Submitted by PR County Treasurer Hattie Arithson
The Montana Supreme Court determined that the Department of Revenue has the authority to direct counties to levy above the current mill levy calculation limitation each year if reserved mills are determined to be available.
The Department of Revenue has verified that the school equalization mills - under the statutory limitations that adjust mills down when taxable values increase - are reduced from 95 mills to 77.9 mills for this tax year.
However, the Department of Revenue, under the direction of the Governor’s Budget Office is directing the County to levy extra mills they hold in reserve to generate additional revenue from property taxpayers in Montana.
The Supreme Court ordered counties to comply, therefore your second half taxes will necessarily be increased to comply with the request from the Department of Revenue and the Order from the Montana Supreme Court. This represents an additional 17.1 mills broken down as follows: 7.1 mills for State Equalization Aid, 6.0 mills for County Elementary Equalization, and 4.0 mills for High School Equalization.
Powder River Treasurer’s office hopes to have the new billing in the mail sometime in March 2024.
Please remember that the local county employees and Department of Revenue employees did not play a role in this decision and the work they do is centered on complying with laws passed by the Legislature.
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