Author: Press Room

Montana Highlights 01-15-23

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

A new lift opened last week on Whitefish Mountain. Until the new lift, Chair 6 was the only way to get from the lodge to Chairs 1 and 2, the major lifts up the resort’s front-side. The Snow Ghost Express, officially known as Chair 4 whisks skiers up Inspiration Ridge. With chairs are wide enough to hold six skiers at a time, the resort estimates that the new lift will be able to serve over 2,000 skiers per hour.

Tax revenue from wine is forecast to be flat in  Montana the next couple of years, and per capita beer consumption is on the same path, Revenue from taxes on booze is projected to go up slightly, and income from taxes on tobacco products will be down overall. As expected, marijuana is forecasted to make a large contribution to state budget.Tax revenue from cannabis is projected to hit $50.7 million in the 2024 and $57.5 million in 2025.

The total number of teaching licenses issued in Montana has decreased by 9% in the last five years, according to the Office of Public Instruction. In that time, the amount of new licenses issued decreased by 21% and the number of educators who have maintained their licenses shrunk by about 7%. Emergency authorizations, which allow people who are not currently qualified educators to fill vacant positions, grew by 42% from 2018 and peaked with 173 emergency licenses in 2021.

The Golden Yolk Griddle, a burrito and sandwich shop in downtown Missoula has announced. it’s starting a late-night breakfast service from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

J.W. Heist Steakhouse, at 27 E. Main St., opened Jan. 3, and will be open for dinners only. Owners Michael Ochsner and Brett Evje have wanted to open a steakhouse in downtown Bozeman since 2009. The business partners, who also co-own Plonk, have wanted to fill a gap left by their favorite fine-dining restaurant Boodles since it was destroyed in a natural gas explosion in 2009. The pair instead opened Plonk in 2009.

Former legislator Brad Tschida will take the executive director position at the Montana Public Service Commission starting Jan. 17, 2023. The agency announced  that Tschida, a Republican from Missoula and “lifelong Montana resident,” accepted its offer. The Public Service Commission is made up of five elected commissioners from five districts in Montana, currently all Republicans, who oversee regulated utilities.

Rick Weaver, the longtime regional publisher at Hagadone Media Montana, will retire at the end of January. In his role, Weaver oversees eight newspapers serving Northwest Montana, including the flagship Daily Inter Lake, as well as the Hungry Horse News, Whitefish Pilot, The Western News, Bigfork Eagle, Lake County Leader, Clark Fork Valley Press and Mineral Independent. In announcing Weaver’s retirement, Hagadone Corporation President Brad Hagadone named Regional Advertising Director Anton Kaufer as the newspaper group’s next regional publisher.

As of Jan. 22, the Butte Civic Center will be back to hosting numerous sporting events,. The facility is back in business until filming begins on the second season of Taylor Sheridan’s “1923” in June.

The Clark Fork Face Forest Health and Fuels Reduction, a proposal to conduct logging, forest thinning and prescribed burning on 19,147 acres of public land scattered from Clinton to Drummond has drawn scrutiny from conservation groups who say it overstates wildfire risk at the expense of wildlife protection. The BLM Missoula Field Office began planning the Clark Fork Face Forest Health and Fuels Reduction project about two years ago. Work would occur in phases over the next 10–15 years. The agency says the project is aimed at improving forest conditions to be more fire resilient.

Permit applications to float central Montana’s Smith River are now being accepted, and will be accepted through Feb. 15. The permit drawing will be held on Feb. 21. Known for its “spectacular scenery, remote location and excellent trout fishing,” the Smith River is one of Montana’s most sought-after outdoor recreation experiences. Because of its popularity, permits are required to float the 59-mile section of the Smith River between Camp Baker near White Sulphur Springs and the Eden Bridge south of Ulm. The permits are issued each year through a lottery. Parties of up to 15 people can float with one permit. Applications must be submitted, or postmarked by Feb 15. Applicants pay a $15 non-refundable permit application fee. Permit lottery results will be available online at stateparks.mt.gov.

Montana’s minimum wage has increased 75 cents an hour to $9.95 starting on Jan. 1. It’s the largest inflationary increase since voters passed a ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage by $1 an hour to $6.15 in January 2007 and then make inflationary changes each year. An estimated 23,500 Montana workers, or 5% of the workforce, received hourly wages less than $9.95 in 2022 and are likely to receive higher wages due to the 2023 minimum wage increase. 

