Property Tax Quake in Helena

Photograph Source: Tracey Elizabeth – CC BY 2.0

Not since the 1935 earthquake has Helena, the home of state and federal government in Montana, been shaken quite this way.

Every school levy on last Tuesday’s ballot was soundly rejected by voters.  Why?

Not because they don’t support education — but because our insanely high property taxes have left homeowners tapped out.

Of course this was totally predictable when the flush of wealthy in-migrants, speculators, and “vacation...