Eric Dietrich

The Montana Department of Revenue expects the market value of the average Montana residential property to be reappraised at 21% higher when it completes next year’s reappraisal cycle

Including A 20 Percent Increase For Residential Properties In Valley County

The auditors say the department's approach to tracking new development and property-value-boosting renovations, which relies primarily on reviewing building permits, is failing to ensure that construction activity is quickly and accurately reflected in the tax rolls. That means lower tax bills for people who own newly built or renovated properties, but less money collected for public services and higher bills for other taxpayers.

Legislative auditors say the Montana Department of Revenue is struggling to keep tabs on new development, meaning existing taxpayers pay more than they should.

ZeroDown compiled current and historical data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Montana Department of Revenue, responsible for maintaining the property listings used to calculate property tax bills, is losing track of hundreds

A legislative audit found the state revenue department is failing to add an estimated $300 million of new construction annually to tax rolls.

Properties classified ‘agricultural' get a tax break despite bona fide operations. Can lawmakers new proposals tighten qualifications?

Properties classified as agricultural get a tax break worth hundreds or thousands of dollars annually. Lawmakers could tighten qualification requirements this year.

More than half of the properties were located in Gallatin, Flathead, Park and Ravalli counties, all parts of western Montana that have become epicenters of the state’s real estate boom.