Missoula County opposes SB 385, Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Local Government Committee.
SB 385 limits the ability of special districts to perform their functions in addition to placing a greater property tax burden on the property owners within a special district’s boundaries. Current statute provides the ability for 50% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution.
SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers. SB 385 proposes that the duration a special district and method of financing cannot exceed 10 years. Local governments lowest cost of financing is selling 20-year bonds on the primary market, with the financing period condensed to ten years it will more than double the tax impact on a special district property owner.
Three examples of special districts are cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 10 years? How much would a capital-intensive solid waste district have to pass on in assessments if the financing were limited to ten years?
Missoula County opposes SB 385, Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, up for second reading today.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts that will leave existing districts with debt unable to meet those obligations. In addition, SB 385 places a greater property tax burden on the property owners within a special district’s boundaries. Current statute provides the ability for 50% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution.
SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers. SB 385 proposes that the duration a special district and method of financing cannot exceed 10 years. Local governments lowest cost of financing is selling 20-year bonds on the primary market, with the financing period condensed to ten years it will more than double the tax impact on a special district property owner.
Three examples of special districts are cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 10 years? How much would a capital-intensive solid waste district have to pass on in assessments if the financing were limited to ten years?
Missoula County opposes SB 385: Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, up for hearing tomorrow morning in the House Taxation Committee.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts where they must dissolve after 13 years if they do not have any debt outstanding and then they may stay in existence until the debt has been paid off. Three examples of ongoing special districts that would be negatively affected by the 13-year limitation would be cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 13 years? SB 385 provides the ability for 40% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district referendum. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution. SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all would have to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers.
Representatives, Missoula County opposes SB 385: Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, scheduled for second reading today on the House floor.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts where they must dissolve after 13 years if they do not have any debt outstanding and then they may stay in existence until the debt has been paid off. Three examples of ongoing special districts that would be negatively affected by the 13-year limitation would be cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 13 years? SB 385 provides the ability for 40% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district referendum. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution. SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all would have to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers.
Missoula County continues to oppose SB 385: Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, scheduled for second reading this morning on the Senate floor.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts where they must dissolve after 13 years if they do not have any debt outstanding and then they may stay in existence until the debt has been paid off. Three examples of ongoing special districts that would be negatively affected by the 13-year limitation would be cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 13 years? SB 385 provides the ability for 40% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district referendum. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution. SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all would have to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers.
Sent March 24:
ReplyDeleteSenators Boldman and Morigeau,
Missoula County opposes SB 385, Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Local Government Committee.
SB 385 limits the ability of special districts to perform their functions in addition to placing a greater property tax burden on the property owners within a special district’s boundaries. Current statute provides the ability for 50% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution.
SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers. SB 385 proposes that the duration a special district and method of financing cannot exceed 10 years. Local governments lowest cost of financing is selling 20-year bonds on the primary market, with the financing period condensed to ten years it will more than double the tax impact on a special district property owner.
Three examples of special districts are cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 10 years? How much would a capital-intensive solid waste district have to pass on in assessments if the financing were limited to ten years?
Please oppose SB 385.
Sent April 6:
ReplyDeleteSenators,
Missoula County opposes SB 385, Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, up for second reading today.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts that will leave existing districts with debt unable to meet those obligations. In addition, SB 385 places a greater property tax burden on the property owners within a special district’s boundaries. Current statute provides the ability for 50% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution.
SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers. SB 385 proposes that the duration a special district and method of financing cannot exceed 10 years. Local governments lowest cost of financing is selling 20-year bonds on the primary market, with the financing period condensed to ten years it will more than double the tax impact on a special district property owner.
Three examples of special districts are cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 10 years? How much would a capital-intensive solid waste district have to pass on in assessments if the financing were limited to ten years?
Please oppose SB 385.
Sent April 12:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Marler and Thane,
Missoula County opposes SB 385: Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, up for hearing tomorrow morning in the House Taxation Committee.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts where they must dissolve after 13 years if they do not have any debt outstanding and then they may stay in existence until the debt has been paid off. Three examples of ongoing special districts that would be negatively affected by the 13-year limitation would be cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 13 years? SB 385 provides the ability for 40% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district referendum. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution. SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all would have to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers.
Please oppose SB 385.
Sent April 22:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives,
Missoula County opposes SB 385: Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, scheduled for second reading today on the House floor.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts where they must dissolve after 13 years if they do not have any debt outstanding and then they may stay in existence until the debt has been paid off. Three examples of ongoing special districts that would be negatively affected by the 13-year limitation would be cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 13 years? SB 385 provides the ability for 40% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district referendum. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution. SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all would have to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers.
Please oppose SB 385.
Sent April 27:
ReplyDeleteSenators,
Missoula County continues to oppose SB 385: Revise special district laws and provide time limit on property tax levies, scheduled for second reading this morning on the Senate floor.
While Missoula County appreciates the amendments on SB 385, it still imposes limits on special districts where they must dissolve after 13 years if they do not have any debt outstanding and then they may stay in existence until the debt has been paid off. Three examples of ongoing special districts that would be negatively affected by the 13-year limitation would be cemetery districts, solid waste districts and mosquito control districts. How can any one of these districts exist for only 13 years? SB 385 provides the ability for 40% of the property owners within a proposed special district’s boundaries to petition the governing body for creation of a special district referendum. The governing body can now create the special district by resolution. SB 385 eliminates that ability and requires the creation, extension, revision of boundaries, the type and maximum amount of assessments all would have to be put to a referendum which is time consuming and cumbersome when trying to address a specific concern for the property owners within the district and it also creates additional election costs borne by taxpayers.
Please oppose SB 385.