House, Senate sales tax proposals take shape

HELENA - Two sales tax proposals were fine-tuned Monday as attention turned toward an extensive overhaul of Montana's tax system with a month left in the legislative session.

Both measures would provide more than $400 million a year in income and property tax relief, and each contains provisions to soften the effect of the new tax on lower-income Montanans.

One was pieced together by several members of the Senate Taxation Committee and could reach the Senate floor for debate Thursday. The other bill was approved 10-8 by the House Taxation Committee and may be on the House floor for debate the...