Meeting on property taxes to be held in Lake County

Bigfork Eagle

Area state legislators will be holding a town hall meeting Tuesday, Jan. 19, in Lake County to hear concerns about Montana's property tax system and ideas about possible solutions.

Rep. Janna Taylor, R-Polson, Rep. Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, John Fleming, D-St. Ignatius, and Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, will be present along with Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron and local expert on taxes Kyle Karstens. Several other legislators may be in attendance as well.

The Department of Revenue Director Dan Bucks, Scott Williams, who is the regional director of the Department of Revenue, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer were invited but are not able to attend.

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Lake County Courthouse in Polson.

Those attending the meeting will need to enter through the Lake County Sheriff's Office door on the west side of the building, which has a buzzer for entry.

This will be the third town hall meeting held in the area regarding this issue.

Many area residents have been incensed about the latest round of property tax reappraisals, as those near the Lake saw their property values double or triple. Every six years, the Montana Department of Revenue is required to reappraise properties for tax purposes. Property taxes are used to fund education, local government and other services in the state.

For more information, contact Jackson at 756-8344 or vjack@centurytel.net.