Property taxpayers will be getting an addendum to their property tax bill, following last week’s Montana Supreme Court decision in favor of the State regarding the amount of mills it may levy in property taxes.
Almost all of the counties in Montana billed property owners less than the 95 mills the State claimed it had the authority to levy.
County commissioners claimed the State failed to levy its tax in compliance with the same cap that the state legislature imposed on local governments. But according to the Supreme Court that decree does not impact State government, “…that authority rests with the State alone.”
How Yellowstone County taxpayers will be notified of the additional tax charge is being ironed out by County Treasure Marci Shafer, in discussions with Yellowstone County Commissioners and Deputy County Attorney, Chief In-House Counsel Steve Williams. There are numerous legal issues about the billing to be addressed as well as how to minimize costs to the county for the mailing. Decisions are not likely to come until January.
Shafer pointed out that some taxpayers have already paid all their property taxes and read more
