Nick Alonzo has operated Montana Simulcast Racing, LLC, since 2012, but he has decided to close the business. Simulcast racing was a key contributor to purses at the live race meets held each year in Miles City and Great Falls. These events have been funded by the Montana Board of Horse Racing even if there is no simulcast provider.
Author: Press Room
True Water Fly Fishing
Ben Eisinger opened the True Water fly-fishing shop in downtown Kalispell after 25 years selling automobiles. True Water Fly Shop is located at 35 Fourth St. W. in Kalispell.
Steer Clear of the Many Glacier
According to Glacier Park press releases park-goers should essentially steer clear of the Many Glacier end of the park for the next two seasons while the road, receives an overdue major reconstruction. The project will “significantly increase travel times to the Many Glacier area,” and visitors should expect “travel delays of up to 40 minutes each way from Babb to the Many Glacier Hotel.” The entire Many Glacier Campground will transfer to reservation only in order to reduce congestion in the area.
MDT Seeks to Rehab 94 Corridor
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to notify the public and seek comments on a proposal to rehabilitate 10 bridges within the Interstate 94 corridor in Yellowstone County. The bridges are located between mile posts 14 and 21, starting at Ballantine and continuing to approximately 2.5 miles west of Pompeys Pillar.
Proposed work includes resurfacing or sealing the existing bridge decks, upgrading the bridge rail and roadway guardrail, replacement of bridge deck joints, deck drainage improvements, and upgrades to the adjacent roadway and signing. The purpose of the project is to repair deteriorated elements of each bridge to extend their service life.
The project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2021, depending on the completion of all project development activities and availability of funding.
An important part of properly planning for future projects is partnering with the community. Montana Department of Transportation welcomes the public to provide ideas and comments on the proposed project. Comments may be submitted online at http://www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml or in writing to Montana Department of Transportation, Billings office at PO Box 20437, Billings, MT 59104-0437. Please note that comments are for project CN 9585000.
The public is encouraged to contact Billings District Administrator Rod Nelson at (406) 252-4138 or project Design Engineer Jason Senn at (406) 444-9128 with questions or for additional information.
Matt Smith Joins KLJ
Matt Smith has joined the Billings office of KLJ, an engineering firm. Smith has joined the team as a project manager.
He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Montana and earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Montana State University.
Federal Overtime Rule Rules
At the beginning of the year, small business owners must begin complying with changes in the federal overtime rule. The minimum salary for the overtime exemption will rise from $23,660 annually to $35,568 annually. That means employers have to pay time-and-a-half for executive, administrative, or professional employees who make less than $35,568 for any work done beyond 40 hours per week.
The Department of Labor estimates that the change affects 1.3 million employees, raising the cost of compensation for the affected businesses. The cost would have been a lot higher had NFIB not stepped in with a lawsuit that blocked the Obama administration from raising the overtime threshold salary to $47,476. The new Trump administration increase was meant to be a compromise.
Affected NFIB members should double-check to make sure they are in compliance. The Labor Department found 11,018 overtime rule violations in 2019, forcing payment of millions in back wages. Don’t make a mistake and find yourself on the hot seat.
Eshbaugh First Deputy Chief
The Lockwood Fire Department has appointed former Captain Karim Eshbaugh, to the newly -created position of Deputy Fire Chief. Chief Eshbaugh has 17 years of experience with Lockwood Fire. He will begin his new duties on January 1, 2020.
Eshbaugh’s salary will be $80,000. He will report directly to the Fire Chief, John Staley. His responsibilities will include managing training, emergency medical services, and daily operation.
He will work 40 hour weeks and will be on call for major emergencies as the Incident Commander.
Cig Tax Prompts Smuggling
The newest report from the Tax Foundation on the consequences of high state cigarette excise taxes reveals that 21.34 percent of the total cigarettes consumed in Montana are smuggled into the state. Montana ranks twelfth highest in the nation in terms of smuggled cigarettes.
The organization makes the point that crafting tax policy, often has, no matter how well-intentioned, unintended consequences that outweigh their benefits.
