MISSOULA, Mont. — Missoula County Commissioners have voted to remove an infrastructure tax proposal from the November general election ballot.
The five percent levy would have meant an increase of $6.75 per $100,000 of assessed property value, or about $34 per year on a $500,000 home.
This would raise an estimated $1.8 million for infrastructure repairs in Missoula County.
“We looked at imposing a levy to financially address this problem. People are already paying way too much property tax, and even though this levy is modest, three dollars a month, it essentially adds to people’s already high property tax burden,” said Josh Slotnick, Missoula County Commissioner.
Slotnick says the decision to eliminate the levy will delay tax increases in the hope that the 2025 legislative session will bring some relief.
“If the legislature keeps its promises and actually succeeds in passing property tax reform, it could lower property taxes and give us room to publicly finance things like infrastructure in ways that are not currently available to us,” Slotnick said.
Whether it will work as hoped remains to be seen.
“If not, we’ll have to take another look at it. So we’ll wait and see what happens. I would say I’m cautiously optimistic,” Slotnick said.
At the last meeting of the Governor’s Property Tax Task Force in Helena, members released a list of recommendations, including a property tax exemption. It would reduce property taxes on primary residences and long-term rentals in Montana while increasing taxes on second homes and short-term rentals.
Governor Greg Gianforte praised the proposed exemption, saying it will provide long-term relief to Montana homeowners.
“A property tax exemption will provide long-term relief to Montana homeowners and ensure that people from out of state – who don’t live here, don’t pay income taxes here, and own second homes here – pay their fair share to fund our schools, law enforcement, and our roads and bridges,” Gianforte said in a press release.
Missoula County Commissioners will officially sign their decision to remove the vote from the ballot this Thursday.
“This is not just about governments. It’s about how people live and how they can afford their homes,” Slotnick said.
NBC Montana will continue to monitor these issues and keep you updated on any changes that may impact your wallet.
