Tuesday morning, a handful of county treasurers presented to the state’s Revenue Committee, and they came prepared with a litany of complaints, and even fears for their safety.

“We get calls every day, how are we going to pay our taxes? Our heart just goes out to these people, and what do you do? And we work with them as much as we possibly can,” said Ravalli County treasurer Dan Whitesitt.

There was also plenty of discussion about the recently finished court case on school equalization mills, with dozens of counties now having to send out new bills to make up the difference after contesting the state’s interpretation.

Solutions floated in the hearing include phasing in impacts to increases in market value on property taxes, potentially moving back to a six-year appraisal cycle rather than the current two years. Possibly, creating a permanent homestead exemption, changing computer programs used to keep track of taxes, and lowering the residential tax rate.

“As residential property values shot through the roof over the last two cycles businesses and industrial and other types of property ended up paying less as a share of taxes,” said Gernant.

NBC Montana: County treasurers tell legislature property tax system needs reform