Owing more than $5.362 million in back taxes, penalties and interest, Montana Tunnels Mine has provided Jefferson County with a time payment plan. The commissioners said they have not yet accepted the plan but are reviewing the proposal.
This is not the first time the mine and the county have considered an agreement to get the taxes paid. On previous deals, the mine has agreed to payment amounts and dates but then failed to honor the agreement. To address that issue, the commission asked that the current proposal include a provision that the county will consider waiving penalties and interest after six timely payments.
Over $1.8 million of the $5.362 owed to the county comes from penalties and interest. The commissioners have said in the past that it is in the county’s best interest to try to work out a payment plan. When property taxes are sufficiently delinquent, the county can take possession of the property and try to sell it through a tax deed process, but the commissioners have expressed an interest in retaining the viability of the mine, once one of the county’s largest employers. Discussion of the issue is set for the February 1 commission meeting.
