HELENA – Jefferson County officials say a company that owns a shuttered mine and is trying to begin a new mining operation owes $2 million in taxes.
Jefferson County treasurer Patty O’Neill says Elkhorn Goldfields LLC owes $1.65 million in back taxes and another $334,000 is due in May.
The tax revenues are to be split between the county, state and public schools.
British Columbia-based Elkhorn Goldfields LLC owns Montana Tunnels. It’s the county’s second-highest taxpayer but now sits idle.
Company president Rob Trenaman tells the Independent Record the taxes are “an obligation we will have to meet.”
But he says it’s difficult since his company is trying to raise more than $65 million to reopen Montana Tunnels and another $10 million to start exploration at the Golden Dream Mine.