Montana
There is an easy fix to Montana's residential property taxes – Daily Montanan
![There is an easy fix to Montana's residential property taxes – Daily Montanan There is an easy fix to Montana's residential property taxes – Daily Montanan](https://dailymontanan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5634567317_f1853c3a00_k.jpg)
The median property tax increase for Montana homeowners went up 21% this year.
According a recent study by the Montana Free Press, that means 50% of all Montana had between $98 and $660 increase on the property taxes for their home. For 25% of homeowners it will be more than $660. In Bozeman’s Gallatin County, most residential owners will pay between $579 and $1,266 per year more. In Missoula, one half of the homeowners will pay $532 or more.
Much of the increase will go to decrease the property tax of Montana’s largest corporations. According to MTFP, North Western Energy’s taxes will be $36 million less, Rail Link $2.5 million less, Charter Communications $1.8 million less.
Gov. Greg Gianforte’s first solution was to claim the $675 rebate the last legislature authorized should cover it. That, of course, was to reimburse taxpayers for previous years, not future taxes. Furthermore, that is for only two years. The increase they stuck us all with is every year into the future unless and until the Legislature acts.
Next, the governor promised to appoint a property tax task force in hopes “of wrangling rising costs on Montana homeowners.” For homeowners who are struggling to come up with $500 to $1000 extra to pay their homeowners tax bill every year, that is not much comfort. Persons with more expensive homes are definitely hit the hardest.
There is an easy fix. But the Legislature will have to meet to adopt it.
The Legislature needs to do what the Department of Revenue told them to do before the last session of the Legislature commenced. It is the same thing that legislators have always done in the past when there is a significant increase in the appraisals of residential properties: Adjust the property tax rate.
The residential property tax rate is 1.35%. By reducing it to 0.95% it would be exactly neutral. It would be totally neutral without any increase unless your appraisal increased more than average; the average was 43% increase.
Democrats long ago called for a one-day special legislative session to fix it but no one responded. Now it may be too late to fix this year but it is not too late to fix next year. The Legislature may even be able to come up with a formula to partially fix the Legislature’s failure to fix it before the first half of the 2023 taxes were due. None of the other suggestions for a special session of the Legislature included this simple fix.
No one has expressed any reason not to reduce the residential property tax rate to neutralize the appraisal increases. Maybe this was an oversight or mistake. So why not fix it now?
Are Republican legislators refusing to act because they don’t want to admit they made a mistake? If it was not a mistake, Republican Legislators must have refused to take action because they knew it would be a handsome tax relief for our state’s largest corporations.
Just do what is necessary and spare nearly everyone’s huge increase in residential property taxes. It has always been done in the past.
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Montana
South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana
![South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana](https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/c_thumb,w_700/v1/media/gmg/W2JH27XH4ZHFRDYZWERUXR35ZY.png?_a=DATAdtfiZAA0)
MISSOULA, Mont. – A federal jury convicted a South Florida truck driver Wednesday of trying to coerce a minor for sex while passing through Montana in 2023.
Stevenson Metelus, 36, of Margate, now faces 10 years to life in prison after being found guilty of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor after a three-day trial in Missoula, Montana federal court.
According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, an undercover FBI special agent posed as a girl on prostitution site MegaPersonals, posting an advertisement for prostitution services in Missoula.
They said Metelus responded to the ad on Nov. 16, 2023 and negotiated a price and sex acts to engage in with her, despite believing that she was a minor.
Authorities said Metelus asked the girl to meet him in his truck, but the agent posing as the girl said she had a room at a hotel and would leave the door open for him, then offered to meet him at a nearby gas station “when he expressed concern about the plan.”
“The undercover FBI agent had confidential source call Metelus and, acting as (the girl), spoke briefly with him,” the DOJ news release states “The confidential source again told Metelus that she was a minor. The parties then confirmed their plans to meet. Shortly thereafter, Metelus texted (the girl) that he had arrived at the gas station, where law enforcement arrested him.”
Authorities said Metelus later admitted he intended to meet the girl for commercial sex.
Aside from a long prison term, Metelus faces the possibility of a $250,000 fine and at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release, according to the DOJ.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Montana
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 12, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 12, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
21-32-36-45-49, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
08-29-34-36-42, Lucky Ball: 11
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
06-16-23-27-30, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
06-07-11-30, Bonus: 05
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
02-14-31-33-37
Check Montana Cash 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.
Montana
Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 11, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 11, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 11 drawing
07-30-39-41-70, Mega Ball: 13, Megaplier: 3
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 11 drawing
08-25-28-41-46, Lucky Ball: 05
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 11 drawing
17-22-26-31, Bonus: 06
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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