Comments on: Bigfork Boundaries Slow Resort Tax Efforts

By Roark on 08-14-08

“Efforts to institute a resort tax in Bigfork have stalled temporarily”

---Sadly, it will be ONLY temporary.

By valley_dude on 08-14-08

Yet another reason to avoid BF…

By Bill on 08-14-08

The communities that have the tax are pleased with it. Tourist don’t care (visit Disney and expect up to 12%). Locals win twice. Lowered property taxes, new revenues for infrastructure. Buy four postcards for a dollar, add three cents. No big deal.

By Roark on 08-14-08

Bill, you don’t speak for me and countless others when you assert that the communities that have the tax are “pleased with it”. -and locals don’t win twice, they lose twice. Their money is forcefully taken to fund worthless government largesse. Collectivists like to believe that men are a means to another’s end, like a pawn in a chess game or so many cattle. Man is an end in himself.

By Bill on 08-15-08

Fixing worn roads is not worthless nor is lowering property taxes. No, not everyone voted for it when it was first on the ballot but the majority did. Years later the majority voted 3:1, in Whitefish, to extend it. Why should those that wear out the roads not help pay for repair? Would you rather an increase in local property tax? Beat your drum and see how many line up with you. Those that learn the details and workings of this tax, see it favorably. No one likes taxes but this one is different.

I own my own business. Taxes eat me up. I’m so afraid Obama will raise taxes. I can’t afford more tax. This tax, however, will actually lower the BF residents tax outflow and at the same time, repair infrastructure with tourists contributions .

By Roark on 08-15-08

Bill, property taxes will go up wether this new tax scheme gets passed or not. In fact property tax hikes are a given in Montana considering the tax and SPEND appetite of the Governor, Senate and House. You’re putting too much stock in the old refrain “Hi, we’re the government and we’re here to help”. This tax is absolutely no different than any other tax; take from the taxpayer to fund some “need”, when all that happens is more money being swiped from the pockets of citizens for yet MORE of what the government deems necessary.  Also, while tourists may pay this tax for an insignificant part of the year, Bigfork residents will be paying for it 365 days of the year.

By Bill on 08-15-08

I hate taxes as much or more than most. Not all dogs will bite you. This one is different. Your comments indicate you are not versed in this “scheme.”

Are you familiar with how this affects property taxes? How this tax is collected and on what products/services? How it is distributed and what qualifies to receive the tax benefits?

Why has it passed across the board in the other qualifying Montana cities? People just like you and me voted for it. Why? Why was it overwhelmingly extended for over another decade when it could have as easily been voted down? Surveys show the majority favor this tax. What survey? The public voted for it again and again and again. Bi-partisan is rare. So is a popular tax.

Montanan’s hate taxes for the reasons you express, so do I.

Study this proposal and you’ll see how it is different. Others have taken the time to do their homework and have left behind the knee jerk response every time the word tax comes up. This is one of those very rare exceptions to the rule. Study it, ask questions and you’ll see. 

Best wishes. BTW: do you live in BF?

By Roark on 08-15-08

Bill, it’s still just ANOTHER tax to heap on the residents of Bigfork along with all of the others.-so the problem is compounded by creating another government arm that will always need funding. The money I produce by my own efforts belongs to me, not the government. The solutions to “needed” city revenue should be sought by a local lottery or other non-coercive means.

By Bill on 08-15-08

It’s tax relief! That means your taxes are reduced. You haven’t taken the time to discover why it has been voted for every single time. AND it’s not some new “scheme.’ It’s been in place in Montana for over a decade. Voted for every time! Everywhere! You are right about taxes 10 out of 10 times, until now. You have not taken the time to learn about this tax as others have. You’re just knee jerking without any study. No one is so blind as those who refuse to see. Do your homework. Your comments prove you have no clue about it’s structure. READ!

By Roark on 08-15-08

Bill, I would submit to you the “resort” tax that Whitefish levies against her residents. Property taxes have not lowered, but the city budget has grown.

By bill on 08-16-08

The property taxes have lowered. You don’t know what you are talking about.

By Bill on 08-16-08

WF property taxes lowered by 21%

By Roark on 08-16-08

Really? Well, a co-worker of mine who lives in Whitefish says that her property taxes have gone up more than 8% in 3 years, not too mention her neighbors. Unless other taxes are cut the only thing you can count on from a “resort” tax are more taxes to pay out.

By Bill on 08-16-08

This is taken directly from the Whitefish Pilot:

“About 200 businesses in Whitefish pay the 2 percent resort tax, which is used for street reconstruction, property tax rebates, and parks and trail projects.

Sixty-five percent of the resort tax money goes into streets, adding up to more than $8 million since the tax was put in place in February 1996. The property tax rebate has also lowered the effective mill rate from 111.21 to 87.68, reducing city property taxes by 21 percent.”

By Roark on 08-16-08

Bill, Those rebates are nothing more than a redistribution of wealth caused by the very “resort” tax itself!. What’s more, unless spending is actually cut taxes will be raised yet again to offset the rebate that was offered in the first place.-else where is the city going to get the money to fund their petty pork projects (other than roads). What’s to stop the city from proposing an increase in the tax anyhow? A pandora’s box is opened with every new tax scheme. Whitefish is engaging in a kind of deficit spending. The residents of Whitefish are still paying more in taxes both property and “resort”. Even IF, and that’s a big if, for I have yet to see the numbers or meet the people who live there whose property taxes have gone down, property taxes were lowered, the residents of Whitefish are paying a 2% tax everyday for 365 days a year on a myriad of items and services. One doesn’t need to be a math wizard to realize the amount one would pay out in a year due to a “resort” tax alone. No, unless real CUTS are made in city spending and growth bad idea’s like a “resort” tax are nothing more but smoke and mirror’s.

By MaryG on 08-16-08

R:

I don’t know where you can find any “facts” that support your opinion.

Montanans across the State don’t agree with you. As Bill stated, every city has voted for the resort tax and extends it overwhelmingly. Are you saying the majority of these cities are stupid? They are Montanans too. Traditionally, Montanans hate taxes. Why does it keep passing?

I seriously doubt you have any idea what this tax is about because you haven’t researched it.

You are obviously blinded by your opinions and closed minded and while it’s also obvious you have no understanding of this tax, you wouldn’t believe the truth if it up and bit you on the butt.

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
William G. McAdoo (1863 - 1941)

By Bill on 08-16-08

I give up.

When facts are denied as truths, there is no argument that will prevail.

Fortunately, he is not in the majority.

By Roark on 08-16-08

Bill and MaryG, what I have stated IS fact not fiction. BTW MaryG, might does not make right, right makes right. Majroity rule is nothing less than mob rule.

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