The Wax Museum, a new and used record store, to downtown Bozeman. Owner Kels Koch is hoping the new retail space, at 533 E. Mendenhall St., will increase the foot traffic. The store  opened to customers on Jan. 7.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced the creation of the North Dakota Energy and Economic Coordination Office (EECO). The EECO will serve as a unified avenue for industry experts to effectively coordinate with North Dakota energy entities to advance the state’s energy strategy by supporting North Dakota’s full energy portfolio.

Montana state employees donated over 2,500 pounds of food to the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) in Gov. Gianforte’s second annual interagency food drive competition. The Department of Public Health and Human Services won  this year’s agency food drive competition.”

The OZ Bozeman will be opening in Bozeman at 2952 Technology Blvd. The OZ is a new, fully furnished private office and co-working location. It is an option for team expansions, start-ups, health and medical practices, conferences, events, etc. The facility is a modern three –story building with a number of different kinds of office space available. The organization offers a variety of memberships that enables a client to choose what best fits their personal/team needs.

The agriculture industry in North Dakota contributes $30.8 billion to the state’s economy, with $18.8 billion from direct output and $12 billion from secondary output, according to a study at North Dakota State University. Direct effects represent the first round of payments, services, labor, and materials or sales, while secondary effects represent economic activity created through purchased goods and services by businesses and households.

Fez, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd trained and owned by Lexie Coniglione from Glasgow, was named runner-up/western region in the 2023 Farm Dog of the Year Contest. The contest celebrates farm dogs that work alongside farmers and ranchers as they sustainably produce nutritious food for families and their pets across America. Rounding up livestock and chasing off predators are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs.

Montana Farm Bureau has captured the prestigious Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can be awarded for program and membership achievement. MFBF President Cyndi Johnson received the award during the American Farm Bureau Federation 104th Annual Convention.

As of December 19, median sales of single family house prices in Gallatin County were up 4.6% compared to last November, from $735,000 to $768,713. The number of closed sales fell 50.4%, from 141 to 70. The median number of days homes spent on the market increased 358.3%, from 12 days to 55 days. The average percent of list price received decreased 1.4%, from 98.8% to 97.4%. The median price per square foot of homes sold during November increased 6.6% compared to last November, from $333 to $355. Pending sales fell 37.9%, from 95 to 59. The number of new listings decreased 19.5%, from 82 to 66. The end-of-month inventory jumped 132.4% from 139 to 323.

The Western Dakota Energy Association released a report recently that shows the impact of oil and gas taxes on state finances in North Dakota. Some of the highlights include: oil extraction and production tax revenues are over $26 billion for fiscal years 2008-2022; in the past 5 fiscal years, oil extraction and production taxes are approximately 51% of all taxes collected by the state; since 2008, oil and gas tax revenue has provided over $1.4 billion for water projects, $1.8 billion for education, and $5.9 billion in funding for communities and infrastructure across the state. Oil and gas taxes also deposited $6.9 billion into the Legacy Fund.

Amazon is currently building a facility in Missoula, the first Amazon facility in Montana. A 72,000 sq. ft. delivery center at 9121 Cartage Road which is the “last mile” step of the shipping process, takes orders from throughout the US and sendit to customers. It will bring in more than 100 new jobs to Montana.

After 48 years of business, Bert & Ernies restaurant in Helena turned off its lights on Dec. 1. Owned by Toby DeWolf, Bert and Ernie’s was a business anchor for downtown Helena. The building is being converted into a meat store.  The DeWolf family were butchers in Helena from 1889 to 1989. Four Montana ranch families organized as Old Salt Co-op are working toward purchasing the 12,000-square-foot building, with the plan to develop a retail meat market, café and restaurant called Butcher’s Table. The co-op includes the Sieben Livestock Company outside Cascade, the Mannix Family Ranch near Helmville, the J Bar L Ranches in Centennial Valley and Melville, and the LF Ranch near Augusta. The co-op also plans to build a USDA-inspected slaughter facility on a prospective site between East Helena and Montana City by May.

Fit Republic closed its’ Great Falls location on December 31. The organization says existing memberships will be transferred to the local Planet Fitness gym.

