The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.
We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. “In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. “Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.” – Food critic Anton Egoġ5. But not so.” – Sous chef Colette Disneyġ3. “People think haute cuisine is snooooty, so chef must also be snooty. Jones is convinced that the Montana state legislature must develop a different property tax structure, because in her words, ‘the growth of property taxes in Missoula and all of Montana is simply unsustainable’.Chef Skinner: “Cheap sausages dipped in batter and deep-fried. I think we need the legislators to look at this and figure out how we can start pulling dollars from other pockets.” So, we're all paying it, because that's the way it's set up right now. “By 2013, it was up to 63 percent, and here in Missoula in 2018, we were pushing 89 percent of our property tax revenue coming from residential and commercial. “Back in 1987, across Montana 33 percent of property tax revenues came from residential and commercial,” she said. Jones looked back over 30 years and detailed how the tax burden has shifted more and more to the individual and commercial property owner. “So, as a city councilor, I've been tracking this and looking at it and having heartburn over it because this is a completely unsustainable trajectory, and it makes budget all the more stressful.” “I live kind of in the center of Missoula and in the year 2000, the property taxes on my house were $1,500 and now they are $6,500,” said Jones. Gwen Jones, who has taken it upon herself to study the history of property taxes in Missoula, explained her own personal property tax situation. If they see properties increasing all around you, they're going to say your market value has increased as well, so therefore your taxable value has increased and you may receive a higher tax.” “But then if your property was valued by the Department of Revenue, and they do this every two years, they come in and say, ‘we think your property market value is this’ and then there's a calculation to have your taxable value. “The city can only increase by half of the rate of the average of the last three years inflation,” she said.
Griffing explained the constraints placed upon the city as to how much property taxes can be raised from year to year.
But then the rest of your property tax bill will be coming to support the local schools to support the county and all of their respective operations.” We're talking about streets and police and fire and so forth. “Only a portion of that will be from the city to pay for city operations. “So if you're a property owner within the city of Missoula, you will receive a tax bill every year,” said Griffing. Griffing started the conversation with a brief explanation of Missoula property taxes.