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Montana committee hears wide opposition to bill that would sunset voter-approved mill levies
Summary
Senate Bill 204 would impose 10-year sunsets on existing voter-approved mill levies, prompting heavy opposition from fire districts, cities, school groups and transit agencies that said it would destabilize funding for public safety, schools and infrastructure.
Senator Greg Hertz opened the hearing on Senate Bill 204, saying the measure — a recommendation from the property-tax task force — would give voters recurring opportunities to revisit previously approved mill levies by limiting their duration and staggering expirations. “This bill was a recommendation out of the property tax task force,” Hertz said in opening remarks.
Opponents filled the committee room and the online record, arguing the bill would introduce funding instability for essential services. Stuart Fuller, a 24-year fire-district trustee, said West Valley currently protects about 11,000 structures and 15,000 people and that call volume had risen from roughly 200 in 1996 to about 1,000 last year. “We cannot sustain this volunteer fire department…
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