Dear Editor,
Thank you to Jonathan McNiven and reporters Evelyn Pyburn and Michael Marino for their coverage of local government including the city, county, school boards and water districts. Thank you for continuing to educate the public (and the boards) about the value of open public meetings. Jonathan’s meanderings make it clear that CWDBH is not the only board struggling with the concept and the law. Failing to follow open meeting laws makes it appear that there is something to hide.
Thank you to Michael Marino for detailed reporting on the City of Billings proposed change for storm water billing. Currently the charges are a “special assessment” on the annual property tax bill and are included in the Total Taxes due for the current year.
Public Works proposed a $178 million cost to upgrade the city’s storm water system. The city manager noted that Public Works plans to migrate from charging the storm fee as an assessment on property taxes to instead charge the fee on the utility bill effective July 1, 2024. At the January 2 work session, a non-binding public vote was supported by all council members except Roy Neese with three council members absent.
The shift to the utility bill will make it appear that “property taxes” have decreased for the city of Billings when not one dollar of spending has been reduced and large increases are proposed. The 2024 City of Billings budget states the median taxable value for Billings homes is $231,500; the median property tax is $692. The average value of city council members’ homes is $445,010; taxes average $4432. If the council approves the revised billing for storm water, all homes will pay the same monthly fee regardless of taxable value.
A Heights resident wrote to city council citing his increase in city property taxes from 2022. He posed the following question: Is anyone concerned for us taxpayers who are on fixed incomes, average or below average wages and are struggling to keep everything together?
The county and the school district have both indicated that they want to ask for bond levies. The city is the only taxing entity that has the authority to raise “fees” (ie taxes) without a public vote.
The council lacks sensitivity to taxpayers “who are struggling to keep everything together.” The council made it clear to the public that the priority for the council is parks and trails when requesting $145 million for new development. The council did not communicate that they would need to ask for increased spending for parks operation and maintenance and storm water management. The council needs to distinguish between wants and needs and live within the current income.
Pam Ellis
Billings
