Property Taxes

[4ohSick]

Just received this year's property classification and appraisal notice - even though it's the second year of the two-year cycle (and our value increased $174k or 66% last year) the appraisal is getting bumped another $40k for market appreciation - so 82% in two years. Can't wait til the shop we finished right after the re-appraisal gets added next year. Anyways, vote for Busse.

 

[tops911]

my property taxes have more than doubled in 4 years. I used to get a tax break due to being a 100% disabled Vet. Then I got an 8% cost of living increase and lost my disabled Vet tax reduction due to my income being "too" high. My monthly mortgage went up over $350 a month, I sure have not received a $350 a month raise to off set the tax and insurance increase. I live in a little nothing town. At this rate we will be taxed out of our house and Montana in 4 years.

 

[buckbull]

Those are some crazy increases. Living in Illinois, i'm used to paying insane property taxes but have never had increases like that. The house my ex got in the divorce was a little over $10,000 a year in property taxes.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Montana doesn't have sales tax, does it?

Because that will explain a lot. With the price of everything increasing drastically, local governments rely on property tax alone for the bulk of their budget. No other meaningful way to collect money at the end of the day.


Doesn't mean it doesn't sting any less though

 

[cgasner1]

Those are some crazy increases. Living in Illinois, i'm used to paying insane property taxes but have never had increases like that. The house my ex got in the divorce was a little over $10,000 a year in property taxes.

2 bullets dodged

 

[Bambistew]

You want to get more pissed? Look up what those multiples of million dollar ranches pay for taxes. 8 average Bozemanites pay more on their 1/4 acre in taxes than the CA does. 2 acres total vs 80,000.

 

[Forkyfinder]

taxes at my place have went up a lot.

You want to get more pissed? Look up what those multiples of million dollar ranches pay for taxes. 8 average Bozemanites pay more on their 1/4 acre in taxes than the CA does. 2 acres total vs 80,000.

they are ag properties - silly

 

[Rie Bread]

Truly a crisis for those on fixed incomes.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Those are some crazy increases. Living in Illinois, i'm used to paying insane property taxes but have never had increases like that. The house my ex got in the divorce was a little over $10,000 a year in property taxes.

Absolutely ridiculous, time to stick it to those entitled Asswipes. Get rid of your system and start again. Serving on local council is a privalidge not an entitlement to fill their own pockets.

 

[Flynarrow]

The last legislative session with Rs having a super majority gave big corporations like Verizon and railroads big tax breaks. Ag exemptions meant gianforte property tax went down. So your property taxes went up? Voting has consequences.

 

[SFC B]

You want to get more pissed? Look up what those multiples of million dollar ranches pay for taxes. 8 average Bozemanites pay more on their 1/4 acre in taxes than the CA does. 2 acres total vs 80,000.

Don't get started on that trail.....for anyone NOT in ag (ranching or farming) it will burn a hole in your stomach.

 

[Bullshot]

13K+ on .6 acre and that’s probably only middle of the road in my area. Just bleeding me out financially more and more each year. Same deal with multi-hundred acre farms paying less than me when they are farmland assessed. Or people with more than 5 acres on their estate or hobby farm who exaggerate and claim ag income by selling a few thousand bucks worth of overpriced firewood to their brother to “prove” ag/forestry income and get their otherwise residential property farm assessed. Super frustrating…. But it won’t be forever….someday I might move out of state and if not will at least definitely die.

 

[Carnage2011]

The last legislative session with Rs having a super majority gave big corporations like Verizon and railroads big tax breaks. Ag exemptions meant gianforte property tax went down. So your property taxes went up? Voting has consequences.

That’s not exactly how it works. Good effort though.

 

[Dakotakid]

That’s not exactly how it works. Good effort though.

But there is a small grain of truth to it.

In 2014 what percentage of the total property tax pie was paid by business compared to individual residential. Those percentages have now reversed with the larger share of total property tax being paid by individual residential.

Residential taxpayers are carrying the majority of the load. As a tax policy, is that right or wrong? With a high percentage of the expenditures going to schools, who should be paying?

 

[BigHornRam]

Good read here.

Talking actual property tax numbers

The complexity of Montana's property tax system requires data-driven solutions over partisan finger-pointing.

thewesternnews.com

 

[Bonasababy]

Montana doesn't have sales tax, does it?

Because that will explain a lot. With the price of everything increasing drastically, local governments rely on property tax alone for the bulk of their budget. No other meaningful way to collect money at the end of the day.


Doesn't mean it doesn't sting any less though

This..

Much rather have a sales tax and income tax. With such a heavy burden on property taxes people can be taxed right out of their place when income is limited. Work hard for decades to pay it off then can't afford it. See the same with recreational land.

 

[BigHornRam]

This..

Much rather have a sales tax and income tax. With such a heavy burden on property taxes people can be taxed right out of their place when income is limited. Work hard for decades to pay it off then can't afford it. See the same with recreational land.

Whatever guy.

 

[TheTone]

a sales tax would put burden on anyone shopping in Montana, not just those that own property there. Might as well get a little something more from all the tourists

 

[Bonasababy]

Whatever guy.

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Source? And date? Did you factor in average home cost?

What I see from several sources is that the two states are pretty similar.

 

[Bonasababy]

a sales tax would put burden on anyone shopping in Montana, not just those that own property there. Might as well get a little something more from all the tourists

It's a slippery slope depending on how it's been set up.

Some states don't tax the musts like food or clothing which helps the less fortunate more. My state had local property taxes supplemented by the state until reds took hold and cut that support, claiming they were cutting taxes--but in reality local taxing authorities then had to raise their taxes so taxes have crept up in the end.

The other thing local authorities have taken to in order to compensate for less state support is insert local use sales taxes. Some it's on everything, others on specific things like lodging car sales, etc.

Tax rates aren't the total story and what they return has to be factored in too--but leaning hard on any one type of tax for revenue to keep cops and firemen and roads and other services going often leads to disparities.