Christy Sports, a winter & outdoor specialty retail and rental operator, announced the acquisition of Grizzly Outfitters, a specialty outdoor retail and rental operator, at Big Sky.The shop offers rental and demo equipment along with a full retail shop. This new store is the second location for Christy Sports in Montana, according to Gary Montes de Oca, Chief Development and Strategy Officer at Christy Sports. Ken Lancey and Andrew Schreiner are former owners of Grizzly Outfitters.

The Bureau of Land Management announced plans to lease nearly 21,000 acres of national public land in Montana and North Dakota to oil and gas companies. The announcements come as the Interior Department falls further behind in its obligation to write rules implementing the new leasing system created by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Biden administration’s Fall 2022 regulatory agenda, belatedly released this week by the Office of Management and Budget, revealed that rules updating the oil and gas leasing system are only at the Proposed Rule Stage. If the department doesn’t publish a draft rule within the next few weeks, any final rule will likely be published so late that it’s at risk of getting thrown out in 2025 under the Congressional Review Act.

For December 2022 the average price of a house sold in Billings was $365,000. There were 145 properties sold (closed) and sellers received 97.9 percent of asking price. Multiple List listed 142 properties and the average number of days on the market was 27.

Looking at 2023

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

“The pandemic has changed Montana: more people, different people, more expensive housing. In economics jargon, demand for Montana increased,” proclaims the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, (BBER), in explaining the issues that will be discussed at the 2023 Montana Economic Seminar in Billings on January 31.  Director of the BBER, located at the University of Montana, Dr. Patrick Barkey, says that the forces driving this change are likely to persist.  “As such, Montanans must grapple with our response — particularly, how much to increase supply to meet demand.”

The way Montanans act to increase supply affects how increased demand manifests itself in Montana. Neither more people nor higher prices are strictly good or bad. Each option comes with different tradeoffs.

The half-day seminar will be held in eight other Montana cities. In Billings it will be held at the Northern Hotel, 8 am to 1 pm. Registration is required at the BBER website.

Bryce Ward, founder of ABMJ Consulting, a firm that provides economic analysis, strategic advice, conflict resolution, etc., will be a speaker at the event. He has a PhD in economics from Harvard University and BAs in economics and history from the University of Oregon. He has expertise in urban and regional economics, labor economics, health economics, public finance, social economics, real estate economics, environmental and natural resource economics, and statistics/econometrics.

Keystone XL Loss Report Quietly Released

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

A report was quietly released from the Department of Energy (DOE) in the last days of 2022 with no comment from the White House, about the economic impacts of cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline. If the pipeline had been allowed to go forward it would have been completed this year.

A report from Fox News, recognized Sen. Steve Daines for having forced the release of the report that was supposed to have been made public over a year ago, which analyzed what would have been the positive impacts of the pipeline if President Biden hadn’t revoked its federal permits in the first days of becoming president.

The DOJ report says the Keystone XL project would have created between 16,149 and 59,000 jobs and would have had a positive economic impact of between $3.4 billion and $9.6 billion. A previous report from the federal government published in 2014 determined 3,900 direct jobs and 21,050 total jobs would be created during construction which was expected to take two years.

“The Biden administration finally owned up to what we have known all along — killing the Keystone XL Pipeline cost good-paying jobs, hurt Montana’s economy and was the first step in the Biden administration’s war on oil and gas production in the United States,” Sen. Daines. R-Mont., said. “Unfortunately, the administration continues to pursue energy production anywhere but the United States.” 

“These policies may appeal to the woke left but hurt Montana’s working families,” he continued. “I’ll keep fighting back against Biden’s anti-energy agenda and supporting Montana energy projects and jobs.”

The DOE was forced to issue the report after Daines and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, successfully inserted a bill mandating the report into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Biden signed into law in November 2021. The agency was required to publish the report within 90 days of the bill’s passage but ultimately waited more than a year before releasing it.

In its release last week, the DOE did mention that the project would have had minimal permanent job impacts, but they failed to address the thousands of jobs that would have happened during its construction. Long term permanent jobs would have been about 50.

(Also unaddressed was a projected $80 million-plus of property tax revenue that would have been paid to Montana, of which $65 million would have gone to the counties through which it passed.)

