HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-22 Public Comment - J. Weaver - Property Tax Increase Resolution 5410From:Jonmichael Weaver
To:Agenda
Subject:Public Comment: Property Tax Increase Resolution 5410
Date:Monday, August 22, 2022 12:02:43 PM
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Dear Mike and Council,
I do not wish you to increase the property taxes on the proposed mill levy.
I speak to you as a graduate student and a caretaker of an elderly relative on a fixed income. My
family has lived in Montana for 5 generations now, and I am the 3rd generation to attend Montana
State University for engineering. This tax increase may be the ‘straw’ that breaks the camel’s back
for my family as this tax has negative effects on the local manufacturing industry which creates a
major disincentive for startups to choose to produce goods here as the cost of property will increase
with this proposed tax. This tax will likely drive my colleagues and me from this exceptional
university and city to take our talent elsewhere after graduation to seek better areas to start and
grow businesses.
The current financial situation of myself and many others in my community are under intense
pressure as the cost of basic goods and services like getting someone to fix the one wooden stair
into my room has risen dramatically and continues to climb at an unsustainable rate.
While the growth of Bozeman is invigorating for some as they see the value of their property
increase, for others it becomes a burden as the gain in value is not realized, while the rise of taxes
cascades into the rise in the cost of all goods and services locally, while the value does not increase.
The gain in the value of property may cause the council to believe we have gained in wealth, but we
have not. After selling to realize the gains, a replacement could not be obtained locally and would
completely change the direction of our family to move to another area of the world after building
our lives here in this great state.
Not only do we have to worry about the increase in the cost of property taxes, but we have also
been subject to several 'special tax assessments' over the past few years. These unexpected and
unwarranted taxes result in a net negative and only increase the financial stress on the fixed income.
The revenue has already increased substantially as the assessed value of properties has increased
and an increase in the rate of tax is completely unwarranted. According to tax-rates.org, Gallatin
County already has one of the highest median property taxes in the country.
I only found out about this through a post on an app called nextdoor by a concerned resident. I
consider myself a well-connected individual and it seems like the council is trying to hide this
announcement from public comment through antiquated systems to not cause a rise until after the
proposal is approved. An increase in transparency through the appropriate channels of
announcement such as reaching out to news outlets, advertising in public places (ex. KGLT) and
publications, and an increased digital footprint are necessary for such a dramatic and widespread
impact of a property tax increase.
If your goal is to crush the families who have lived here for generations through undue financial
hardship and create pressure to remove them from this valley, you will do well to increase the
property tax.
Finally, I motion to completely abandon this proposal for any further tax increases on the property
values. Please lower the rate of property tax or at the very least keep it the same.
I do hope you understand the harm and pain this causes your residents.
Respectfully,
Jonmichael