HELENA – The Montana Department of Revenue is in the process of closing half of its field offices across the state as part of an effort to work within budget constraints.
The department previously had a field office in every county, working with residents and county governments on appraisals and other tax matters. But because of budget cuts made during the 2017 legislative session, revenue officials chose to downsize operations in those field offices.
Revenue Director Gene Walborn says some counties may lose an appraiser altogether, but others will just work from home.
"We’re looking at teleworking employees, we’ve gone down that road. We’ve had some of that in the past, but not a lot, so we’re expanding that," explains Walborn. "So even though we may be closing an office in a county, we still might have an appraiser in that county doing appraisal work. They may just be working out of their home."
Property Assessment Division Administrator Shauna Helfert adds that residents can use whichever field office is most convenient, it doesn’t have to be located in their county of residence. And many inquiries can be handled through other means.
"Although we’ll have some appraisers in those counties, either full-time or periodically, there won’t be an office, a physical office for them to visit,’ says Helfert. "But they’re welcome either to visit our website, make a phone call to the Department of Revenue or to stop by one of those other field offices."
The department of revenue has already closed 15 field offices including in Granite, Powell, Liberty, Judith Basin, Pondera, Big Horn, Blaine, Wheatland, Carter, Wibaux, Jefferson, Beaverhead, Glacier, Broadwater, and Deer Lodge counties.
The department is tentatively planning to close 13 more by February 2019 — including in Mineral County. Field offices will remain open in 28 counties across Montana.
Below is a list of dates and counties of when and where field offices will close:
- July 31, 2018: Petroleum, Prairie and Sweet Grass
- October 31, 2018: Chouteau, Daniels, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Rosebud and Teton
- February 28, 2019: Golden Valley, Powder River, and Roosevelt
Online resources include:
- Montana property owners looking for the field office nearest them page down a bit to “Visit One of Our Offices" at: mtrevenue.gov/contac
- Local Government Property Assessment Assistance (for county governments) at: mtrevenue.gov/government/pad-local
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