About your Tax Assessment
Swan Hill TV District was formed in 1961 to facilitate broadcast reception to areas northeast, east and southeast of Swan Hill. From 1961 to 2009 the assessment rate had been $5 per occupied tract in the district. In 2009 congress has mandated digital broadcasting which substantially raised the operating costs. To help cover the costs, the county raised the assessment to $20 to cover the costs of the conversion. These include but are not limited to purchase of digital translators, digital signal processors and upgrades to the tower, antennae, and cables/connectors. We also have ongoing engineering and operational costs. Your tax dollars make sure we can continue these services.
If you own developed property in the area outlined in red, you will see a $20 yearly assessment on your tax statement for the support of the translator site.
If you think that you should not be charged in your property taxes, download this AFFIDAVIT, fill it out carefully, print, sign (with Notary) and mail it with the required supporting documentation to:
Swan Hill TV District
PO Box 530
Bigfork, MT 59911
Deadline for Review: In order for the assessment to be removed from the following November and May tax notices, your affidavit must arrive by the previous July 1. We'll need to evaluate your request and get the information to the county before their deadline to modify assessment notices.
NOTE: If you file an affidavit based on a cable subscription, you must provide a pay stub or copy from your cable bill from the current year. Subscribing to satellite tv does not qualify for an exemption because those companies are not taxed in the same way as cable companies (which flows money to the county).
We will re-evaluate the assessment and contact you shortly with the result. Keep in mind that if you do receive a working signal and do not subscribe to cable TV, the assessment may remain in effect. Since it is a public service, like fire, water, schools and sewer service, you are assessed based on whether you receive an adequate signal, even if you choose not to use it. In evaluating your claim for exemption for not receiving the signal, someone will drive to your house and tune KUFM radio at 101.3. If the signal for that is clear, you will not receive an exemption. The KUFM radio signal comes from only halfway up the tower while the television signals come from the top of the tower. There have not been any properties claiming non-reception that were truly unable to receive the signal.
NOTE: If you file an affidavit based on a cable subscription, you must provide a pay stub or copy from your cable bill from the current year. Subscribing to satellite tv does not qualify for an exemption because those companies are not taxed in the same way as cable companies (which flows money to the county).
We will re-evaluate the assessment and contact you shortly with the result. Keep in mind that if you do receive a working signal and do not subscribe to cable TV, the assessment may remain in effect. Since it is a public service, like fire, water, schools and sewer service, you are assessed based on whether you receive an adequate signal, even if you choose not to use it. In evaluating your claim for exemption for not receiving the signal, someone will drive to your house and tune KUFM radio at 101.3. If the signal for that is clear, you will not receive an exemption. The KUFM radio signal comes from only halfway up the tower while the television signals come from the top of the tower. There have not been any properties claiming non-reception that were truly unable to receive the signal.