Montana

Proposed property tax initiative in hands of Montana Supreme Court

Published

1 year ago

July 26, 2023

Proposed property tax initiative in hands of Montana Supreme Court

HELENA — In 2022, a proposed ballot measure that would have capped Montana property taxes fell short of the more than 60,000 signatures it needed to go before voters. Now, with many more Montanans raising concerns about the impact of rising property values, advocates are attempting to place a similar measure on the 2024 ballot – but it will have to clear some legal hurdles if it’s going to qualify.

“The future of Montana belongs to those who can afford to live here – and without a change in our property tax system, that future won’t include many of us,” said Matthew Monforton, a Bozeman attorney and one of the main sponsors of last year’s Constitutional Initiative 121.

CI-121 would have based residential property’s assessed value on what it was in 2019, then limited any increases in value to no more than 2% per year. Property could only be reassessed to its new market value after it was sold or substantially improved. CI-121 would also have limited total residential property taxes to 1% of the assessed value.

Matthew Monforton, a Bozeman attorney and one of the main sponsors of CI-121, is now backing a proposed measure that’s currently designated as Ballot Issue 2. It would make broadly the same changes as CI-121, but its cap would apply to all real property – not just residential properties. He said they made the change in response to concerns that the previous proposal would have shifted the tax burden from homeowners to other property owners.

“The rallying cry that we heard last year was, ‘Oh, there’s no need for a ballot initiative. Let the Legislature do its job. Let the legislature fix the problem with property taxes,’” Monforton said. “The problem, as we saw in this latest session, just like the session before that, is that the Legislature refuses to enact any kind of meaningful reform of property taxes because they like the system as it is.”

However, last month, Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office ruled Ballot Issue 2 was “legally insufficient” and could not go forward for signature gathering. They argued it violated a rule that a single constitutional amendment can’t make more than one substantive change, and that it was “ambiguous in its terms, and its application, thereby making it impossible for voters to understand the Measure, and what they are voting for or against.”

The attorney general’s office said the limit on property valuations and the overall cap on property taxes are related, but that their vastly different fiscal impacts point to them not being closely related enough to count as a single subject. In a legal brief to the Montana Supreme Court, they argued the proposal should instead be submitted as multiple separate initiatives.

“For example, a citizen could reasonably decide to limit the State’s ability to increase property values by more than 2% per appraisal cycle, but not support a 1% tax cap that results in a revenue loss to their local school district, county, and rural fire district,” they said. “Those present distinct political decisions for citizens.”

Knudsen’s office also said the language of the measure needed clearer definitions for terms like “real property” and “significantly improved,” and that it wasn’t clear whether “special assessments” would count against the tax cap.

Monforton challenged the attorney general’s decision to the Supreme Court. He noted that CI-121 was very similar and cleared the review for legal sufficiency. He accused the attorney general of overstepping his authority and questioned the Department of Justice’s response to his petition, in which they said Ballot Issue 2 also “implicitly amends” four other constitutional provisions – though they said that wasn’t the only reason it violated the separate-vote rule.

Monforton also objected to the state’s proposed statement on Ballot Issue 2’s fiscal impact, prepared in accordance with Montana law. That fiscal analysis said that, without further changes to the tax system, the measure could reduce the amount of property taxes the state can collect by up to $459 million in the first year – and reduce revenues to counties, cities, school districts and other local authorities by well over $1 billion.

Monforton argued that the law allowing the state to put a fiscal statement on petitions for a ballot measure isn’t constitutional, and that if they did have the authority to add it, it should only cover impacts on the state, not local governments.

Knudsen’s office said not including the fiscal statement – for both the state and local level – would be denying voters the information they need to make a fully-informed decision.

A number of organizations filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court, raising concerns about Ballot Issue 2 and supporting either the attorney general’s decision to find it insufficient or to provide the fiscal statement. They included the Montana League of Cities and Towns, the Montana Association of Counties, the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the Montana Bankers Association, the Montana Association of Realtors, the Montana Building Industry Association and the Montana Chamber of Commerce. Many of those organizations were also involved with the campaign against CI-121 last year.

“Petitioner’s proposed ballot issue threatens the very fabric of local government,” said an amicus brief from the League, MACO and the Montana Quality Education Coalition. “It does so without giving voters the information needed to understand the broad effects of the ballot issue, by violating constitutional requirements, and rendering a vote on the ballot issue as destructive as it would be pointless.”

Monforton said the opposition comes from “special interests” that benefit from the current system.

“They’re trying to use the courts to stall our signature-gathering process as much as possible to keep this petition out of the hands of Montana voters and Montana homeowners – because they know that if Montana voters get a chance to sign this, they will sign it and they will vote for it,” he said.

