Category Archives: Other Journals

Montana Taxes

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Becky and I have been looking at Property Taxes in Montana to better understand the variation in the system there.

Like Texas, they have fluctuating tax amounts based on real market value. Properties are appraised every two years. Property Taxes unlike in Oregon which pre-pays them, are paid in arrears in Montana.

https://mtrevenue.gov/property/

https://mtrevenue.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017-Personal-Property-Assessment-Factsheet.pdf

I first traveled through Montana in 2005. I liked it then and liked it now.
"Homesteading" is interesting, but not really our thing at this point in our lives. The tax law doesn't really help prospectors to "grab" land and then hold them.

Some interesting concepts which are unique to Montana are explained here:
https://discoveringmontana.com/montana/homestead/

In addition to property taxes Montana has Mills. https://madisoncountymt.gov/208/Millage-Rate-Explained

Role and options of delinquent taxes seems to not be straight forward.
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-happens-if-i-dont-pay-property-taxes-montana.html
https://flathead.mt.gov/property_tax/delinquent_tax_list.php

Climbing in and around Kalispell

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Trying to find some good climbing around Kalispell. https://www.mountainproject.com/area/119204876/stryker-crags

https://www.mountainproject.com/map/119204876/stryker-crags

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalispell,+MT/48.6582607,-114.7629217/@48.4309247,-114.8252882,87238m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m5!1m1!1s0x536650959ceac247:0xaf1fbdda1d5abb62!2m2!1d-114.316813!2d48.1919889!1m0!3e0?hl=en

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106075527/kila-crags

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalispell,+MT/48.0938412,-114.5028261/@48.1470508,-114.4796715,21931m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m5!1m1!1s0x536650959ceac247:0xaf1fbdda1d5abb62!2m2!1d-114.316813!2d48.1919889!1m0!3e0?hl=en

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105942120/stone-hill

Companies in the scene:
https://www.rockclimbmontana.com
https://www.logan.org/fitness/courts-recreation/climbing-wall
https://golocalflathead.com/2018/05/31/rockfish-climbing-fitness-gym/

Indoor gyms in Montana: https://www.indoorclimbing.com/montana.html http://www.xtraactionsports.com/rock-climbing-walls/montana-rock-climbing-walls.htm https://www.umt.edu/crec/Outdoor/wall.php

the UMT wall is between 30' and 50' high and about 38' wide with about 7000 sq ft of climbing surface.

Capital Hill PUD Thoughts

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I can see Capitol Hill from my house. As a matter of personal preference I would not like my view of Capitol Hill to change.

However,

What if:
* The Capital hill PUD was capped at 14 new houses? What if the tree cut count was amended and lowered?
* One of those properties was used to buy out a Fairmont neighbor?
* Assume that the bought out Fairmont neighbor’s property was contiguous to the university?
* Then the University and Fairmont both donated 50% of the land needed to build a parking garage.
* A trust was set up to be jointly owned by the University and Fairmont Neighbors Association, and the trust owned the parking garage.
* Parking would be free for students, and would charge for events. Feeded parking would be used to offset maintenance cost of the garage.
* Other parking on the streets of Fairmont would be reduced to residents and their guests.
* Ask the architecture school at the U of O to submit designs - pro bono. As for designs that would integrate form and function and be within the character of the fairmont neighborhood estetic.
* Ask the Knight Foundation and the U of O alumni association to sponsor it.
* What size parking garage would be needed? 500 spaces? More?
* How many duplexes are in the planned PUD? How many ADUs?

I think our challenge as neighbors is not to simply oppose the Capital Hill PUD, but rather to come up with alternative economic options which preserve our ecological values and also help the current land owner realize the most from his economic investments. Rather than just “no” what alternatives have been proposed?