Letters to the editor July 9
Property taxes
Senator Greg Hertz is a ranking member of the supermajority Republican Montana Legislature, and he accurately outlined the complex property appraisal process in Montana. What he did not address is why, with control of the governership and both the House and Senate, this Legislature did not address the tax inequities we face here in Montana.
We rely heavily on property taxes to fund state and local government, a balanced tax package would be equal parts of income, property and sales taxes. With the supermajority the Republicans enjoyed, it seems incredible it did not work to balance our tax package and discuss a state sales tax measure
Past Republican leaders have led the cry for a sales tax in this state to capture tax revenues from the millions of out-of-state tourists who visit Montana every year. Why not now?
Democrats in the past have worked to strike down sales tax proposals contending they fall unfairly on the working class. Maybe so, but sales tax measures can be drawn to be progressive by excluding food and medicine and other such necessities.
Our heavy dependence on property taxes is regressive. Property owners pass those taxes on to their low and middle-income renters, and to their retail customers. The result? Higher rents and prices for goods and services.
Shame on the Republican-controlled Legislature.
— Don Larson, Polson
DUI penalties
Heartbreaking and infuriating! Several days ago a 15-year-old driver (drugs, alcohol and speed suspected) hit an innocent person’s car, killing a young mother and severely injuring her 4-year-old child on U.S. 2 near Glacier Park International Airport. A passenger in the 15-year-old’s truck was also killed.
According to the Forbes Advisor, Montana ranks No. 1 for drunk driving out of all 50 states. For a state that has a bit over 1 million residents, this makes it even more horrifying. As a retired CD educator who has dealt with addicts and alcoholics for many years, I ask that the lawmakers of this state revamp the DUI laws here to send an unmistakable message to anyone who drives drunk or impaired that it will cost you dearly, and the very first time at that.
Mandatory jail time (not just a day) and loss of driving privileges until it is determined they have completed all treatment, paid all fines and restitution to any victim, passed a driving test, and have a “blow and go” installed at, their expense, on their steering wheel until authorities determine it may come off. Complete court-ordered treatment and do community service deemed meaningful to their charges.
Driving is a privilege and not a right. The state may remove your driving privileges for a myriad of reasons. No one has the right to drink or drug and drive, ever!
If you have people in your world who do then please call and report them. You will be saving someone else’s life and your family member or friend’s as well. We may not be able to stop everyone but if the penalty for the first DUI is so painful, then perhaps there will never be a second.
— Jill Williams, Kalispell
Vagrancy laws
Back in 1950 when I was a teenager in Alabama I asked my mother, “what is this vagrancy law I hear about?”
Mother said, “You wander around town with no money, you go to jail!”
Holy moly. I’m never gonna be broke!
— Mason Riley, Columbia Falls
Property values
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 large amount greater property taxes than previous. Higher property taxes and larger relative government are a burden on all citizens including those that aren’t property owners. Think affordable housing.
The newest assessed value I just received on a rental property I have increased from $233,900 to $543,100 with the only improvement being new basic vinyl siding over three years ago. Like you, I wonder what our property tax bill will be.
Sadly, our local governments’ expenditures have exceeded population and inflation growth over an extended number of years. We can and must become more efficient. True leaders say no (not always of course). They say no to themselves and to others. Let’s all step up and be leaders. All taxes eventually get passed on to end users.
As Americans, we need to get past the mentality that, “everyone else is doing it” and “I’ve got to get my share” (often through loud arguments, manipulative language or the emotional approaches).
Property taxes have been out of control for years. Who’s going to fix this? I’ve been told this is a local issue. Flathead Valley residents: We have enough revenue. We don’t need a sales tax for example.
Local administrators, you have a decision to make. Please hold down your expenses and give your residents (all residents) a break and not raise property taxes.
— Rep. Terry Falk, R-Kalispell