Gazette opinion: Initiative 172 won’t lower cable bills – Charter knew its Montana tax liability when it invested here.

Two weeks ago, a Gazette opinion urged Montana voters to scrutinize Charter Communication’s effort to cut its taxes by proposing Initiative 172.

After talking with four Charter executives from around the country and the Montana consultant hired to help get the initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot, the Gazette editorial board stands by our May 31 editorial and offers voters a different perspective than the one presented in Charter’s guest opinion printed elsewhere on this page.

Charter asserts that its taxes were raised unfairly. In fact, the company’s Montana taxes have not been raised since Charter bought it and were not raised when Optimum owned it. The tax reclassification was completed in 2010 when the business was owned by Bresnan Communications. Charter knew its Montana tax liability when it invested here.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-initiative-won-t-lower-cable-bills/article_0f71875e-0398-5449-8d91-85db30e1238d.html#ixzz34QpdDp1Z