HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – The third bill in the Montana Legislature that would provide a local option sales tax was tabled in committee Thursday.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports, House Bill 740 would have allowed local governments to adopt a voter-approved, up-to-four-percent sales tax. No more than 40 percent of the tax revenue would go to property tax relief.
Representative Kim Abbott from Helena supported the bill but voted against the first two option taxes, one being a tax on luxury goods and the other would give the option to gateway communities. Both of those bills were also tabled in committee.
“I’m also really, really tired of saying no to local governments every week. They’re in here begging us for help. They’ve given us so many options to help them.”
Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus Spoke in support of the bill during its public hearing Thursday. She says more people are coming to Bozeman, so something needs to be done about rising property taxes and failing infrastructure.
“Growth does not and cannot pay for itself through property taxes. This is no longer debatable. I need another tool. I need something that works. If not this, what? If not now, when?”
The House Taxation Committee voted 12 to 6 to table the bill.
