In Lieu Payments

Dear Editor,

I live in NE Montana near Scobey. Austin Knudsen was my representative for eight years, four as the most powerful person in the Legislature as Speaker.

The western half of Daniels County has over half its land owned by the State. The State used to pay an in lieu payment to the county to make up for the property taxes they don't pay. The local taxpayer make up the difference.

I have always followed this as my father Ed got the in lieu payment enacted in the '60s and Sam Kitzenberg kept it going. Through time the in lieu payment disappeared. Knudsen did nothing to help bring back some equalization to the area, especially as Speaker. Poor representation.

Senator Lang finally got about 20 percent paid back but that has ended and we are back to zero. The federal govt. does pay in lieu taxes to the counties for their federal lands.

Austin and now his mother as our representative have not helped their constituents' tax situation in Daniels and other counties for over 10 years. Their cutting taxes does not always mean lower taxes to you.

Sincerely,

Steve Carney

Scobey, Mont.