He argued opponents have overstated the impact the measure would have on governments.

“The kind of initiative that we’re trying to bring forth, the kind of property tax reform that we’re trying to bring forth, has been done in state after state after state – and in every one of those states, the same kind of groups said that the sky would fall, there would be a financial collapse of local governments,” he said. “That never happens, because local governments learn to manage when there is true property tax reform.”

Monforton says he expects it will be at least several weeks before the Supreme Court rules in this case.

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Montana

Iconic Hollywood actress reveals she now lives in ‘modest’ Montana home

Published

32 minutes ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

Iconic Hollywood actress reveals she now lives in ‘modest’ Montana home

Award-winning actress Glenn Close has traded the glitz and glam of New York City for a ‘modest’ Montana home.

The ‘Back in Action’ star, 77, shared she moved out West in 2019 to be closer to her family.

‘Today, my home is in Bozeman, Montana. All of my siblings live here. My modest, 1892 brick house has a porch where I can see the mountains and say hi to neighbors,’ Close told The Wall Street Journal.

Her three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,316 square-foot home is just steps from downtown.

The humble abode features several brick walls, an open floor plan, a sunny backyard, a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an island.

Close revealed she is expanding her Bozeman real estate portfolio with a new property.

‘I’m building a larger house about a half-hour outside of town. It’s going to be my Zen farmhouse and our family sanctuary,’ she said.

‘In the back will be a stone cottage, reminding me of the best years of my childhood.’

Glenn Close’s Montana three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,316-square-foot home is just steps away from downtown Bozeman

The humble abode features several brick walls, an open floor plan, a sunny backyard, a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an island

Award-winning actress Glenn Close has traded the glitz and glam of New York City for a ‘modest’ Montana home

Close left the Big Apple for Big Sky Country a full year before the coronavirus pandemic prompted thousands of Americans to reevaluate their living situations.

‘I shot a film in Canada during the winter. It was fun and lovely, but I was homesick, and I never used to get homesick,’ she told Mountain Outlaw in 2021.

‘Not only is Bozeman my home, but I couldn’t wait to get back here. When I left to go to that job, Jessie and Tina [her sisters] were there to see me off at the airport. It was so great. I’ve come to realize how much I dread going away.’

The Hollywood legend wanted to reconnect with her roots and get in touch with nature.

‘When I was little, I got solace in nature, and that has never changed,’ Close said. ‘I always tried to create that same potential for my family, especially now to come back here and be with my siblings and have a piece of land outside of town that will always be here for my daughter and her children.

‘That’s my legacy. I just feel incredibly lucky. I do think these will be the best years of my life.’

Close stars in the newly released Netflix film ‘Back in Action,’ alongside Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.

The actress is set to star in Kim Kardashian and Ryan Murphy’s upcoming Hulu series All’s Fair.

Close left the Big Apple for Big Sky Country a full year before the coronavirus pandemic

She is part of a star-studded cast that includes Kim, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash, Teyana Taylor and Sarah Paulson,

The show will follow Kim, playing a powerful Los Angeles-based attorney who runs a successful women-led law firm.

Last week, Close got candid about her love life and explained why she has refused to pursue a relationship in nearly a decade during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.

When Drew asked the actress if she had entertained another relationship since her September 2015 split from the biotech engineer, Glenn bluntly replied ‘no.’

‘I don’t know. I mean, I’m always up for anything, but I’m very happy right now,’ the three-time Golden Globe Award winner added.

‘I’m not searching. Because I’m actually — I’m not a hugely comfortably social person, so I don’t leap to go to a party at all. So yeah, I’m okay.’

Close said she is embracing a life focused on personal fulfillment and professional success.

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Montana

'Back in Action' star Glenn Close enjoying 'modest' life in Montana, hasn't looked back

Published

8 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

'Back in Action' star Glenn Close enjoying 'modest' life in Montana, hasn't looked back

“Back in Action” star Glenn Close is enjoying life in Bozeman, Montana.

During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Close explained that since moving to Montana in 2019, she has adapted to the lifestyle.

“Today, my home is in Bozeman, Mont. All of my siblings live here. My modest, 1892 brick house has a porch where I can see the mountains and say hi to neighbors,” she told the outlet.

GLENN CLOSE CONFESSES BIGGEST REGRET ABOUT ON-SCREEN KISS WITH ROBERT REDFORD

Glenn Close left New York City for Montana in 2019. (Getty Images)

After several years in Big Sky Country, Close is looking to expand her property portfolio.

“I’m building a larger house about a half-hour outside of town,” she said.

