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As homeowners directly affected by the Highway 83 road construction, we would like to share some observations and comments about this project. The first observation is dust - we have a layer of dust on everything inside our house. We closed the blinds to minimize dust and now they are covered with fine sand, as are rugs, furniture and every surface in the house and garage. Outside, everything has been affected, including the dock, deck, patio furniture, beach toys and even trees. Second observation is the change being made to the natural shorel...
Too many vacation rentals. Banks buying houses. Committed and hardworking Department of Revenue staff. There are an awful lot of options for who and what to blame for the steep property tax appraisals that many of us received in the mail the last few weeks. But I’ll tell you about the best kept secret in Montana this summer...the Republican supermajority could have prevented this. Let’s look at how. Last week, I attended the Department of Revenue’s community meeting in Helena about our property tax appraisals. People were frustrated and had l...
As I meet with Montanans in every corner of our state, I hear the same concern often –taxes are too high. And they’re right. Taxes are too high and need to be reined in. Two years ago, we enacted a fiscally responsible budget, and as a result, the State of Montana today has a historic budget surplus. Ultimately, that means you overpaid your taxes, and we’re giving it back to you. When we released our Budget for Montana Families last November, we again held the line on spending, and we focused on providing hardworking Montanans with meani...
By now, most Montana property owners have opened their 2023 Property Classification and Appraisal Notices, and many have been surprised by the Montana Department of Revenue’s estimate of their property’s market value. It’s no secret that property in Montana has been selling at higher and higher prices, but the size of the increased values is astonishing to everyone — including me. These value increases and estimated 2023 General Taxes described on the notice — based upon the prior year’s mills — have created a great deal of confusion, fe...
As a long-time reader and supporter of the Pathfinder, the sale of the newspaper several months ago certainly stirred feelings of apprehension and uncertainty among community members, including myself. Andi and Nathan’s stewardship would be a tough act for anyone to follow. However, I firmly believe that this change can be an opportunity for growth and progress. Over the years, our newspaper has been a vital part of our community, fostering connections and informing us about the events, stories, and people that shape our lives. We have seen i...
As a proud defender and lover of public land, I have cast deciding votes for Montanans to hike, fish, and hunt some of the largest expansions of public land in decades—while keeping Montana farmers and ranchers on the landscape. I was recently made aware of a social media campaign soliciting money claiming to fight for interests that I support and will continue to support: local control and public lands. In reality, this campaign would only line the pockets of liberal lawyers to sue me in a case that deserves immediate dismissal. Don’t waste yo...
Las Vegas card sharks, Mississippi Riverboat gamblers, and Churchill Downs handicappers are pleased that Governor Gianforte and Montana’s Republican legislators pulled a fast one on Montana homeowners in the 2023 session. Earlier this year, they permanently raised state residential property taxes by 43 percent – $81 million a year, and $162 million over the two-year state budget cycle. Then they pocketed our money. (Just look at your residential property appraisal notice – your home’s value and taxes are soaring as your spirits are sinking...
In a recent interview published by the Billings Gazette, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director, Tracey Stone-Manning, expressed positions that were of concern to the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) that we felt needed to be addressed. The first issue being Director Stone-Manning’s statements regarding corner crossing and the second regarding the appeal filed on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision regarding American Prairie’s grazing allotments. The article references the May ruling by a federal judge that hunters in Wyomin...
Less government and lower taxes!! You hear that political slogan from Republican candidates early and often while they are campaigning. Then comes political reality. How did the largest percentage of Republicans elected in Montana history grow government at the fastest rate in state history – and at the same time raise property taxes on your home? During the pandemic years, the Trump and Biden administrations poured federal funds into states to prop up slowing economies. Funds went directly to state governments and into businesses. Budget s...
Our Montana State Governor and state legislature this year pretended to alleviate soaring property taxes. They executed a political stunt rebating us a small amount of property tax nowhere near the amount the taxes are increasing annually. At the same time, they accuse local governments in Montana of overspending, even though it’s common knowledge that local government expenses have increased as much everyone else’s. Montana could reduce property taxes for a number of reasons, including: • To stimulate the economy. Property taxes can be a bur...
Did you recently receive a letter from the Montana Department of Revenue? It’s not a tax bill from Missoula County. It’s an appraisal notice the state DOR issues showing the current assessed value of your property. DOR, not Missoula County, calculates this value every two years, which is an important factor in determining the property taxes you’ll owe this year. Those property taxes help fund several jurisdictions you live in, including the county. Your notice has two key numbers: the updated assessed value of your property and the estim...
Property values are up, that’s not news. Will property taxes follow? All of us need to have a conversation with your mayors, school boards and county commissioners, soon! Property tax bills have not been decided yet. Just because values are up does not require property taxes to rise also. Has the need for services increased? For sure. And so has the number of new developed properties that pay a larger amount of property taxes than previously. Higher property taxes and larger relative government are a burden on all citizens including those that...
Out of the blue the other day Justin Hains called to chat. My oh my hadn’t seen him nigh on to 30 years. Himself and a fellow his age named Andy Butrick worked for me one summer there in the Valley on some projects. Justin had been training horses all over the west. He started off pack’n and wrangling for D.K. Mitchell in the Bob. As we remembered those great times in the hills made me homesick. Anyway, many moons ago myself, Justin and Andy took a break from the ordinary and headed to Necklace Lakes by way of Upper Holland over to Sap...
