Supreme Court rules on ag land reappraisal lawsuit
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) and the Montana Taxpayers Association are extremely disappointed with a recent Montana Supreme Court decision. This case stems from changes the Department of Revenue made at the beginning of the last reappraisal cycle to the methodology for phasing in increases in agricultural values across the state. The Court acknowledged errors by the Department, but chose to require individual taxpayers to challenge those actions on their own, rather than as a group.
According to MFBF Executive Vice President John Youngberg, “The Court’s decision fails to hold the Department of Revenue accountable for its failure to adopt proper rules, and allows to stand the Department’s denial of the legislatively-mandated property tax mitigation to the vast majority of agricultural producers in Montana.”
Montana Taxpayer Association President Robert Story indicated, “This case serves to illustrate the challenges created by Montana’s past lengthy reappraisal cycles, and reinforces the value of the two year cycle Montax and MFBF supported through this most recent legislative session. We look forward to the new system which eliminates the ability of the Department to erroneously push values based on factors other than value.”
MFBF, Montax and their counsel are considering options for assisting the agricultural producers who still have open appeals pending with tax appeal boards in the state.
CLICK HERE to read the Montana Supreme Court's decision
Source: Montana Farm Bureau Federation
