Understanding The Great Falls Property Tax Hike

Prices Are Rising Everywhere In Montana
The Great Falls City Commission voted to increase property taxes for the coming fiscal year

The Great Falls City Commission Approved A Resolution To Raise Property Taxes In Great Falls

The Great Falls City Commission voted last night (8/5/25) to approve Resolution 10580 for the fiscal year.

Resolution 10580 is an intent to increase property taxes for the fiscal year. The Fiscal year starts July 1, 2025 and ends June 30, 2026. Again, our city commission sprung one on us with no time to fight it. Cool.

The tax increase is expected to raise about $448,822 for the City’s General Fund

What Do The Commissioners And Mayor Think Of The Rate Hike?

Mayor Cory Reeves: From his Facebook Account:

"Tonight, the Commission voted to modestly raise taxes to maintain essential city services. If you own a $300,000 home, the increase is about $7.74 for the ENTIRE YEAR. For a $600,000 home, it’s roughly $17.80 for the ENTIRE YEAR."

It gets better, but not in the way the mayor had hoped:

"To put that into perspective, major fast-food chains have raised their prices more in the past year than we have as a city government. A single combo meal at some places now costs more than this yearly tax adjustment."

From Montana Right Now:

Commissioner Joe McKenney: "We’re past cutting the fat, cutting the meat. We’re now cutting the bone."

(How about if Calumet pays their taxes?)

Commissioner Shannon Wilson: “I think a happy meal at McDonald’s went up more than what taxes will go up in an entire year.”

(This comment bothers me the most. After NW Energy raising rates by about 50%, the city by nearly 27% who in Great Falls can actually AFFORD to buy their kids a happy meal when we are being taxed and priced to DEATH. How out of touch can you BE?)

Commissioner Rick Tryon: “Any time we have to raise taxes, it’s not easy… We all have to pay the same.”

(How about Calumet paying their taxes?)

Also, City Commissioners, READ THE ROOM. Raise prices AGAIN???

Montana Is Getting More Expensive By The Second

Let me see if I am getting this right:

Wages HAVE risen since the pandemic, but prices are rising even higher. And when we allow millionaire and billionaire out-of-staters come in and drive up our prices on EVERYTHING, we need wages 2 to 3 times what we're getting just to survive.

Home prices have skyrocketed leaving those homes where both people work unable to even THINK about buying a house in Montana.

Insurance premiums are going up this year in Montana. Read More About That Here

Northwestern Energy. I hardly even need to say more. My utility bill is beyond belief for 650 square feet. I can not even BEGIN to imagine my bill this winter.

And at least NWE was able to outright buy the most affordable utility in town, the gas company. So how long before you can't afford heat, either?

And finally, we're so lucky Great Falls chose this year to spike our City of Great Falls bills by 27% because, why TF not.

One More Thing Before I Go

To put this into perspective for our mayor and commissioners, $20 isn't anything you worry about. You pay taxes. Ok.

Every dang rate increase this year is just another $20+ out of Great Falls homes. But it's ok. You just need to explain it to us like people who eat out every day. I know it seems like people can actually afford that now days, but sadly, that's only you guys commissioners. Only YOU don't feel the sting.

I just want to remind you all that a commission seat and a mayor seat is up for grabs in November. Stop being fooled. Research and vote in people who will listen to you, not lecture you.

And how about Calumet pay their taxes?

Sources: Montana Right Now, Montana Free Press, City of Great Falls