Biden’s decision to cancel the pipeline has received widespread criticism from Republican lawmakers and energy industry representatives who have argued it would have helped keep gas prices down and ensure energy security. 

Keystone XL had been slated to be completed early this year and transport an additional 830,000 barrels of crude oil from Canada to the U.S. through an existing pipeline network, according to its operator, TC Energy.

The project labor agreement that TC Energy signed in August 2020 with four labor unions promised the pipeline would create 42,000 American jobs and provide $2 billion in total wages.

TC Energy ultimately gave up on the project in June 2021 as a result of Biden’s decision. Last year, a federal judge tossed a legal challenge from nearly two dozen states asking the court to reinstate the pipeline’s permits.

In July 2021 TC Energy, the Canadian company that owns the Keystone Pipeline System, filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the Biden administration in compensation for damages that it has suffered as a result of the U.S. Government’s breach of its NAFTA obligations. They claim that the US administration violated the North American Free Trade Agreement with its decision to kill the $9-billion project.

EDA/EDC Board Welcomes New Members

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

Big Sky Economic Development has announced that two new members have joined the board of the Economic Development Authority Board of Directors and the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. The EDA and EDC boards meet together to set policy and economic development strategy for the community.

Joining the EDA Board of Directors is Kate Vogel with North 40 Ag. The EDA board is a quasi-public, TradePort authority, whose board members are appointed by the Yellowstone County Commissioners. The EDA has 11 appointed board members.

Vogel grew up in eastern Colorado helping with the neighbors’ cattle, this is where her fondness for agriculture was first discovered. She studied dryland, no-till systems at Colorado State University and after completing her Masters, she moved up to Montana. Kate joined her husband Marcus in 2014 at North 40 Ag in as a way to bring seed and education to their community.

“As we developed the mission of North 40 Ag, I kept coming back to the importance of people. We have grown our family here since the start,” said Kate. “Our employees have become part of our family, but so have our customers. My favorite part of what I do is getting to build relationships with our clients and seeing the improvement they can make on their operation in their journey to meet their soil health goals.”

North 40 Ag has provided Vogel with the outlet to continue to assist the regions farmers and ranchers in implementing cover crops, no-till practices, crop rotations and other soil health practices. It is her passion for farmers and ranchers that keeps her pushing North 40 Ag forward.

The newest board member joining the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors is Tyler Wiltgen, Executive Director, St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation. The EDC is a not-for-profit corporation made up of 140-Member Investor companies. The EDC has 22 board members elected who are elected by the Member Investor companies.

Wiltgen started his role as Executive Director of the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation in July 2021 and serves as a member of the St. Vincent Healthcare Senior Leadership Team. Before joining the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation, Tyler served as Vice President of Advancement for Rocky Mountain College. His prior experience includes development positions in the College of Agriculture, Athletics and Gift Planning at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation in Bozeman. Tyler was also the radio voice of Montana State University Bobcat Football and Men’s Basketball. A native of Wilsall, Montana, Tyler graduated from Montana State University-Bozeman, where he received both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He and his wife, Malaree, live in Billings with their three children.

City Hires New Airport Manager

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

The City of Billings has named Jeff Roach, A.A.E., as its next director of Aviation and Transit. He will fill the position following the retirement of Kevin Ploehn after 33 years of employment with the City. Ploehn’s last day is Jan. 13.

Roach comes to Billings from Nashville, TN, and is scheduled to begin his new role on Jan. 16, 2023. Roach will plan, direct, and manage the City of Billings MET Transit System, and the Billings Logan International Airport (BIL).

He brings more than 30 years of experience in transportation, aviation, and airport management to Billings.

Most recently, Roach was Assistant Vice President, Executive Director for John C. Tune Airport, the general aviation reliever airport in Nashville, TN.

Roach is no stranger to the cold climate, as he was previously the Airport Manager for Fairbanks International Airport. He has also worked for the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities as Transportation Planning Manager.

Finding someone with management experience in both aviation and transit was no easy task. The City called on ADK Consulting and Executive Search to find top tier candidates for this unique job title.  Roach earned his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Alaska and went on to receive his master’s degree in Management from Webster University.  He also received a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Air Force Air University. Roach is an Accredited Member (A.A.E.) of the American Association of Airport Executives, and has a commercial, instrument helicopter pilot license. In addition, Mr. Roach served in the Alaska Army National Guard.