One notable consequence of high state cigarette excise tax rates has been increased cigarette smuggling as people procure discounted packs from low-tax states and sell them in high-tax states.
The data was based on 2017 during which Montana’s tax on a pack of cigarettes was $1.70, the same as it has been since 2006. During that time smuggling cigarettes into Montana has declined from 31.20 percent.
Growing cigarette tax differentials across states have made cigarette smuggling both a national problem and, in some cases, a lucrative criminal enterprise.
Cigarette smuggling also puts consumers at risk with counterfeit cigarettes and perpetuates a black market which negatively affects tax revenue.
New York and California have the highest inbound smuggling activity in the country, with an estimated 55.4 percent and 44.6 percent of cigarettes consumed in the state deriving from smuggled sources in 2017, respectively. New York has a tax of $4.35 (the highest in the nation) and California has a tax of $2.87. Missouri has the lowest tax rate of 17 cents.
New Hampshire has the highest level of outbound smuggling at 65 percent of consumption, likely due to its relatively low tax rates and proximity to high-tax states in the northeastern United States.
Following New Hampshire is Delaware (40.6 percent outbound smuggling), Idaho (26.8 percent), Virginia (24.2 percent), and Wyoming (22.4 percent).
Pennsylvania, following a cigarette tax increase from $1.60 to $2.60 in early 2016, has seen a significant increase in smuggling into the state.
Cigarette tax rates increased in 37 states and the District of Columbia between 2006 and 2017.
The data was based on 2017 during which Montana’s tax on a pack of cigarettes was $1.70, the same as it has been since 2006. During that time smuggling cigarettes into Montana has declined from 31.20 percent.
Billings Building Permits – January 1 2020
Commercial
- City Of Billings/T.W. Clark Construction Llc, 4845 Midland Rd, Com Addition, $2,550,000
- Yellowstone County Council On Aging/H. C. Lift, 935 Lake Elmo Dr, Com Addition, $180,000
- Family Services/Empire Roofing Inc, 3927 1st Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $99,424
- Fed X/Cobb Environmental & Technical Services Inc, 1148 1st Ave N, Com New Other, $3,000
- Yellowstone Health Partnership/T.W. Clark Construction Llc, 116 S 25th St, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $550,000
- Kairos Properties Llc/Sunset Construction Llc, 1363 Montana Ave, Com Remodel, $156,000
- Rimrock Owner Lp/Rolo Construction Inc, 300 S 24th St W, Com Remodel, $500
- R E O Llc/Shaw Construction, 2590 Holman Ave, Com Remodel, $3,000
- Lara, Scott B & Linda K, 315 S 34th St, Com Remodel, $5,000
- Plaza Office Building Llc/Artisan Builders, 1629 Avenue D, Com Remodel, $20,000
Residential
- Classic Design Homes Inc/Classic Design Homes, 4039 Lodge Ln, Res New Single Family, $221,830
- Classic Design Homes/Classic Design Homes, 2213 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family, $235,729
- Specialized Construction Inc/Specialized Construction, 2127 Lakehills Dr, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $47,635
- Specialized Construction Inc/Specialized Construction, 2124 Lakehills Dr,
- Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $47,600
- Nick Wong/Paramount Construction And Remodeling, 123 Terry Ave, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $15,000
- Thomas, J Richard & M Sharyn/Your Home Improvement Company, Llc,
- 333 Stillwater Ln, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $8,500
Air Terminal Updates
A continuing resolution for federal funding for the current fiscal year gives Missoula International Airport the surety it needs in planning a proposed $67 million terminal, following a record passenger year and in anticipation of additional new flights. The project is expected to be completed in 2021.
Uncooperative winter weather has slowed progress on the terminal project at Billings Airport, with the possibility that it may stall until spring. But, if increases in passenger enplanements over the past two months continue through December, Billings too may break its 2018 record of 451,564 enplanements. November of this year ended with 431,000 enplanements YTD, compared to 413,795 in November 2018.
