A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

19 October 2015

County Commissioners give Flathead voters the one-finger salute

If at first you can’t persuade the voters to approve a special tax district to fund your 911 center, don’t ask for their consent again. Instead, avoid another election. Just establish the tax district by fiat.

That’s the current operating principle for the Flathead County Commission, which wants to inflict a per person 911 tax — a capitation tax, one of the most hated taxes in history — on homeowners. Reports the Daily InterLake:

In an unanimous vote Thursday, the commissioners agreed to hold an Oct. 28 public hearing on the proposed district, which would impose a maximum annual assessment of $25 per residential unit or $1,000 per commercial unit according to a sliding fee scale based on business type.

The vote comes after city councils for Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell voted in favor of creating the special tax district.

A countywide ballot measure to create the special tax district failed last year by 10 votes.

The commissioners are in a hurry, and loath to risk another rejection from the voters. So this time they’re not asking permission. They’re saying, get out of the way; stop us if you can.

The commissioners will vote on the district right after the hearing.

If the commissioners approve the measure, it will enter a 60-day protest period on Oct. 30.

During that time, property owners can stop the creation of the district if they collectively protest between $190,000 and $950,000 in taxes. At that point, the issue would be sent to the voters in a special or general election. If more than $950,000 is protested, then the tax district can’t be brought before the commissioners for a year.

According to the InterLake, Sheriff Chuck Curry thinks the capitation tax is fair and square:

“I’ve not heard from anyone who sees this as not equitable or as a bad idea,” Curry said. Curry is the chairman of the Flathead County 911 Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board.

Well, sheriff, let me enlighten you. It’s a deeply regressive tax. Widow McGuire, who struggles on small Social Security payments and lives in a modest (and drafty) home will pay $25. So will Millionaire Mike, who has a 10-figure income and lives in a 25,000 square-foot trophy home on a hilltop. Is that equitable? Not hardly.

The 911 center was supposed to consolidate functions and produce administrative efficiencies. Instead, it’s become a black hole for money. I now have doubts that the people who proposed it were being honest with the public. And I have doubts that we’re being told the whole truth now. Perhaps the additional money is needed. But perhaps it’s only needed for empire building and gold plating. Once I gave the 911 operators the benefit of the doubt. Now I doubt their trustworthiness. They should stop asking for more money and start tightening their belts.

And our county commissioners should stop flipping the bird at the voters.