Discussions about taxation, pension, economic and health care issues, along with the 2010 census, will highlight the Montana Taxpayers Association’s 88th annual meeting on Dec. 3.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel in Helena.

“Our annual meeting has become the leading forum in Montana to learn about current issues important to all Montana taxpayers,” said the association’s president, Mary Whittinghill.

Joe Crosby, legislative director of the Council on State Taxation of Washington, D.C., will provide an update on multistate tax issues. Because of budget deficits, many states are looking at ways to increase revenues, including passing new and higher taxes and examining existing tax credits.

Andy Richards, practice fellow with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, also of Washington, will discuss public pension problems, accounting standards and alternatives states are considering.

A panel featuring Patrick Barkey and Terry Johnson will discuss Montana’s finances, economy and budget. Barkey is director of the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research, while Johnson is the Legislature’s chief revenue forecaster and a principal legislative fiscal analyst

Mary Craigle, bureau chief of the Census & Economic Information Center of the state Commerce Department will present an overview of the 2010 Census and its importance to Montana.

A panel will discuss U.S. health care costs and how they compare with those in other countries and the current status of health care legislation in Congress. Participants are economists Christiana Stoddard of Montana State University and Gregg Davis of the University of Montana, with Myles Watts, an MSU professor, moderating.

The cost is $50 for members and $100 for nonmembers. Continuing education credits are available for lawyers and accountants.

To register, call the association at 442-2130 or on its Web site at www.montax.org.