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Author	Topic: Atlas Shrugged, gov't is here to help.	Post a Reply Back to Topics

PlanoLogic Champion Author Texas Posts:1,748 Points:1,546,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:01:56 AM Ignore PlanoLogic Report Abuse Tax Revolt in a Boom Town Some Refineries Challenge Property Valuations, Threatening Municipal Revenue. BILLINGS, Mont.—Some property owners are pushing back against their tax assessments, threatening local-government revenue in a pattern that is familiar elsewhere as economic troubles have depressed property values. The difference here in Yellowstone County: The economy is booming, and property prices are rising. And the tax revolt is coming from oil refineries, not homeowners. Two local refineries are challenging nearly $17 million in property taxes, and locals worry that a third may join in this summer. In all, corporations—mostly oil refiners—are trying to appeal $30 million in taxes, 98% of the value of current challenges to tax assessments in the county. Visit WSJ for full article

PlanoLogic

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Texas

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Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:01:56 AM

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Tax Revolt in a Boom Town
Some Refineries Challenge Property Valuations, Threatening Municipal Revenue.

BILLINGS, Mont.—Some property owners are pushing back against their tax assessments, threatening local-government revenue in a pattern that is familiar elsewhere as economic troubles have depressed property values.

The difference here in Yellowstone County: The economy is booming, and property prices are rising. And the tax revolt is coming from oil refineries, not homeowners.

Two local refineries are challenging nearly $17 million in property taxes, and locals worry that a third may join in this summer. In all, corporations—mostly oil refiners—are trying to appeal $30 million in taxes, 98% of the value of current challenges to tax assessments in the county.
Visit WSJ for full article

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wild3bill Champion Author New York Posts:2,546 Points:1,687,015 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:38:56 PM Ignore wild3bill Report Abuse "Atlas Shrugged" was a novel by Ayn Rand in which the US crashed and burned due to a do gooder Gov't, Scary how Obams and Obamacare resemble this fiction. Not to Worry the world will end one month before Obama's term ends!
Jeff1944 Champion Author South Dakota Posts:4,236 Points:1,074,760 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 12:57:53 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse Sounds like the Yellowstone County administrators need to be replaced in the next election.
hoosierva Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:1,036 Points:483,395 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 10:50:28 AM Ignore hoosierva Report Abuse isn't life grand! what fun to watch the US crash and burn.
PlanoLogic Champion Author Texas Posts:1,748 Points:1,546,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:58:40 AM Ignore PlanoLogic Report Abuse My thought was Saturn was the 20th century Motor Company on gas savings - talk about ahead of the curve in the early 90's, everything changed with them in 1996-1997 and they became just another GM product to be eventually killed off entirely with pontiac in the bailout.
Skunk63 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,559 Points:559,310 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:41:19 AM Ignore Skunk63 Report Abuse GM already resembles the Twentieth Century Motor Company.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,258 Points:2,372,345 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:40:22 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse just lay everyone off, shut em down and let the whiners whine.
anti0918 Rookie Author Akron Posts:67 Points:237,270 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:33:37 AM Ignore anti0918 Report Abuse Ayn Rand's ideas are desperately needed these days. Those who blame "capitalism" need to first understand what that word even means. We have not had anything close to laissez-faire capitalism in over a century.
PlanoLogic Champion Author Texas Posts:1,748 Points:1,546,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:30:30 AM Ignore PlanoLogic Report Abuse Google " Tax Revolt in a Boom Town " and try the direct link for the WSJ first choice. Looks like they let you read once before they ask for a subscription, where the bounce from GB gives you no opportunity. Worth a read.
Eugene_C Champion Author Columbus Posts:2,299 Points:155,995 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:25:43 AM Ignore Eugene_C Report Abuse No one is going to feel sorry for the oil companies. The oil underground belongs to the people, not the drillers. They're going to want a share of that. It always happens.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,493 Points:734,300 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:24:57 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse And they gave the money and lawyers to fight it.
PlanoLogic Champion Author Texas Posts:1,748 Points:1,546,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:18:35 AM Ignore PlanoLogic Report Abuse Hate it when that happens. Was a good article on local governments raising taxes on the regional refineries had a great map on their locations. Thanks for trying LL [Edited by: PlanoLogic at 3/19/2012 10:19:00 AM EST]
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,519 Points:1,128,045 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:13:56 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse Need to subscribe to read it.
PlanoLogic Champion Author Texas Posts:1,748 Points:1,546,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:07:14 AM Ignore PlanoLogic Report Abuse With Montana's neighbors enjoying the best gas prices in the country, you just knew somehow we would find a way to kill off that golden goose, we can't have such "unfairness" in the pricing system - "everyone needs to pay their fair share", if we can't lower everyone else's costs, let's raise expenses on the low ones. Insanity.