“Today, my home is in Bozeman, Mont. All of my siblings live here. My modest, 1892 brick house has a porch where I can see the mountains and say hi to neighbors.”
— Glenn Close

“It’s going to be my Zen farmhouse and our family sanctuary. In back will be a stone cottage, reminding me of the best years of my childhood.”

In 2021, Close spoke to Mountain Outlaw about leaving New York City for Montana a year before the world paused because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I shot a film in Canada during the winter. It was fun and lovely, but I was homesick, and I never used to get homesick.

Glenn Close is in the process of building her family’s “sanctuary” in Montana. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

CULT SURVIVORS COME TOGETHER TO REVEAL STORIES OF RESILIENCE: ‘PEOPLE CAN THRIVE AFTER THIS’

“Not only is Bozeman my home, but I couldn’t wait to get back here. When I left to go to that job, Jessie and Tina were there to see me off at the airport. It was so great. I’ve come to realize how much I dread going away,” Close told the outlet at the time.

Close’s sister, Jessie, lives in the home next-door, and her sister, Tina, lives in a property nearby. Close’s two brothers, Alexander and Tambu Misoki, also live in Montana.

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“When I was little, I got solace in nature, and that has never changed,” Close said. “I always tried to create that same potential for my family, especially now to come back here and be with my siblings and have a piece of land outside of town that will always be here for my daughter and her children.”

“That’s my legacy,” she added.

At the time, Close explained that her years living in Montana have been the “best” years of her life.

“You can wake up at four in the morning and think you’ve made every wrong decision in your life, and then you stay awake until dawn, which is an incredibly deadly place to be,” the award-winning actress said. “I just feel incredibly lucky. I do think these will be the best years of my life.”

Close calls the last six years living in Montana the “best” years of her life. (Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

Close’s life has not always been so peaceful. The “Hillbilly Elegy” star was infamously known to be a member of the Moral Re-Armament cult.

GLENN CLOSE SAYS CULT UPBRINGING LEFT HER PSYCHOLOGICALLY TRAUMATIZED

During Close’s interview with WSJ, she explained that her “world changed” when she was seven, and her family joined the cult. It wasn’t until 1970, when Close was 22, that she broke away from the cult.

Moral Re-Armament, also known as MRA, was a religious movement that began in the 1920s when a man named Frank Buchman began evangelizing and became successful with it. Some of the beliefs he touted were the importance of surrendering oneself to a higher power and the practice of solitary silence. Over the years, he attracted thousands of followers from a number of countries.

Glenn Close was a member of the Moral Re-Armament cult from seven to 22. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, Pool)

When World War II loomed over the planet, Buchman made the decision to name the group Moral Re-Armament, explaining that he planned to use spirituality to unite the world and bring peace. The group’s critics scoffed at his simplistic vision, but others became enamored with it. One of those people was Glenn Close’s father.

After he joined the group, he left to work in Africa, while Close and her siblings were placed in Switzerland at the MRA headquarters. In a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress detailed the strict rules and manipulation that took place behind the scenes.

“You basically weren’t allowed to do anything, or you were made to feel guilty about any unnatural desire,” she explained. “If you talk to anybody who was in a group that basically dictates how you’re supposed to live and what you’re supposed to say and how you’re supposed to feel, from the time you’re seven till the time you’re 22, it has a profound impact on you. It’s something you have to [consciously overcome] because all of your trigger points are.”

Frank Buckman discusses Moral Re-Armament with legendary actress Mae West in 1939. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone)

In a 2021 interview with Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey, she elaborated, saying, “It was really awful. We were so broken up. It’s astounding that something you went through at such an early stage in your life still has such a potential to be destructive. I think that’s childhood trauma.

“Everybody spouted the same things, and there was a lot of rules — a lot of control. Because of how we were raised, anything that you thought you would do for yourself was considered selfish,” she explained.

In 1970, when Close was 22, she left the group but still struggled.

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“I would have dreams, because I didn’t go to any psychiatrist or anything,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “I had these dreams, and they started with betrayal, a sense of betrayal, and then they developed into me being able to look at these people and say, ‘You’re wrong. You’re wrong.’ And then the final incarnation of those dreams was my being able to calmly get up and walk away. And then I didn’t have them anymore.”

Close continues to act. Her latest project, “Back in Action,” includes Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz and Kyle Chandler. The Netflix film debuts on the platform on Jan. 17.

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Fox News Digital’s Emily Trainham contributed to this report.

Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to janelle.ash@fox.com.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Lucky For Life, Big Sky Bonus results for Jan. 19, 2025

Published

16 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 19, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

08-24-35-43-46, Lucky Ball: 04

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

06-07-10-12, Bonus: 08

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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