METHODS USED TO VALIDATE OWNERSHIPCity Special Districts Assessment Calculator created from downloads from the Department of Revenue.• If owners that signed protest match, protest is valid.

Orion Data Portal – Department of Revenue application that has latest ownership information.• Used if owner that signed protest do not match Assessment Calculator.• If Orion lists two owners and only one owner signed then protest is not valid.

County Clerk and Recorder’s recorded document website.• Research documents relate to person(s) who signed protest that are not listed as

owners in Orion.• Look for change of ownership or a business document that has been signed by

that person.• If name can not be linked to property then protest is not valid.

Montana Secretary of State Business Entity Search.• Used when the protest does not state the business name as shown on Orion.

Search businesses and match agent to person that signed protest.• If name does not match then protest is not valid.

EXAMPLE OF VALID CORPORATE PROTEST EASILY VALIDATED

Listed Business signing for

Printed name and title

EXAMPLE OF VALID CORPORATE PROTEST DIFFICULT TO VALIDATED

Jim Edwards did not sign as representing Pattee Creek Market or any of the owners listed by DOR and further research is needed to verify.

704 SW Higgins Ave. has 2 separate parcel numbers, one for the land under a different owner and one for the building under two other owners.

Building – owned by Super Valu Stores, Inc. Corporation out of Billings, C T Corporation listed as Agent.

Land owned by Bi-Lo Foods, Inc & Gibson Products, Co. Jim Edwards is agent for Bi-Lo Foods.

ORION DATA PORTALDirect Link to Department of Revenue Ownership Data

Not sure if this is a legitimate owner. Corporation is not active and has been involuntarily dissolved

Valid - Jim J. Edwards signed

STATE BUSINESS ENTITY SITE USED TO VALIDATE BUSINESSES

Not Valid - Orion lists two owners and only one owner signed even though the form states “all owner(s) of record…..”

Valid – both owners signed