MT License Plates, 1970-2010 Today I want to look at exactly what the legislators in Helena are arguing over, and that’s the General Fund. Because that’s such a big subject, I’m breaking it down into smaller component pieces over the coming days. Today we’ll look at motor vehicle taxes and driver’s license fees.
The General Fund is the main funding source for state government, and we need to figure out where that money is going. We also need to figure out where that money is coming from.
You’ll remember that earlier in the week we explored Montana’s budget and income sources and what it’s spending its money on. Here’s the complete list so you can stay caught-up with us:
I’ll be taking that information and bundling it together with more information into a book called Montana: A Modern Look. Why? Because I’m smarter than you, and I have an agenda.
The General Fund is the main funding source for state government, and we need to figure out where that money is going. We also need to figure out where that money is coming from.
You’ll remember that earlier in the week we explored Montana’s budget and income sources and what it’s spending its money on. Here’s the complete list so you can stay caught-up with us:
I’ll be taking that information and bundling it together with more information into a book called Montana: A Modern Look. Why? Because I’m smarter than you, and I have an agenda.
This is what the Montana General Fund looks like for the coming years. You can find this information in the 182-page Revenue Estimate Recommendations report.
This is what the legislature is talking about, and this is what you need to know. The time of living in ignorance and letting rich white men decide your fate is over. With the articles that appear on this site, you’ll know more than those clowns. Now the question is, how will you use that information, powerful as it is?
This is what the legislature is talking about, and this is what you need to know. The time of living in ignorance and letting rich white men decide your fate is over. With the articles that appear on this site, you’ll know more than those clowns. Now the question is, how will you use that information, powerful as it is?
Montana General Fund for 2015-17
Most Montana political websites won’t discuss this kind of information, and I think that’s because they’re intimidated by it.
It’s tough to look at financials and graphs and try to make sense of it. It’s much easier to dig up dirt and talk about fluff. That’s what you’ve come to expect from Montana political websites, and I’m sorry.
It’s tough to look at financials and graphs and try to make sense of it. It’s much easier to dig up dirt and talk about fluff. That’s what you’ve come to expect from Montana political websites, and I’m sorry.
Driver’s License Fees in Montana
You don’t hear a lot about vehicle taxes in Montana, but we’ll try to change that. Here’s a chart showing how our driver’s license fees in Montana are accounted for:
That first chart shows where the money is going, and the next chart shows that we expect to lose money in driver’s license fees each of the next three years, although not as much as this year. Why is that?
One reason Montana is losing money is because of the ages of drivers. Our license fees are based on age, and youth driving habits affect that. Here’s how these breakdown:
One reason Montana is losing money is because of the ages of drivers. Our license fees are based on age, and youth driving habits affect that. Here’s how these breakdown:
- Driver’s License: $5 per year;
- Motorcycle Endorsement: $0.50 per year;
- Commercial Driver’s License, Interstate: $10 per year;
- Commercial Driver’s License, Intrastate: $8.50 per year;
- Duplicate License: $10
- Renewal Notice: $0.50
Where do Vehicle License Fess in Montana go?
Motor Vehicle Fee in Montana
Separate form the Driver’s License Fees are the Motor Vehicle Fees. Here’s what that breakdown looks like, broken down into nine major categories:
It’s important to remember that this money is divided 96.6% to the General Fund and 3.4% to State Special Revenue. We explored that breakdown more fully in a post called Deciphering Montana’s State Special Revenue and General Fund.
- Registration Fees;
- Record Liens Type 1;
- Record Liens Type 2;
- Title Fees;
- Personal and New Plate Fees;
- Senior Transit Fee;
- Veteran’s Administration Fees;
- Miscellaneous Fees.
It’s important to remember that this money is divided 96.6% to the General Fund and 3.4% to State Special Revenue. We explored that breakdown more fully in a post called Deciphering Montana’s State Special Revenue and General Fund.
Looks like those fees are going up by 2% over the next two years. Still, that’s quite a decrease from what we had a decade ago:
Motor Vehicle taxes in Montana
Can someone tell me why we dropped these fees? Did we have a huge surplus of revenue? Because I’m sorry, but bitching over money at the end of each session isn’t a goal anyone should have, but when you see a chart like this, you know that’s all they have.
$10 million down the drain here folks, and the reason was SB 285 and HB 671 that got through in 2005. Right? Maybe not. What did those bills do? They reduced fees and also reclassified many fees under the vehicle tax revenue. According to our report, that caused net revenue to change by zero. We’ll see this later on.
$10 million down the drain here folks, and the reason was SB 285 and HB 671 that got through in 2005. Right? Maybe not. What did those bills do? They reduced fees and also reclassified many fees under the vehicle tax revenue. According to our report, that caused net revenue to change by zero. We’ll see this later on.
Vehicle Tax in Montana
Wow, there sure are a lot of taxes involving vehicles in Montana, aren’t there? So what’s the difference with these?
This set of vehicle taxes in Montana covers five different categories, which are determined by age and weight of the vehicle:
Here’s what the income looks like:
This set of vehicle taxes in Montana covers five different categories, which are determined by age and weight of the vehicle:
- Light Vehicles;
- Large Trucks;
- Motor Homes;
- Motorcycles;
- Boats & Snowmobiles.
Here’s what the income looks like:
You can see from the chart that incomes rose by about $10 million after 2005, because of that change we mentioned earlier. Since that time we’ve also collected about $10 million more each year.
Are vehicles a way for Montana to get more money? I don’t think so, but it is a good area to look at to see something that should probably remain the same. Nope, if we want to make this state better, we need to look for another area to cut or increase.
Check back later for a look at corporate taxes and individual income taxes in Montana! And later in the week we’ll explore alternate revenue options that aren’t in the current budget, such as a sales tax, marijuana taxes and tourist taxes.
Thanks for reading…and paying taxes!
Are vehicles a way for Montana to get more money? I don’t think so, but it is a good area to look at to see something that should probably remain the same. Nope, if we want to make this state better, we need to look for another area to cut or increase.
Check back later for a look at corporate taxes and individual income taxes in Montana! And later in the week we’ll explore alternate revenue options that aren’t in the current budget, such as a sales tax, marijuana taxes and tourist taxes.
Thanks for reading…and paying taxes!
