Politics
Billings 2026 Tax Levy Ordinance Allocates Property Tax Revenue to Infrastructure and City Positions
The ordinance directs additional property tax collections in Billings toward road maintenance crews and public facility upgrades starting next fiscal year.
How we reported this
The Billings City Council passed the 2026 Tax Levy Ordinance on July 8, which sets the mill levy for property taxes collected from owners in the city limits and Yellowstone County.
City budget documents released last month show that local property tax receipts must cover a larger share of operating costs after adjustments to state aid formulas took effect in 2025. The ordinance therefore raises the general fund levy by 4.2 mills to maintain current service levels through 2027.
Jobs supported by the levy
Public works crews in Billings will receive funding for 12 additional full-time positions under the new levy. These roles cover asphalt crews that repair segments of 27th Street and King Avenue East each summer. The city finance department lists the positions in its adopted budget appendix as line items under the Street Improvement Program.
Residents who live along those corridors will notice crews working on pavement patches and curb replacements scheduled between August and October 2027. City payroll records indicate the new hires will be paid from the general fund supported by the mill levy increase.
Services and facilities funded
The ordinance also assigns $3.8 million to HVAC upgrades at the Billings Public Library main branch and the West End recreation center. These projects appear in the capital improvement plan dated March 2026. Local building permits for the work are expected to be issued by the end of calendar year 2026.
Property owners will see the change reflected on their 2027 tax statements mailed in November 2026. The average single-family home assessed at $320,000 will pay an additional $126 annually according to the county assessor’s estimate attached to the ordinance.
The city clerk’s office will publish quarterly progress reports on the funded projects beginning in January 2027. Those reports will be posted on the municipal website and reviewed at public works committee meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month.