Billings Chamber Priorities: Tax Reform, Public Safety, and Montana’s Workforce.

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

By Dan Brooks

TAX REFORM

The Billings Chamber supports the Governor’s proposals to increase the Business Equipment Tax exemption and decrease the top marginal income tax rate. Both will provide significant benefits to our businesses.

In Yellowstone County, there are 502 entities with business equipment tax liability in tax year 2022. Raising the exemption threshold to $1 million would fully exempt 273 entities, reduce liabilities for the remaining 229, and provide a total savings of $1.293 MILLION to businesses in Yellowstone County. Local government and school district revenues will be backfilled through adjustments to Entitlement Share and Guaranteed Tax Base funding mechanisms.

 The Billings Chamber’s membership primarily consists of small businesses (about 90%), many of which will file as pass-through entities. Lowering the top marginal income tax rate from 6.5% to 5.9%, as the Governor is proposing, will provide tax savings to many small businesses, allowing them to reinvest in their businesses. The decrease also makes Montana more competitive as we currently have the highest top marginal income tax rate among our neighboring states.

 PUBLIC SAFETY

The Billings Chamber remains incredibly grateful to Billings voters for passing the 2021 Public Safety Mill Levy (PSML), adding resources to our police department, fire department, and other public safety needs. The PSML constituted a significant improvement among a constellation of complex public safety factors that need addressed. Fortunately, we have a legislative delegation working to fix some of those issues.

 Currently the state pays less than the actual cost of housing state inmates at local detention facilities. Which means Yellowstone County taxpayers are effectively subsidizing state inmates. One of our local legislators, Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe (R) HD 43, has a bill draft (HB 174) to deal with that.  

Billings has over 30 sober living homes, the most in the state. While many operate in good faith, intending to keep folks sober and get them back on track, the lack of oversight and regulation have led to bad behaviors by a few landlords, leaving people who need help out of luck, and neighborhoods concerned about unwanted activities on their streets. Another local legislator, Sen. Barry Usher (R) SD 20, is sponsoring a bill (SB 94) to provide oversight to sober living homes.

 MONTANA’S WORKFORCE

When we hear from businesses about the challenge of finding workforce, it often stems from a difficulty of new employees finding housing; not only is it too expensive, we simply don’t have enough. This isn’t just a Bozeman and Missoula problem. A recently updated housing study estimates that four of Billings’s top five occupations—about 36,000 people—don’t make enough to afford a median priced home. So what’s causing much of this problem? Local government regulations.

 A recent study by the National Association of Homebuilders indicates almost $100,000 of new home costs (23.8%) are due to government regulation, largely at the local level.

 A Pew Research analysis, presented to Montana lawmakers in 2021, sums up the research consensus on housing, “Strict zoning regulations increase costs, reduce growth.” 

What’s the solution to affordable housing? A CATO Institute study offers the answer, “policymakers can tackle housing affordability problems at the state and local levels by overhauling zoning and land-use rules. They can cap or reduce local regulation, fast-track approval processes, and compensate property owners for regulatory takings. Additional federal aid is not the answer, and it may even undermine incentives for local governments to make needed reforms.”

 The Billings Chamber will be supporting pro-housing legislation that helps address our housing challenges. 

While we are very optimistic about changes that will benefit our members, we are concerned about some proposals with significant consequences.

 TOURISM

Concerns in western Montana about tourist overcrowding have resulted in suggestions to reduce or even eliminate tourism promotion and marketing funding. “Time to stop promoting Montana,” read a ridiculous recent headline. Dax Schieffer (Voices of MT Tourism) provides an excellent response, noting that tourism provides Montana with 50,000 jobs.

 We already know what happens when you turn off the tourism marketing tap because Colorado did it in 1993. An analysis on the impact found, “As a result, Colorado’s domestic market share plunged 30% within two years, representing a loss of over $1.4 billion in tourism revenue annually. Over time, the revenue loss increased to well over $2 billion yearly.” It wasn’t until 2015, over two decades later, that Colorado regained the market share it had lost.

 Our local tourism organizations, Visit Billings, and Visit Southeast Montana, work tirelessly to attract each tourist we can bring to eastern Montana. Western Montanans may be jaded about tourists, but we recognize the benefit to our rural businesses when a few extra patrons each week is significant.

