New Jersey taxpayers bear the heaviest state-local tax burden in 2008, and Alaskans have the lightest tax burden. Montana has the 11th lightest (40th heaviest) state-local tax burden according to a new report from the Tax Foundation.
The nation as a whole paid 9.7 percent of its income in state-local taxes, down from 9.9 percent in 2007, primarily because income grew faster than tax collections between 2007 and 2008, according to the report complied by senior economist Gerald Prante.
The Quality of Life Run will be held on Saturday, August 23, beginning with the 2 mile run/walk at 8:15 a.m. and the 5-mile at 8 a.m.
The Quality of Life run was created by the Billings Association of Realtors in 2004 to help raise awareness for non-profits in the community that are working to improve the quality of life for our residents. The event grows each year in number of participants and dollars raised. To date, more than $88,000 has been raised for non-profits including the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Tumbleweed Runaway Program and Senior Helping Hands.
The beneficiary this year is Yellowstone CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) — a program of volunteers who speak up for abused and neglected children. A 2-mile and 5-mile event for which donations are being accepted. Register on line at www.qualityoliferun.com
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 |
8 Reads
By Evelyn Pyburn
All the admonitions, about how we should live our lives, which are being liberally handed out, from presidential candidates to local planners, have a common theme – a total disregard for you. A lack of respect for your time, your money, your desires and needs. You can, and should, be sacrificed for the welfare of the group – according to these molders of a perfect society.
Whether it’s attempts to make SUV’s less attainable through higher taxes and insurance premiums, laws as to what light bulbs or toilets people can use, restricting people to walk, bike or ride the bus, building a home in a government approved manner, or waiting for permissions and permits, the one thing being totally discounted, in all this meddling of our affairs, is the liberation and empowerment that abundant energy, modern conveniences and broad choices give to the common man.
The Montana Petroleum Association will hold its Annual Meeting in Billings Aug. 26-27.
The public is especially invited to attend The Petroleum Industry Appreciation Day Luncheon on the 27th in the Crowne Plaza Ballroom. It will feature Dr. Michael Economides, Chairman of the Board of XGAS and Paleon Oil and Professor at the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston. He will talk about “Energy Geopolitics.”
Montana farm real estate values increased 14.6 percent, averaging $1100 per acre as of January 2008. The rate of increase was among the highest in the nation. The data was reported this month by the US Department of Agriculture.
Nationally, farm real estate values, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $2,350 per acre on January 1, 2008, up 8.8 percent from 2007. The $2,350 per acre is a record high and $190 more than a year earlier.
The high cost of oil and the lack of its availability for chip sealing has prompted a decision from the Yellowstone County Public Works Department not to do any chip sealing of county roads this summer. “The price has more than doubled,” said Bob Moats, Director of Public Works. Moats explained that they plan to attempt to purchase the oil this winter when prices for it are expected to drop.
Michael Hanson to Serve as Company Consultant
NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today announced the appointment of Robert C. Rowe as President and Chief Executive Officer effective immediately as successor to Michael J. Hanson. Rowe also has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Hanson, who has resigned as President and CEO, will continue to serve the Company as a consultant to ensure a seamless transition. “I want to thank Mike for his service to the Company and for his leadership and significant contributions to the organization,” said E. Linn Draper, Jr., Chairman of the NorthWestern Energy Board of Directors. “In Bob Rowe, we have found an excellent leader to carry on, and are pleased to welcome him to the Company. He is well known to the Board of Directors and the management team. We have the highest regard for his strategic and public policy insights as well as his judgment. He also is very well respected among federal and state regulatory authorities that are so integral to our business.”
By Elizabeth Milito
There is no question that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions impact small business. In fact, studies have shown that more than 40 percent of the court’s cases deal with issues that directly affect the business community. Those issues include employment, civil rights, insurance, workplace injury, environmental regulations and product liability issues.
Unfortunately, the 2007-2008 term is likely to receive mixed reviews from the business community. The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center participated in seven of court’s most critical cases and scored two important victories for small business.
By Evelyn Pyburn
What a novel idea!
Buying property, when wanting to control the use of it.
Not long ago the Livingston Enterprise reported, “The heir to an Italian candy empire that includes Mentos mints has purchased about 4,000 acres of the proposed 11,000-acre Ameya Preserve development, developer Wade Dokken said. Giorgio Perfetti proposed the purchase because he didn’t want to look at the development from his own property.”
By George, he got it! In the United States of America, no less – someone gets it.
By Evelyn Pyburn
Representatives of a number of area gravel mine operations and the county commissioners of several counties met recently in Billings to air their differences and try to find common ground regarding the issues of permitting and regulating gravel pits.
Basically, they all agreed that they wanted to get along rather than “butt heads” at the state legislature. “I don’t see how it’s to our benefit to irritate one of our best customers,” said Rick Allison of Knife River Co.
