MontanaHB 3769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise property tax information required in preliminary budgets

Sponsored By: Greg Oblander (Republican)

Became Law

Local Finance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Clearer property tax estimates for homeowners

For each fund that uses a property tax, the preliminary budget shows the estimated amount raised. If the government plans to raise property taxes, it shows the increase on $100,000, $300,000, and $600,000 homes. It also shows last year’s taxes on $100,000 of home value and the estimated taxes for the current year, across all mills.

More detail in local budget plans

Preliminary budgets list all revenues and all spending for the prior, current, and proposed years. Spending is grouped into salaries and wages, operations and maintenance, capital outlay, debt service, and transfers out. They show beginning and ending balances for each fund, with estimated revenue, proposed spending, and cash reserves. They include a detailed list of planned capital purchases and major projects, plus data on current and future debt. They include personnel counts for the prior, current, and proposed years, with a supporting list of positions, salaries, and benefits kept on file.

Set deadlines for local budget prep

The county clerk and recorder notifies the county commission and all offices that must file budget proposals before June 1 each year. Component budgets are due to the clerk before June 10 or by a date the county commission sets, on clerk‑provided forms. The county clerk and recorder prepares and files the county’s preliminary operating budget. Specific officials have duties: the county surveyor or a special engineer computes road and bridge budgets; the county commission submits road and bridge and new general‑obligation construction budgets; and the county treasurer submits debt‑service budgets.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Greg Oblander
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Greg Hertz
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 271 • No: 25

House vote • 3/20/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 46 • No: 4

House vote • 3/19/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 46 • No: 4

House vote • 1/20/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 90 • No: 8

House vote • 1/17/2025