 The Billings Chamber will work to defend tourism funding that benefits Montana’s small businesses.

Billings Building Permits 01-15-23 

17 January 2023
Press Room
No comments

Commercial

Montana Rescue Mission/ Dick Anderson Construction, 2822 Minnesota Ave, Com Addition, $6,908,641

Montana Rescue Mission Incorporated/ Dick Anderson Construction, 21 S 29th St, Com Remodel, $10

Realco Llc, 4222 State Ave, Com Remodel, $25,000

Billings Clinic/ Jones Construction, Inc, 3319 Gabel Rd, Com Remodel, $150,000

Sam Picard/ Jones Construction, Inc, 970 S 29th St W, Com Remodel, $15,800

Sam Picard/ Jones Construction, Inc, 2909 Millennium Cir, Com Remodel, $32,000

Srd Properties LLP, 601 Main St, Com Remodel, $6,796

St John’s Foundation/ Star Service, Inc., 502 N 30th St, Com Addition, $200,000

Ross Development LLC/ Beartooth Holding & Construction, 1302 Golden Valley Cir, Com New Store/Strip Center, $1,875,000

Rob Veltkamp/ Jones Construction, Inc, 2212 Grant Rd, Com Remodel, $1,500,000

Levi Potter/ Beartooth Holding & Construction, 1686 Shiloh Rd, Com Remodel, $281,300

Jorden Hill, 2816 King Ave W, Com Remodel, $15,000

Valley Federal Credit Union/ T.W. Clark Construction LLC, 207 N 28th St, Com Remodel, $185,000

Computers Unlimited/ Mountain Alarm, 2501 Montana Ave, Com Remodel, $11,200

West Grand Plaza LLC/ Pella Window Store, 1502 Rehberg Ln, Com Remodel, $4,000

CLDI/ K2 Civil Inc, 2906 Minnesota Ave, Demolition Permit Commercial, $23,465

Residential

Magnuson, Scott A & Kimberly C/ King’s Mountain Builders Inc, 3317 John O Groats Ct, Res New Single Family, $450,000

Miller, Tyler & Jillian/ Exterior Design Solutions Deck, 2225 Burlington Ave, Res Addition Single/Duplex/Garage, $14,240

Torgerson, Alicia/ Stocky’s Custom Carpentry LLC, 2545 Miles Ave, Res New Accessory Structure, $34,000

Diverse Construction/ Diverse Construction LLC, 2064 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family, $222,528

Diverse Construction LLC/ Diverse Construction LLC, 2056 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family, $222,528

Diverse Construction/ Diverse Construction LLC, 2102 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family $267,652.00

ABCO Billings LLC/ Billings Home Run, 1615 Cubs Way, Res New Single Family, $275,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5817 White Sox Way, Res New Single Family, $248,808

Wagenhals Enterprise Inc/ Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 4627 N Hollow Brook Dr, Res New Single Family, $500,000

Infinity Homes/ Infinity Home LLC, 2469 Bonito Loop, Res New Single Family, $225,968

McCall Homes/ McCall Development, 1851 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $227,081

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5827 Mariners Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5701 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5702 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5711 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5712 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5721 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5722 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC ABCO Billings LLC, 5802 Mariners Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5807 Mariners Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5817 Mariners Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5818 Mariners Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5828 Mariners Way, Res New Townhome, $548,520

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5731 Orioles Way, Res New Townhome, $450,000

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5713 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5707 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5823 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $245,208

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5737 W Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $252,384

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5820 Rangers Way, Res New Two Family $262,884.00

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5856 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5850 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5742 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5748 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5754 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5760 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5802 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5808 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5814 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC; 5820 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,00

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC; 5826 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5832 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5844 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5838 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5710 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5716 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Home Run/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5719 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5719 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5722 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC. 5725 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000s

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5731 N Mets Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5735 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5741 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5821 Rangers Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5827 Rangers Way, Res New Two Family, $225,000

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 1621 Cubs Way. Res New Two Family, $244,080

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 1627 Cubs Way, Res New Two Family, $244,080

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5743 W Mets Way, Res New Two Family,$244,080.00

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 1622 Cubs Way, Res New Two Family, $248,808

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5811 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $248,808

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5826 Rangers Way, Res New Two Family, $248,808

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5832 Rangers Way, Res New Two Family, $248,808

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5849 White Sox Way, Res New Two Family, $248,808

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5732 Orioles Way, Res New Two Family, $274,260

Billings Homerun LLC/ ABCO Billings LLC, 5801 Mariners Way, Res New Two Family, $274,260

Why do people move?

