If you opened your latest property tax notice in Richland County and wondered why your bill went up, you are not alone. Over the past few weeks, I have heard from many neighbors who are frustrated and confused. Some told me their property taxes increased between 12 and 30%.

That struck a nerve for me. I have lived in Richland County my entire life. It is where I grew up, where I am raising my family, and where I have had the honor of serving the last six years in the Montana House of Representatives. This past session, my colleagues elected me Speaker of the House, which means I now consider not just my community but the entire state with every vote I take. But when something happens back home, I take it personally.

County commissioners have claimed these tax hikes were caused by legislation passed in Helena. After looking into it, I found that nothing the Legislature did forced their hand. The truth is that Richland County leaders raised local property taxes by 42% and maxed out their mill levies before new restrictions from Senate Bill 119 take effect next year. When questioned, one commissioner said they did it to protect the county.

That is not protecting the county. It is taking from the people who built it. The county got theirs before the people got theirs, and that is not leadership.

Speaker Brandon Ler