Phil Donally: HB 674 helps Mineral County, Alberton school
by John Q. Murray
A citizen member of the local Montana Legacy Project committee told the Chronicle Wednesday that the Montana Legislature's passage of House Bill 674 last session means Mineral County will not lose tax revenue from the sale of Plum Creek lands.
Phil Donally, who serves on the committee with several other Mineral County residents, said the bill directs Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to pay taxes on the lands just as a private citizen.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Gordon Hendrick, Rep. Chas Vincent of Libby, and 15 other representatives.
HB 674 amends MCA Section 87-1-603 to direct FWP to pay taxes on any lands purchased after the law became active: "...the treasurer of each county in which the department owns land purchased after [the effective date of this act] shall describe the land, state the number of acres in each parcel, and request the drawing of a warrant to the county in a sum equal to the amount of taxes that would be payable on county assessment of the property if it was taxable to a private citizen."
Mineral County originally opposed the transfer of the private land to the state, because it would have meant the loss of $36,000 a year in revenue for the Alberton School District.
"Anything purchased from this point forward, FWP would have to pay taxes like you and I do on private land," Phil said. "We tied that down."
The lands are currently being held by the Nature Conservancy, which as a private organization is continuing to pay taxes on the lands.
The committee has been working to preserve public access to lands in the Fish Creek drainage, and FWP has put forward many ideas, Phil said. For example, they have been talking about camping sites along Fish Creek, and are considering putting sheep above the purple cliffs area, he said.
"It's going to change," Phil said. "It won't be like it was, but it won't be divided up into a bunch of homes and small acreages. If they take it over it will almost be like a park situation."
He said the transfer would probably take place in another year. The committee had been meeting monthly, but is now waiting until new information is available.
The issue of the potential loss of tax money was raised during a meeting held in Alberton Oct. 24 to introduce candidates running for county offices in 2010.
Chris Bryant from The Nature Conservancy agreed with all of Phil's statements, and said that from The Nature Conservancy's perspective, FWP ownership of this land would be very positive.
"FWP ownership would address the biggest concerns that came out of our many months of meetings with the community: protection of the wildlife and fisheries resources, continued tax revenue paid to Mineral County and continued public access for hunting, fishing, camping and other forms of enjoyment," he said.
Chris said citizens attending the Fish Creek meetings include Doug Austin, Dave Blakely, Van Blakely, Kevin Chamberlain, Jason Cataldo, Kevin Donally, Phil Donally, Le Roy / Jo Ellen Godin, Roger Hearst, Dennis Hildebrand, Kenton Lewis, Denley Loge, Alvin Meeks, Angelo Ververis, Ken Verley, Scott Kuehn, Bill Wheeler, Clark Conrow, Duane Simons, BJ McComb, Noel Williams, Jim DeBree, Josh Acker, Butch Marvin, and Tim Read.
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See also:
Mineral County Republicans introduce 2010 candidates
http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/art...9134212712
A citizen member of the local Montana Legacy Project committee told the Chronicle Wednesday that the Montana Legislature's passage of House Bill 674 last session means Mineral County will not lose tax revenue from the sale of Plum Creek lands.
Phil Donally, who serves on the committee with several other Mineral County residents, said the bill directs Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to pay taxes on the lands just as a private citizen.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Gordon Hendrick, Rep. Chas Vincent of Libby, and 15 other representatives.
HB 674 amends MCA Section 87-1-603 to direct FWP to pay taxes on any lands purchased after the law became active: "...the treasurer of each county in which the department owns land purchased after [the effective date of this act] shall describe the land, state the number of acres in each parcel, and request the drawing of a warrant to the county in a sum equal to the amount of taxes that would be payable on county assessment of the property if it was taxable to a private citizen."
Mineral County originally opposed the transfer of the private land to the state, because it would have meant the loss of $36,000 a year in revenue for the Alberton School District.
"Anything purchased from this point forward, FWP would have to pay taxes like you and I do on private land," Phil said. "We tied that down."
The lands are currently being held by the Nature Conservancy, which as a private organization is continuing to pay taxes on the lands.
The committee has been working to preserve public access to lands in the Fish Creek drainage, and FWP has put forward many ideas, Phil said. For example, they have been talking about camping sites along Fish Creek, and are considering putting sheep above the purple cliffs area, he said.
"It's going to change," Phil said. "It won't be like it was, but it won't be divided up into a bunch of homes and small acreages. If they take it over it will almost be like a park situation."
He said the transfer would probably take place in another year. The committee had been meeting monthly, but is now waiting until new information is available.
The issue of the potential loss of tax money was raised during a meeting held in Alberton Oct. 24 to introduce candidates running for county offices in 2010.
Chris Bryant from The Nature Conservancy agreed with all of Phil's statements, and said that from The Nature Conservancy's perspective, FWP ownership of this land would be very positive.
"FWP ownership would address the biggest concerns that came out of our many months of meetings with the community: protection of the wildlife and fisheries resources, continued tax revenue paid to Mineral County and continued public access for hunting, fishing, camping and other forms of enjoyment," he said.
Chris said citizens attending the Fish Creek meetings include Doug Austin, Dave Blakely, Van Blakely, Kevin Chamberlain, Jason Cataldo, Kevin Donally, Phil Donally, Le Roy / Jo Ellen Godin, Roger Hearst, Dennis Hildebrand, Kenton Lewis, Denley Loge, Alvin Meeks, Angelo Ververis, Ken Verley, Scott Kuehn, Bill Wheeler, Clark Conrow, Duane Simons, BJ McComb, Noel Williams, Jim DeBree, Josh Acker, Butch Marvin, and Tim Read.
###
See also:
Mineral County Republicans introduce 2010 candidates
http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/art...9134212712