by Evelyn Pyburn
BILLINGS – During their regular board meeting on Tuesday, Yellowstone County Commissioners voted unanimously to make clear that they stand opposed to the concept of local option taxes.
Commissioner John Ostlund made the motion saying that he thought with the beginning of the State Legislature this month, it was important for the Yellowstone County delegation to have input from local government, so he wanted to formally oppose the concept of local option taxes, which is an issue that has been before the state legislature for several legislatures past.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Don Jones, who said he is opposed to any tax increases.
Commissioner Denis Pitman said that he was reluctant to be opposed to something that hasn’t been introduced, since should a local option tax bring tax relief in some other way, it might be worth supporting.
Jones said he agreed with Pitman, but added that for the several times it has been introduced to the state legislature, he has never seen it presented in that manner. Should a proposal like that be brought forward, he said, the commissioners could reevaluate their position.
“I am willing to support that, unless something comes up that offer tax relief,” said Pitman.
Ostlund said that all of the local option tax proposals always bring added taxes “to do things they want.” And, even though they claim it is to tax tourists it still means higher taxes for local citizens, he pointed out.