9 November 2022
Press Room
No comments

How much impact do tax policies have?

The Tax Foundation has ranked Montana as Number Two among states to gain population due to Interstate Migration. As a percentage of population Montana gained 1.14 percent in population from 2019-2020 in population based upon an analysis of address changes from the IRS.  Idaho was Number 1 with 2. 05 percent. Arizona was Number 3 with 1.10 percent.

In total 28 states gained in population including Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina—while 22 states and the District of Columbia experienced a net loss—led by New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Washington DC was actually the “state” to have had the greatest out migration with a loss of -2.17 percent, followed by New York with -1. 28 percent. North Dakota was 47th with a loss of – 0.72 percent in population, followed by California with a loss of -0.67 percent.

Reports the Tax Foundation: “For many years, policymakers, journalists, and taxpayers have debated the role state tax policy plays in individuals’ and businesses’ location decisions. Annual data about who is moving—and where—provide clues about the factors contributing to these moves.”

The Tax Foundation explained that these data, capture many of the interstate moves made early in the pandemic—between mid-March and mid-July 2020—but do not necessarily capture the bulk of pandemic-related moves, many of which occurred later in 2020 and even into 2021. It is more accurate however, than the more timely reports provided by moving companies. The IRS data are by default more comprehensive and provide important insights into the movement of adjusted gross income (AGI) among states.

When all individuals associated with each tax return are accounted for, including spouses and dependents, only one state, Wisconsin, saw a loss in tax returns attributable to interstate migration but a gain in individuals associated with the returns of those who moved in.

“Many factors influence an individual’s or family’s decision to move from one state to another….Cost-of-living considerations, including tax differentials, may not be the primary reason for an interstate move, but they are often one of several factors people consider when deciding whether—and where—to move.”

With this in mind, one observation from the 2019-2020 IRS migration data is that a strong positive relationship exists between state tax competitiveness and inbound migration. Overall, states with lower taxes and sound tax structures experienced stronger inbound migration than states with higher taxes and more burdensome structures.

Of the 10 states that experienced the largest gains in income taxpayers, five do not levy individual income taxes on wage or salary income at all, and two others had top marginal individual income tax rates that were below the national median at the time. Recently, those states have grown even more competitive. Nine of the top 10 states either forgo individual income taxes on wage and salary income, have a flat income tax, or are moving to a flat income tax.

Additionally, among the 28 states that experienced net inbound migration of income tax filers, only nine had a top marginal individual income tax rate above the national median. Meanwhile, among the 22 states (and the District of Columbia) that experienced net outbound migration of income tax filers, 15 states and D.C. had top marginal rates above the median. In the aggregate, states with a top marginal rate at or below the 2019 median of 5.4 percent gained 225,000 net new residents from the states with rates above the median.

A robust positive relationship also exists between states with below-average state and local tax collections per capita and those experiencing strong inbound migration. Of the 28 states that saw a net gain in income tax filers due to interstate migration, 22 had below-average state and local tax collections per capita in fiscal year 2020, while half of the states that experienced net outbound migration had above-average collections per capita.

Furthermore, a strong positive relationship exists between states with well-structured tax codes and those that experience net inbound migration. Among the 25 best ranking states on the 2020 State Business Tax Climate Index, which had a snapshot date of July 1, 2019, 20 states experienced net inbound migration between 2019 and 2020. Meanwhile, among the 25 worst ranking states on the Index, 17 experienced a net loss of taxpayers to interstate migration.

The Tax Foundation advises, “The reason policymakers should care about their state’s interstate migration patterns is the effect of interstate migration on tax revenue, economic output, and economic growth over time. Between 2019 and 2020, most states that experienced a net loss in income tax filers attributable to interstate migration also experienced a net loss in income associated with interstate migration, while most states that gained taxpayers also experienced corresponding gains in AGI.

Hawaii was the only state to lose residents on net yet experience a net gain in AGI, with new residents bringing in an average of $75,000 in AGI per return while departing residents had an average of $64,000 per return. Meanwhile, only three states—Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri—saw a net gain in income tax filers but a net loss in AGI, with new residents earning less on average than the people who moved out.

