Local Budgets News Today

The Montana Supreme Court recently ruled unanimously in favor of the state in a complicated dispute about statewide property taxes. The Court ruled that state law requires counties to collect

The Montana Supreme Court recently ruled unanimously in favor of the state in a complicated dispute about statewide property taxes. The Court ruled that state law requires counties to collect the full 95 mills for the state school equalization tax levy this year, an interpretation that was hotly contested by local governments

Perhaps Missoula County elected officials with their $100,000+ per year salaries can afford another tax increase, but we the taxpayers with an average annual income of $50,552 (What is the

The budget is part of a multiyear effort to right the city's finances after years of mismanagement, officials said, adding the property tax increase would raise a homeowner's tax bill by an estimated $574.

The city was just one step above junk bond status in July 2021 but finances have since turned around, with the city last year getting its first upgrade in six years, acting city manager said.

The tiny East End district will eliminate prekindergarten and reduce special education services. It had to adopt a contingency budget, which includes a tax freeze, after losing two consecutive budget votes earlier this year.

West Hempstead's proposed $74,125,176 budget carries a 4.2% spending increase, and a property-tax hike of 1.99%. Wainscott offered a reduced budget of $6,144,331, along with a whopping tax-levy increase of more than 95%. 

The district is one of only two on Long Island where proposed budgets went down in the initial round of voting last month.

The new budget plan is slightly less than the one voters rejected May 16, but it's an overall increase of 48.8% over the current school year's budget.

Voters went to the polls Tuesday. A record $771 million infusion of state financial aid for the region is allowing some districts to boost budgets while also curbing taxes.