http://www.newwest.net/topic/main/C466/L/ New West Network: The Voice of the Rocky Mountains en info@newwest.net Copyright 2009 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:10 MST Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:10 MST http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/property_value_appeals_run_smoothly_but_ire_continues/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/property_value_appeals_run_smoothly_but_ire_continues/C466/C466/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:32:11 MST In late summer and early fall, many Montanans were unpleasantly surprised to receive notices telling them their property values had skyrocketed. The reappraisals, due every six years from the state Department of Revenue, meant their property taxes would take a big leap forward, too. In areas like Gallatin and Flathead counties, where the 2002-2008 period saw a dramatic real estate boom—followed by a bust—some property values increased 300 percent or more. But there was hope for people feeling the pain. First, property owners could seek relief by appealing their appraisals, either by asking for informal reviews from the Department of Revenue (DOR) or by appealing directly to their County Tax Appeal Board. Second, local governments could decrease their mill levies, the formulas that actually determine how much property tax residents pay. Here’s a look at what’s happened on those and other fronts, according to the DOR. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/upside_of_real_estate_bust_buying_ops_for_flathead_land_trust/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/upside_of_real_estate_bust_buying_ops_for_flathead_land_trust/C466/C466/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:32:17 MST The abrupt drop-off in land development throughout the Flathead Valley over the last year has caused its fair share of negative consequences, but it has resulted in some benefits as well – particularly for those focused on conservation. With little or no pressure from developers to buy up the agricultural lands along the Flathead River corridor, the Flathead Land Trust has found its mission to preserve those private parcels, mainly through voluntary conservation easements, made much easier of late. “Because land values are low, developers aren’t really interested right now,” Brad Seaman, outreach and development director for the Flathead Land Trust, said. “We’re the only ones out there talking money.” The Land Trust has secured 38 conservation easements since 1985, but over the last year, interest by landowners in this option has grown rapidly. So far this year, the Land Trust has secured easements on four parcels along the Flathead River as part of its River to Lake Initiative, protecting some 840 acres through federal and state partnerships, totaling about $2 million. According to Seaman and Executive Director Marilyn Wood, these transactions will expand recreational access, preserve open space and maintain wildlife habitat and water quality. Agricultural land secured as easements will also help keep some level of food production local. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/after_grace_asbestos_treatment_screening_in_libby_goes_on/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/after_grace_asbestos_treatment_screening_in_libby_goes_on/C466/C466/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:44:36 MST New studies and health initiatives are unfolding in Libby this fall, all of them tied to the former vermiculite mine operated by W.R. Grace & Co., which left the town contaminated with a uniquely dangerous form of asbestos. Back in June, federal officials announced a public health emergency Libby, Montana, helping pave the way for the town to get a $6 million health care grant to deal with the extraordinary number of people in the area who suffer from asbestos-related diseases. Today is the grant’s kickoff date, which means the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will now start spending the money to identify and treat people who have asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs), mesothelioma (a rare and agressive cancer), or other medical problems due to asbestos exposures. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/property_tax_go_round_schweitzer_nixes_request_for_special_session/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/property_tax_go_round_schweitzer_nixes_request_for_special_session/C466/C466/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:21:35 MST A request by the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors calling for a special session of the state Legislature to address “current inadequacies” in the property tax reappraisal carried out in the 2009 regular session was immediately swatted down by Gov. Brian Schweitzer last week. The letter, written by NMAR President Barb Funk, states that 11 counties, including Flathead and Lake, will be “disproportionally affected by higher than expected residential property values,” and asks Schweitzer to convene a special session to immediately adopt a “stop gap” measure to solve current reappraisal problems, and establish an interim committee to deal with long-term property tax issues and draw up a bill for the 2011 session. In an interview with the Beacon, Schweitzer criticized NMAR’s letter for using inaccurate figures and questioned why the reappraisal legislation, HB 658, received the broad support of Realtors during the session and afterward, citing a story that appeared Sept. 29 in NewWest.Net where a lobbyist for the Montana Association of Realtors called it, “a pretty darn good bill.” The governor also took aim squarely at Republicans, who led the Senate Taxation Committee in crafting the final iteration of the reappraisal bill, saying he would not spend taxpayer dollars at a rate of $80,000 per day, the rough cost of a special session, to bring lawmakers back to Helena when there wasn’t a plan in place beforehand to fix any shortcomings in the current bill. