The 69th Montana Legislature is within 12 days of the May 5th end of the current session, and the pressure is on to bring Property Tax Relief to anxious Montanans. The House has put the final touches on Senate Bill 117, requiring local governments to roll 25% of newly taxable residential property values into reduced tax rates. It’s a novel approach, because there’s a lag between the time a home is built and occupied and when it hits the tax rolls.
Senate Bill is now ready for transmittal to Gov. Greg Gianforte, who hasn’t indicated whether he sign it.
As pointed out by Kalispell Rep. Courtenay Sprunger Friday morning on the KGEZ Good Morning Show, each of the tax relief proposals appear to have an effect on the others–which is why they can’t all be approved. She also tells us that, whatever they decide is best, can’t rob the State’s revenues of needed funds.
There are at least four more proposals now being given careful consideration and, Rep. Sprunger tells us, we’re likely to come up with a combination of the remaining ideas, but she says, she’s prepared to “pitch her tent on the Capitol lawn,” rather than return home without a workable Property Tax Relief plan.
