Missoula County opposes HB 861: Provide business property tax exemption during state of emergency or disaster, up for second reading on the House floor this afternoon. HB 861 attempts to penalize governments for taking necessary actions to protect lives and safeguard property during times of disasters. This bill is a response to the disagreement with the effectiveness of the efforts used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the loss of lives, but pandemics are only one type of disaster local governments must respond to. Apart from the pandemic, Missoula County has regularly responded to natural and man-made disasters that are outside of the County’s control, which required the limiting of access, imposition of curfews and restrictions on capacity at businesses.
For example, on April 11, 1996, a chlorine train car derailed near the town of Alberton, which required the evacuation of much of the town, limiting access to businesses and imposition of curfews in order to safeguard the health of both people’s lives and property. The life-saving actions taken by first responders during that response required both Missoula and Mineral Counties to expend funds that were not budgeted in order to address the disaster and safeguard human lives.
By removing property taxes from county coffers, HB 861 would remove resources from local governments and emergency responders from being able to take action to save lives in critical times.
Missoula County opposes HB 861: Provide business property tax exemption during state of emergency or disaster, up for hearing in Taxation on Wednesday. HB 861 attempts to penalize governments for taking necessary actions to protect lives and safeguard property during times of disasters. This bill is a response to the disagreement with the effectiveness of the efforts used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the loss of lives, but pandemics are only one type of disaster local governments must respond to. Apart from the pandemic, Missoula County has regularly responded to natural and man-made disasters that are outside of the County’s control, which required the limiting of access, imposition of curfews and restrictions on capacity at businesses.
For example, in 1996, a chlorine train car derailed near the town of Alberton, which required the evacuation of much of the town, limiting access to businesses and imposition of curfews to protect the health of both lives and property. The life-saving actions first responders took during that response required both Missoula and Mineral counties to spend funds that were not budgeted to address the disaster and protect our residents.
By removing property taxes from county coffers, HB 861 would remove resources from local governments and prevent emergency responders from being able to take action to save lives in critical times.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 861: Provide business property tax exemption during state of emergency or disaster, up for second reading on the House floor this afternoon. HB 861 attempts to penalize governments for taking necessary actions to protect lives and safeguard property during times of disasters. This bill is a response to the disagreement with the effectiveness of the efforts used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the loss of lives, but pandemics are only one type of disaster local governments must respond to. Apart from the pandemic, Missoula County has regularly responded to natural and man-made disasters that are outside of the County’s control, which required the limiting of access, imposition of curfews and restrictions on capacity at businesses.
For example, on April 11, 1996, a chlorine train car derailed near the town of Alberton, which required the evacuation of much of the town, limiting access to businesses and imposition of curfews in order to safeguard the health of both people’s lives and property. The life-saving actions taken by first responders during that response required both Missoula and Mineral Counties to expend funds that were not budgeted in order to address the disaster and safeguard human lives.
By removing property taxes from county coffers, HB 861 would remove resources from local governments and emergency responders from being able to take action to save lives in critical times.
Please oppose HB 861.
Senator O'Brien,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 861: Provide business property tax exemption during state of emergency or disaster, up for hearing in Taxation on Wednesday. HB 861 attempts to penalize governments for taking necessary actions to protect lives and safeguard property during times of disasters. This bill is a response to the disagreement with the effectiveness of the efforts used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the loss of lives, but pandemics are only one type of disaster local governments must respond to. Apart from the pandemic, Missoula County has regularly responded to natural and man-made disasters that are outside of the County’s control, which required the limiting of access, imposition of curfews and restrictions on capacity at businesses.
For example, in 1996, a chlorine train car derailed near the town of Alberton, which required the evacuation of much of the town, limiting access to businesses and imposition of curfews to protect the health of both lives and property. The life-saving actions first responders took during that response required both Missoula and Mineral counties to spend funds that were not budgeted to address the disaster and protect our residents.
By removing property taxes from county coffers, HB 861 would remove resources from local governments and prevent emergency responders from being able to take action to save lives in critical times.
Please oppose HB 861.