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/new_us_parks_chief_puts_gloves_on_might_need_them/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/new_us_parks_chief_puts_gloves_on_might_need_them/C466/C466/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:50:05 MST A massive job awaits Jonathan Jarvis, the man who became chief of national parks this month, according to a fine feature story by Todd Wilkinson (which was published today in the Flathead Beacon). The new park service director, a 32-year veteran of the National Park Service, kicked off his new job by visiting the home of conservationist John Muir and taking his family to Yosemite National Park, Wilkinson writes. If Jarvis got some extra energy from the trips, that’s good, the story notes. Because he’ll need it. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/wr_grace_co_gets_philanthropy_award/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/wr_grace_co_gets_philanthropy_award/C466/C466/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:51:03 MST W.R. Grace & Co. won a 2009 “Philanthropist of the Year” award today in a ceremony that managed not to mention the words “asbestosis,” “mesothelioma” or “Libby, Montana.” The Baltimore Business Journal reported that the Columbia, Maryland-based Grace snagged the award because it donated at least $1 million last year, “of which about 40 percent went to Maryland nonprofits.” The asbestos and chemical company giant also “encouraged employees to donate more than 1,250 hours of their time,” the story said. The annual award is given by the Maryland chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/killer_roads_reducing_death_rates_on_highways_a_challenge_in_montana/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/killer_roads_reducing_death_rates_on_highways_a_challenge_in_montana/C466/C466/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:23:00 MST A highway dedication last week near Glacier Park International Airport called to memory a tragic anomaly in which three Montana Highway Patrol troopers died on Flathead County roads in an 18-month span. Before that span, between October of 2007 and March of 2009, only four troopers in state history had died in the line of duty. Two stretches of U.S. Highway 2 were dedicated to David Graham and Evan Schneider, and one stretch of U.S. Highway 93 near Somers was dedicated to Mike Haynes. But the ceremony also served as a reminder of something that’s much more of a reality than an anomaly: Rural roads still account for the majority of highway fatalities in the United States, despite the fact that more traffic and more crashes are found on urban roadways. A report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that, while overall highway fatalities continued to decline in 2008, more than half of highway deaths occur on rural roads even as states seek to remedy this trend. In 2008, according to the report, 56 percent of fatalities were on rural roads. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/contentious_lakeside_subdivision_put_on_hold/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/contentious_lakeside_subdivision_put_on_hold/C466/C466/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:44:24 MST Flathead County Commissioners voted last week to ratify the withdrawal of controversial phases of a proposed Lakeside subdivision, effectively negating a lawsuit seeking to stop the final phases of the development. Eagle’s Crest, a subdivision with nine development phases located west of U.S. Highway 93, would have added over 1,000 residences to Lakeside. It sits on 1,353 acres, or roughly two square miles, and would have included a golf course and an airstrip as amenities for its residents. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/barkus_in_a_world_of_trouble_says_boating_expert/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/barkus_in_a_world_of_trouble_says_boating_expert/C466/C466/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:24:26 MST Here’s the BADD news for state Sen. Greg Barkus, according to the founder and president of Boaters Against Drunk Driving. “He’s in a world of crap,” said Jim Carlin, speaking from Michigan, where the group is based. “This guy was probably blitzed” when the accident happened, Carlin said, referring to the news that Barkus’ BAC (blood alcohol concentration) was .16 two hours after the crash—or twice the legal level, according to authorities. “If he had a level of .16 a couple of hours after the accident, you can figure he was probably a .20 or .21 earlier on,” Carlin said. With that much alcohol in your system, “your reflexes are going to be so screwed up,” he added. “The man’s lucky to be alive.” http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/protest_your_property_assessment_asap_or_be_stuck_with_stewing/C466/C466/ http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/protest_your_property_assessment_asap_or_be_stuck_with_stewing/C466/C466/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:17:05 MST Wake up and smell the taxes, Montanans: If you disagree with your 2009 property assessment, there might only be a few days left to file an appeal and potentially save yourself money in property taxes from now until 2014. Property owners must file a challenge in writing within 30 days of getting their assessment notice. To start the process and find out more, follow these steps.