Governor Gianforte Pushes Permanent Property Tax Relief in Missoula

MISSOULA, Mont. — Governor Greg Gianforte has publicly reinforced his commitment to property tax relief by convening with residents and local business owners in Missoula. The focus of his engagement was to gather and amplify voices in support of the Homestead Rate Cut, a legislative measure designed to reduce property taxes significantly for Montanans.

During an event held with homeowners and entrepreneurs, Governor Gianforte championed the Homestead Rate Cut which promises a 15% reduction for homeowners and an 18% cut for small businesses. He emphasized the urgent need for the legislature to implement this tax reform, particularly stressing the importance of permanence expressed by residents, “Our diverse, bipartisan property tax task force identified the Homestead Rate Cut as a solution. We need to get it done,” said Gianforte.

Local business owner Jack Kirkland of VW Ice highlighted the tangible benefits for the local economy and community sustainability. “It’s great to see the Homestead Rate Cut coming through, because that’s exactly what Montanans had asked for. This type of reform would allow us to make the next steps in purchasing equipment, make sure we’re taking care of our families,” Kirkland noted.

Rancher Justin Iverson amplified the vital need for economic sustainability in local businesses like his family-owned ranch, pointing towards the broader implications of property tax relief on generational enterprise sustainability.

Notably, the proposed tax relief by Governor Gianforte has strong implications for over 215,000 residences and 32,000 small businesses, potentially offering indirect benefits to more than 130,000 renters. Previous Western Montana News coverage discussed the broader impact of property tax pressures in Montana, showcasing a trend towards substantive reforms to make living in Montana more economical.

House Bill 321, carrying the reform and recently tabled in the Senate Taxation Committee, remains a focal point of the Governor’s fiscal agenda. As Gianforte concluded, with an apt metaphor at the ice production facility, “Hardworking Montanans cannot afford for us to put property tax reform on ice.”