Montana’s Governor Schweitzer warns of massive property tax shift

Montana homeowners and small businesses will see sharp increases in their property taxes if 130 large corporations succeed in altering the way their own property is assessed, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Tuesday.

Speaking during the Billings Chamber of Commerce Newsmaker Forum and in a meeting with The Billings Gazette editorial board, Schweitzer said corporations whose Montana property is centrally assessed are lining up to float a proposal that would cut their own taxes by about $100 million per year.

If the 2013 Legislature approves such a proposal, the tax burden would be shifted to 350,000 Montana homeowners and 45,000 businesses that aren’t centrally assessed, Schweitzer said.

By TOM HOWARD [email protected]

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