Montana Supreme Court Order on 95 Mills Protects Taxpayers and Students Equally, Allows the 95 School Equalization Mills to Work as Intended

The Montana Supreme Court’s recent order upholding the Montana Department of Revenue’s calculation of the 95 school equalization mills provided a protective shield for residential property taxpayers and students educated in Montana’s public schools. The Court’s decision respected and preserved bipartisan decisions made by the 2023 Legislature estimating revenues and appropriating funds to fund Montana’s public schools.

Some county officials erroneously asserted that levying 77.89 instead of 95 school equalization mills would have saved the day for local property taxpayers. This is not the case...