Re: Maker spaces

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

On Thu, 23 Jan 2025 02:17:58 -0000 (UTC), Lars Poulsen wrote:
 

On 2025-01-23, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

https://www.missoulapubliclibrary.org/home/spaces/makerspace/
>
Two of the issues that encourage me to vote are mil levies to fund
the library and the Parks&Rec open space projects.  The library has
become much more than dusty shelves filled with books.  I'm trying
to remember the last physical book I checked out; I get digital
content either through Amazon or the libby app.

 
What are "mil levies"?  Mil as in Mil-itary?  or local sales tax
additions?  Or property tax additions?

 
https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0150/chapter_0100/part_0040/
section_0250/0150-0100-0040-0250.html
 
Property tax.  Apparently the preferred spelling is 'mill' which is
even more confusing.  It's $1 / $1000 of assessed value.  There is a
disconnect on the part of some voters.  'I voted for increased
funding for the fire department.' 'My property taxes went up!' Duh.

Yup.  And not only that, but for a huge majority, they don't even
direct their ire at the right folks.  Property taxes go up, their
mortgage holder pays more taxes to the locality, so their escrow
witholding goes up on their monthly mortgage payment, and they
complain: "The bank raised my mortgage payment".

What's interesting is the pattern over the years. The library and Parks
measures pass; the schools fail. They can legally request another ballot
in six months. They do, and it fails.

My rule is: "you are taking more than enough money already, use it wisely and
you'll be fine" and so I always vote "no" for every single ballot
measure asking to "borrow more money".  Sadly, most of the voters in my
locality vote "yes" and the board continues to borrow with abandon.