Billings 2026 Budget Sets New Property Tax Rates for City Services

The City of Billings enacted its 2026 fiscal year budget on June 30 with revised property tax rates that apply to all residential and commercial parcels inside city limits.

Local government offices process these rates each year to cover core operations including police patrols in the downtown corridor and snow removal on streets such as 27th Street and Grand Avenue. The latest figures replace the 2025 rates and take effect with the next billing cycle.

Direct Effects on Household Expenses

Property owners in neighborhoods such as the West End and Heights will calculate new amounts based on assessed values recorded by Yellowstone County. A typical single-family home on a standard lot now carries a different levy component for fire protection and street lighting districts. Renters may notice shifts if landlords pass along portions of the adjusted bills through lease renewals scheduled for August or September.

City budget documents list property tax revenue as the primary funding source for the general fund, which supports daily services at the Billings Public Library branches and the municipal court on North 27th Street. Residents who qualify for the state circuit breaker program can apply for credits that reduce the final amount owed.

Timeline and Payment Process

The county treasurer mails statements in early July with payments due in two installments, the first on November 30. Late payments accrue interest at the rate set in the 2026 ordinance. City staff will hold public sessions at the Billings City Hall annex on July 15 to explain individual calculations and answer questions about exemptions.

Analysts at the local planning office project that the updated rates will generate the revenue listed in the adopted budget papers for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30 2027. Further adjustments require another council vote before the next budget cycle begins.