our rates Gianforte needs to look at his own department of transportation and find out why they are wasting taxpayer money in this manner. This is a pattern by them and I bet in a couple years that mother Ravalliroundabout will either be expanded or a flyover will be put there. The excuse they use Kalispell? They didn’t anticipate the growth in population in the area. That shows how incompetent they really are. The Director of that department should be fired.
WMA says
Property values did NOT go up 60 percent like my neighbor’s property tax did. Gianforte owns this debacle.
Tracy Wood says
The property values did go up on average 46% in the west half of the State. Taxes DID NOT GO UP! Your friend has the right to refute the value that was assigned to said property. Not a difficult process however, tax appraisal values are typically much lower than those of FEE Appraisals so be careful what you wish for.
Sonja K says
You do know that Gianforte took Ravalli County and another county (I can’t remember which one) to the Supreme court to force them to collect more property taxes? Yes, he did. Remember getting an updated bill with a letter from the County Commissioners stating what happened and that they were forced? So the state collects the max and then expect kudos for offering a rebate. (which is not automatic, you have to apply for it). Sounds about right.
Tracy Wood says
Not his fault your property values went up.
Brenda Allington says
So everybody else’s property values went up but not his? This was a local news story– not made up fodder.