MISSOULA – With the Legislature convening in four months, Missoula County has opted to take a wait-and-see approach before asking voters to consider a levy to fund bridge and road maintenance.

Commissioners officially removed the levy from the ballot on Thursday, making good on a promise they made earlier in the week. Now all eyes are on lawmakers in hopes they’ll take on property tax reform and make real changes to the system.

“If the legislature passes property tax reform, we can fund things like roads and bridges without having to ask voters to make that difficult decision,” said Commissioner Josh Slotnick. “If the legislature passes real reform, we may not have to ask voters.”

Governor Greg Gianforte put together a task force earlier this year to study and recommend changes to Montana’s property tax system. The group has released a number of recommendations, including a property tax exemption that could provide a 15% tax break for many homeowners.

Commissioners remain hopeful that lawmakers will also consider tax changes that would open up other revenue streams and make it easier for homeowners to finance most local services.

“We saw that the property tax task force included in its final recommendations another part of a larger discussion on property tax reform, which is absolutely a statewide issue,” he said. “Never before has there been so much enthusiasm for property tax reform. The legislature has promised to take this issue on.”

Earlier this month, commissioners announced plans to put the transportation levy to voters, saying the funds – about $1.7 million annually – would be used to maintain roads and bridges.

Now that the property tax working group has released its recommendations, commissioners have decided to wait to impose the levy in the hope that the next session of the legislature will result in real reforms.

“We’re going to take a break. Maybe we don’t have to do it,” Slotnick said. “If not, we’ll reconsider. But right now, the smartest thing to do is wait.”