I read with surprise and disappointment the letter of complaint in the June 8 issue of the Pathfinder wherein a reader complained that the Pathfinder dared to publish an editorial opinion (Letter From The Editor) written by Asa Metcalfe and written quite well. Perhaps this complaint was written by someone unfamiliar with the American free press tradition of disseminating editorial opinions. Perhaps the reader is new to America where we celebrate a free press that is free to share news and opinions. Here are some of the benefits of newspaper...
Montana’s 1972 constitution guarantees its citizens a right to “a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.” The 2023 trial of Held versus State of Montana, a lawsuit brought by 16 Montana youth, attempts to show how the state government’s longstanding energy policies violate this constitutional right by favoring fossil fuel industries with high carbon emissions. The lawsuit is named for plaintiff Rikki Held, age 22, a fifth-generation Montanan raised on a cattle ranch in the Powder River basin. In testimo...
Property tax appraisals are currently arriving in the mail. It’s important to review the valuation and appeal it if you do not agree with the valuation. The appeal instructions are in the letter that was mailed to you. You only have 30 days, so do not wait. If the value of your property increased by 30% that does not mean your taxes will increase by 30%. However, generally if the value of your property increased, most likely your taxes will be increasing. Property tax calculations are complex and understood by few. To calculate your taxes, y...
Fighting for MT Public Schools Every parent remembers the day we took our child to their first day of school. It pulls at your heartstrings. Fortunately, in Montana, we knew our children were in good hands. They were entering schools with teachers who were well qualified and supported, learning lessons from curriculum we had approved, and following the rules set by school boards we had elected. As a mom, a teacher and a legislator, I believe that the work Montanans have done for public education... Full story
Personal Sentiment V The Constitution At the tail end of the session, two contentious bills made their way to the Senate floor; HB 549 by Rep. Fred Anderson and HB 562 by Rep. Sue Vinton. Rep. Vinton represents Lockwood which is the other half of my Senate District. Both bills created new law for charter schools. Both bills carried legal notes deeming them unconstitutional. Anderson unsuccessfully tried to correct the deficiencies. Vinton argued the point so her bill also remains unconstitutiona... Full story
A response to the editor’s previous letter Mr. Metcalf, I really don’t have sufficient words to describe the idiocy of the first paragraph of your Letter From Editor on May 25th. You are taking a obvious political direction and showing your obvious political bias. I thought newspapers were supposed to report the news without bias. Your personal political positions shouldn’t color the news. You have basically told your readership that you are tremendously biased on the political spectrum -- under what circumstance can you possibly think this...
One of the perils of life is putting too much value on “stuff.” Stuff can be about anything. It can consist of what we have or what we don’t have. Much of life is about our stuff. Our house, cars, things in the house. Things around the house and things in the garage, storage building, barns and more barns. If we work hard, it’s possible to accumulate lots of stuff. Often, we have more than we need. We paint, stain, groom and polish our stuff. Sometimes we put in in cases, drawers, cabinets and even safes. We know how difficult it is to buy and...
Letter from Missoula County commissioners regarding Holland Lake Lodge Dear Mr. Steele, The Missoula Board of County Commissioners continues to hear concerns from a diverse range of constituents regarding public engagement and regulatory review of proposed changes at Holland Lake Lodge. Many of the concerns have also expressed questions about whether proposed changes to Holland Lake Lodge are in the public interest. Based on the input we received, we believe a more transparent decision-making process and robust approach to public engagement... Full story
A resident’s reaction to the Elbow Lake gravel pit permit In response to the DNRC and DEQ approving the Elbow Lake gravel pit and asphalt plant, I would like to make several points. First of all, the DNRC dismissed the hydrologic concerns of the Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) as expressed during the public comment period. The DNRC did not do any further analysis, only writing that the CRC’s map was “not accurate” without providing any scientific data to demonstrate the state’s stance. Here are other quotes from the DNRC’s Environment... Full story
Letter regarding Elbow Lake Commenters on the MT DNRC’s Elbow Lake gravel pit/asphalt plant proposal received notice on May 15 that it has been approved. The MT DEQ had already approved the permit, on April 27. In case you missed it earlier, this is the proposal by Kalispell-based LHC Inc. to establish a new 21-acre gravel pit and asphalt plant directly beside the Clearwater River, across the road from the Blackfoot-Clearwater Game Range, within a parcel designated Tier 1 Community Type of Greatest Conservation Need because it is grizzly and e... Full story
Editor, One of the greatest things about the valley has always been its diversity, from its timber base to its wildlife. The complexity and abundance of both would be hard to dismiss for anything other than a great blessing. This abundance has supported and bolstered human life since man first set foot here. That is all changing. The timber base is being eroded away by a multitude of reasons. Disease, fire, logging, road widening and development. They are all contributing in one degree or another. the end result is a loss of habitat to... Full story
I applaud Representative Matt Rosendale for being one of the strongest advocates for fiscal responsibility in DC. As negotiations between the White House and Republicans have had little success, our congressman has continued to voice strong solutions that will keep the US from defaulting on its debt. Both parties admit that defaulting on our nation’s debt is the wrong course for the US. But unless Democrats are willing to cut back on their erratic spending, a deal will not be reached. Montana’s small businesses are at serious risk of becoming t... Full story
