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Bill would require advisory committees for tax-increment financing districts to include overlapping taxing jurisdictions
Summary
Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Trevis, would require local governments that adopt TIF financing to create advisory committees with representation from overlapping taxing jurisdictions (county, school district, etc.); cities, school and business groups supported the change as improved oversight and transparency.
Sen. Jeremy Trevis opened Senate Bill 3 and described tax increment financing (TIF) districts and the bill's goal to formalize advisory committees representing overlapping taxing jurisdictions. "A tax increment financing district is a geographic area where property tax revenue is used to fund community improvements," Trevis said; SB 3 would require the legislative body creating a TIF provision to appoint an advisory committee including representatives from each affected taxing jurisdiction.
Proponents included municipal and education groups. Danny Hess (City of Bozeman) and Danielle Bradley (City of Great Falls) said local governments value stakeholder input in TIF decisions. Doug Reisig (Montana Quality Education Coalition) and Sheridan Hoyer (Montana Chamber of Commerce) cited the need for school-district and county representation because TIF diverts future increment that otherwise would go to those jurisdictions. The Montana League of Cities and Towns and a developer group (HDAM) testified in support, framing the measure as a modest "light touch" to increase transparency and oversight.
The sponsor and proponents emphasized the change is about representation and not fundamentally restricting the use of TIF, and said advisory committees in some cities (e.g., Billings) already work well. No opponents were recorded in the transcript. The hearing closed with the sponsor asking for a due pass.
