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Cascade County approves tax benefits for Janicki Industries after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple proponents and no opponents, the Cascade County Commission approved two resolutions granting tax benefits to Janicki Industries — a general tax benefit and an 80% abatement on Class 8 property for property placed in service Jan. 1, 2027–Dec. 31, 2031 — both by 3-0 votes.
Chairman James Larson called the Cascade County Commission meeting to order on May 12 and opened a public hearing on Resolution 26-19, a request to approve a tax benefit for Janicki Industries at the Great Falls AgriTech Park. Trista Besich, Cascade County finance/accounting, presented the background for the hearing and read submitted written testimony on behalf of the Association of Realtors.
The applicant, Nicholas Lavacca, spoke in support of the request. The commission called for public comment; a sequence of residents and local stakeholders spoke as proponents of the abatement request, and Chairman Larson called for opponents three times with no response. After closing the hearing, Commissioner Eric Hinebauch moved to approve Resolution 26-19; the motion passed 3-0.
The commission then opened a related public hearing on Resolution 26-20 concerning a proposed abatement for Janicki Industries’ manufacturing machinery, fixtures and equipment (Class 8 property). Trista Besich again presented the background; Lavacca and additional proponents spoke in favor. With no opponents appearing, Commissioner Hinebauch moved to approve Resolution 26-20, which the commission allowed at 80% for property placed in service Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2031 (application submitted April 23, 2026). The motion carried 3-0.
The public hearing record indicates multiple proponents spoke in favor of the abatements but the written minutes do not provide the content of each public comment; the minutes instead list speakers who addressed the commission. Chairman Larson, Commissioner Eric Hinebauch and Commissioner Joe Briggs each spoke during the discussion prior to the votes. No formal testimony in opposition was recorded.
The commission’s approvals finalize local tax incentive actions for Janicki Industries under Montana Code Annotated Title 15, Chapter 24, Part 14. The approved resolutions direct county staff to process the abatements as specified in the motions. The meeting recessed for the remainder of the agenda, and no further action on the abatements was reported at this session.