Some of this is due to cost-of-living adjustments that tend to occur when individuals leave employment in one state for employment in another. For example, even if their job duties are substantially similar, a registered nurse employed in a high-cost-of-living state is likely to have a higher salary than one employed in a lower-cost-of-living state due to cost-of-living considerations that affect market rate earnings in different parts of the country.

There is evidence, however, that in states like Hawaii, the loss of relatively lower-income residents is somewhat attributable to high taxes and high costs of living causing lower- and middle-income residents to seek more affordable destinations elsewhere. Notably, four of the top five states Hawaii residents moved to—Washington, Texas, Nevada, and Florida—forgo individual income taxes on wage income.

Likewise, some of the gain of relatively lower-income residents in Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri is likely due to the relatively low cost of living in those states compared to other locations. Crucially for economic growth, however, a low tax environment also encourages investment and entrepreneurial decision-making and attracts highly mobile higher earners as well.

Treasury to Gather More Info on Small Businesses

9 November 2022
Press Room
No comments

A new federal law passed in 2020 is set to expand the role of the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to collect and store confidential personal information about small businesses that have fewer than 20 full-time employees. As a part of the federal government’s moves to begin enforcing the new law, FinCEN recently released a final rule stating how the new law – known as the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) – will take effect.  

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and small business owners have long opposed the CTA and key voted against it in the 116th Congress. Eighty percent of small business owners opposed the law in a 2018 Federal Member Ballot, according to the NFIB. However, the new rule did not provide the much-needed clarity on reporting requirements that NFIB members and small business owners were fighting to secure.

“FinCEN failed to strike a balance on which businesses must report, what information must be reported, and when the information must be reported,” said Jeff Brabant, NFIB Director of Federal Government Relations. “At the same time, under this rule, many small businesses will not know if they need to register with FinCEN, with the prospect of civil and criminal penalties hanging over their head for non-compliance. This will inevitably lead to small businesses contracting out the reporting requirements with consultants at a significant cost.”

NFIB is concerned that FinCEN has failed to adequately define what businesses must report. FinCEN defines a reporting company as any company with 20 or fewer employees that was created by filing paperwork with a Secretary of State or similar state agency. With 50 different states having 50 different standards and practices for incorporating, this can potentially lead to business owners being unsure if they must report or not. For example, some states require sole proprietorships and general partnerships to register with state agencies and some states do not. 

The new rule is effective January 1, 2024. Reporting companies created or registered before that date will have one year (until January 1, 2025) to file their initial reports, while reporting companies created or registered after January 1, 2024, will have 30 days after creation or registration to file their initial reports.

Once the initial report has been filed, both existing and new reporting companies will have 30 days from a change in beneficial ownership information to file updates.

FinCEN has plans to consider additional proposals that will establish rules for who may access beneficial ownership information, for what purposes, and what safeguards will be required to ensure that the information is secured and protected.

FinCEN is still in the process of developing the infrastructure to administer these requirements, including the information technology system that will be used to store beneficial ownership information in accordance with the strict security and confidentiality requirements of the CTA.

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Improvement Act

NFIB has opposed the original CTA since it first started moving through Congress several years ago, but NFIB members have been pushing for Congress to pass the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Improvement Act, H.R. 7623, since it was introduced in April.

State Employee Pay Plan

9 November 2022
Press Room
No comments

Following extensive bargaining, Governor Greg Gianforte and public employee unions have reached an agreement for the state pay plan. Covering the 2024-2025 biennium, the agreement includes wage increases, health benefit cost freezes, one-time payments, and other far-reaching contractual changes.

The agreement includes a $1.50 per hour or 4% raise—whichever is greater—on July 1 each year of the upcoming biennium. Single members’ out-of-pocket health benefit contributions, copay amounts, deductibles, and co-insurance costs will not increase through 2025. Additionally, one-time payments prorated to a 40-hour work week and worth up to $1,040 will be provided to every employee. The agreement also provides increased meal per diems and the addition of an annual flexible holiday which will replace every other year’s Election Day holiday.

Unions representing public employees bargain a state pay plan with the governor prior to every legislative session. The bargained pay plan must then be approved by the legislature.