Forest Land Taxation Advisory Committee
The Forest Land Taxation Advisory Committee must be appointed and convened no later than July 1 of the year that is two years prior to the first year of the reappraisal cycle. The terms of the members expire on June 30 of the first year of each reappraisal cycle.
The committee has nine members:
- Four forestry experts appointed by the majority and minority leaders from the state Senate and House of Representatives.
- Two industrial forest landowners appointed by the governor.
- Two nonindustrial forest landowners appointed by the governor.
- A county commissioner appointed by the governor.
The 2021 Montana Legislature amended 15-44-103, MCA, under Senate Bill 262. The section outlines the committee’s specific roles and responsibilities.
Meetings
Upcoming meetings to be announced.
Meeting Details
- Date and Time
- June 10, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Location
- Director's Office Conference Room, 4th Floor
Mitchell Building
125 N. Roberts St.
Helena, MT 59601
Meeting Records
Relevant Documents
Meeting Archives
- Montana Forest Lands Valuation Report (PDF, 286 KB)
- Forest Land Valuation Overview Memorandum (PDF, 253 KB)
- Forest Land Contiguity Memorandum (PDF, 113 KB)
- Forest Contiguity Example I (PDF, 348 KB)
- Forest Contiguity Example II (PDF, 60 KB)
- Forest Lands Taxation Advisory Committee Report, April 18, 2022 (PDF, 210.5 KB)
- Subcommittee Report (PDF, 184.5 KB)
- DOR Memorandum – Olympic Average of Forestland Values (PDF, 133.5 KB)
- Committee Progress Summary (PDF, 202.7 KB)
- Montana Forest Land Valuation Report (PDF, 559 KB)
- Montana Forest Land Property Taxes (PDF, 247 KB)
- 2021-2026 Forest Land Manual (PDF, 695 KB)
- Forest Land Valuation Overview (PDF, 216 KB)
- 2021 Forest Land Reappraisal Timeline (PDF, 95 KB)
- Revised Forest Appraisal Zones and Timber Values Used in Appraising Montana Private Forest Lands (PDF, 600 KB)
- Memo from Gene Waborn, DOR Director (PDF, 122 KB)
- Montana Forest Land Classification and Valuation Manual 2025-2026 (PDF, 624 KB)
- Forest Land Valuation Zone Map - 2025 (PDF, 105 KB)
- Montana Tax Shift Tables (XLSX, 75 KB)
Committee Members
| Member | Qualification | Mailing Address | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordy Sanders | Industrial Forest Landowner | P. O. Box 549, Seeley Lake, MT 59868 | Office: 406-677-2201 ext. 26, Cell: (406) 239-3145 | gsanders@pyramidlumber.com |
| Paul McKenzie | Industrial Forest Landowner | 2104 Barnett Rd, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 | (406) 253-0764 | pmckenzie@stoltzelumber.com |
| Randy Mannix | Nonindustrial Forest Landowner | P.O. Box 88, Helmville, MT 59843 | (406) 793-5834 | randymannix59@gmail.com |
| Peter Kolb | Nonindustrial Forest Landowner | 1010 Grizzly Mtn Rd, Missoula, MT 59808 | (406) 544-0155 | peter.kolb@umontana.edu |
| Greg Chilcott | County Commissioner | 346 Valley View, Stevensville, MT 59870 | (406) 240-9844 | gchilcott@rc.mt.gov |
| Nancy Mehaffie | Expertise in Forest Matters | 18 Farrenkopf Ln, Thompson Falls, MT 59873 | (520) 609-2214 | hunn.mehaffie@gmail.com |
| Senator Dave Fern | Expertise in Forest Matters | P.O. Box 4151, Whitefish, MT 59937 | (406) 212-0674 | dave.fern@legmt.gov |
| Representative Jane Weber | Expertise in Forest Matters | P.O. Box 818, Great Falls, MT 59403 | (406) 781-0741 | jane.weber@legmt.gov |
| Representative Curtis Cochran | Expertise in Forest Matters | 177 Red Hill Rd, St Regis, MT 59866 | (406) 280-0081 | curtis.cochran@legmt.gov |