The Department of Revenue has calculated the inflation factor to be used in the mill levy calculation as prescribed by 15-10-420, MCA for FY 2011.  Under that statute the Department of Revenue is required to:  

"calculate one-half of the average rate of inflation for the prior 3 years by using the consumer price index, U.S. city average, all urban consumers, using the 1982-84 base of 100, as published by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor".

The rate of inflation for the three years prior to 2010 can be measured from December 2006 to December 2009.  The U.S. City average CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, was 201.8 for December 2006 and 215.949 for December 2009.  These values can be found at http://data.bls.gov.   

The average annual inflation rate over this period is 2.2845%.  That is, if you grow the value of 201.8 three times at 2.2845% each time, the result will be 215.949.

             1        201.800  x 1.022845  = 206.410

             2        206.410  x 1.022845  = 211.126

             3        211.126  x 1.022845  = 215.949.   

One-half of 2.2845% is 1.142%.  The value to use in the mill levy calculation for fiscal year 2010 is 1.142%. 

This is an increase from the 1.112% value used in the mill levy calculation for fiscal year 2010.  (Posted 04/13/2010)

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For information on how the Department of Commerce will allocate the federal stimulus funds, go to this Department of Commerce website.