Our View: People should look at what they get - or would lose - on mill levy votes

Taxes.

Most people don’t seem to like paying them.

But, most people probably would miss what they would lose if they didn’t.

A major part of governing wisely is looking at what services the government will provide and how to pay for those services. A few items on the November ballot in Hill County ask the voters to decide whether they want to pay for some county services.

One is a request to continue a tax level that would drop unless the voters approve its continuation.

The county took out a bond to build, across from the Great Northern Fairgrounds, on Second Street West, the Hill County Justice Center that includes the Hill County Detention Center and Sheriff’s Office. The bond that paid for the facility, which opened in 1999, is paid off next year.

The county has put on the ballot a request to approve continuing to levy 10 mills in place of the 10-mill levy now used to pay on the bond. That would result on a $13.50 tax on a $100,000 home and $27 in a $200,000 home — the same as is being paid now. Taxpayers would not notice any change in their tax bills if the levy is approved.

The commissioners say that, although the bond will be paid off, the Justice Center — and roads, bridges and other infrastructure in the county, including the courthouse and courthouse annex — still need funds for operation, maintenance, repairs and improvements. Approving the levy would provide funds to do those operations.

Another request comes from the Hill County Cemetery District. The district has requested a 3-mill levy to help pay for operations for county cemeteries. While the district has expenses — and they are going up with inflation — the district’s revenue has declined as more and more burials are cremations, reducing the purchases of plots in the district. That, tied with aging equipment that soon will have to be replaced, pushed the district to ask for the mill levy. The levy would result in a tax of $4.05 for a home worth $100,000 and $9.10 for a home worth $200,000.

A third request comes from the Havre-Hill County Library. The library is asking for a 2-mill levy, costing $2.70 on a home worth $100,000 and $5.40 on a home worth $200,000 — less than half the cost of a new book for a $200,000 home, the library notes in a mailer.

The library, which already had closed on Sundays and now closes Saturdays, may see shorter hours and fewer days with cuts to services unless the levy passes.

If it does pass, the library could once again increase its hours and maintain books and services, continue programs for children and keep updating its technology, including high-speed internet.

Probably no one wants to pay more taxes, and most would like to see their taxes go down. But people get what they pay for.

If the levies do not pass, Hill County residents could well start seeing their services and infrastructure start to decay. If the county has to make cuts, the first places would be in non-essential services — such as Beaver Creek Park, the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum and the Great Northern Rodeo. If that was not enough, other cuts might have to be made in other departments as the county squeezes its belt.

The same is true for the library and cemetery district. Unless the county residents are willing to help pay for their services — at an annual cost less than the price of a book or of a meal at a fast-food restaurant —  their services will be cut back or even disappear.

Keep our services going. Give up one meal out a year and vote to continue the level of funding for the county and the new levies requested by the library and cemetery district.