Wal-Mart is significant taxpayer

Editor,

As the tax collector for Lake County, I would like to bring to the attention of your readers the amount of property taxes Wal-Mart currently pays on their existing business and a projected amount of property tax on a Super Wal-Mart.

Currently Wal-Mart is the 12th largest taxpayer in Lake County, paying a total of $52,793 in property taxes per year, which are divided among many funds and entities. In the list of the top taxpayers, they pay more than Super 1 and Safeway.

Within the City of Polson, Wal-Mart currently ranks second as the largest taxpayers following CenturyTel.

The building alone generates $1,884 to Lake County Public Safety, $12,945 to the Polson School District, and $8,880 to the City of Polson from the 2005 property tax bill.

Taxes are also generated from the land and personal property associated with the business and these taxes are also significant.

The proposed Super Wal-Mart structure is planned for 156,000 square feet. The Missoula Super Wal-Mart is 207,000 square feet. Calculating that the Polson Super Wal-Mart will be three-fourths the size of the Missoula store, the projection would be that the new structure alone will generate $110,879 in Lake County property taxes per year. When those taxes are distributed, public safety would receive $5,075, Polson school district, $34,870, and the City of Polson 23,919.

Added to this anticipated would be tax on the land and the personal property associated with the business. This is a large increase to the tax base of the county, city and school district. Also not calculated in the anticipated revenue is the proposed gas station.

The taxes on the existing land and building do not go away and as long as Wal-Mart owns the land they will continue to pay taxes on that as well.

While debating the pros and cons of the new Wal-Mart, please consider the boost the additional taxes will give us.

Patricia Cook

Lake County Treasurer