I’m running for Missoula City Council this year.
The election is on November 7.
If there are too many candidates, however, a primary will be held on September 12.
So that’s quite some time from now, but I like to get started early.
Official campaign filing doesn’t start until April 20, but on March 7 I filed my C1 form.
This is an announcement of candidacy, something that allows you to raise money.
I’ve also made a mock-up image of what my campaign sign and flyer will look like…as you saw in the image at top of the post.
Those are the issues I’m running on: taxes and bonds.
Exciting stuff, huh?
Well, the truth of that matter’s that these issues affect all of us, and in many different ways.
Taxes go up, you pay more each year…whether you own a home or not.
Yep, our rental prices are out of control.
- The average rent in Missoula is $763, or what amounts to $9,156 a year.
- The average value of a home is $238,200.
- The average mortgage rate in Missoula is $1,455 a month, and it’s figured that those without a mortgage are still paying $471 a month in costs/maintenance.
So any kind of extra tax increases can really hurt people.
Now, what is the tax situation in Missoula?
Well, city residents have been seeing out of control tax increases year after year.
- In 2017 taxes are going up by 4.9%
- In 2016 taxes went up by 4.7%
- In 2015 taxes went up by 2.9%
- In 2014 taxes went up by 2.7%
- In 2013 taxes went up by 3.2%
- In 2012 taxes went up by...(can't find this one)
- In 2011 taxes went up by 3.5%
- In 2010 taxes went up by 0%
Yes, you have to go back 7 years to find a time when you could just keep paying the same as what you did the year before!
That’s unacceptable.
Let’s not forget it was terrible before then, too:
- In 2009 taxes went up by 4.8%
You can read all about Missoula’s terrible tax situation in the Missoulian and on NBC Montana.
I’m sure you know all about it already, however, and I’m sure it’s making you sick.
Perhaps you’re even losing sleep over it...if you’re not working an extra job at night, that is.
By 2015, the city had levied 84% more taxes than they had in 2005.
That was 2 years ago.
You saw that in the 2 years since then, your taxes have gone up by another 9.6%.
Let me ask you…
What are you paying for?
The roads continue to deteriorate while we give millions to developers to build fancy profit-centers for themselves.
On top of this you have to pay through the roof for new sidewalks.
Missoula taxpayers are pressed too hard.
It’s time to slow down.
It’s time to stop raising taxes, stop issuing bonds, and work with what we have.
If that’s not adequate, we have to find areas to cut.
Perhaps that means some city workers lose their jobs.
That’s fine. We cannot continue to grow out of control on our weary and overtaxed homeowners.
That’s why I’m running for City Council – to offer a conservative voice that says, ‘Stop, just stop already!’
I could use your support.
You can donate to my campaign, put up a yard sign, knock on doors, or even make phone calls.
Most of all, please vote.
City Council elections are November 7 and you can use your mail-in ballot.
It’ll be some time until then, and the city will continue to hemorrhage money during that time.
Things might have to get worse before they can get better.
They’ll only get better if you vote.
Please do so on November 7.
Thanks for your support!