Montana hearing draws widespread opposition to bill that would automatically sunset voted mill levies

Senator Greg Hertz, sponsor of Senate Bill 204, told the Senate Local Government Committee the bill came from the Property Tax Task Force and would “give voters the opportunity to reconsider mill levies that they voted on previously.” He said the measure staggers sunsets so levies approved more than five years ago would be placed on a review path over several election cycles rather than all at once.

The proposal drew broad opposition in a four‑hour hearing. Fire chiefs, county and city managers, school officials and other local leaders warned automatic sunsets and frequent reauthorizations would create recurring funding uncertainty, complicate long‑term capital planning and jeopardize frontline services.

Proponents of the current system said voters already have mechanisms to rescind a levy and that many levies were passed as permanent commitments that communities relied on for decades. Opponents described specific local impacts — from planned fire‑station builds to teacher pay…