“We must reduce income and property taxes this legislative session”

HELENA, MT – During a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte today defended his tax relief proposals to lower income taxes for Montanans at every income level and lower property taxes for Montana homeowners.

“When it comes to our tax priorities, we must reduce income and property taxes this legislative session – meaningfully and permanently,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montanans sent us here to act, to get the job done, and we must. I remain committed to cutting taxes for Montanans at every income level, leaving them with more of their hard-earned money, especially as they navigate our nation’s affordability crisis.”

In November, Gov. Gianforte released his budget proposal which included the largest income tax cut in state history, reducing the income tax rate most Montanans pay from 5.9% to 4.9%. The governor’s budget also adopted a recommendation from the governor’s diverse, bipartisan Property Tax Task Force to reduce property taxes for Montana homeowners for their primary residence and for Montana small businesses.

The governor’s priority property tax proposal, the Homestead Rate Cut, is carried in House Bill 231, sponsored by Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad. The recommendation is a result of the governor’s diverse, bipartisan Property Tax Task Force and, according to estimates, will directly reduce property taxes for more than 215,000 primary residences, more than 32,000 small businesses, and provide indirect relief for over 130,000 renters.

The Homestead Rate Cut is projected to lower property taxes for Montana homeowners by 15% and small businesses by 18%.

Last week, the bill was tabled in the Senate Taxation Committee. Yesterday, legislators voted to remove the bill from the table. The next hearing has not been announced at this time.

“I am convinced the Homestead Rate Cut remains the best option for delivering meaningful, permanent property tax cuts this year for Montanans for the place they call home – their primary residence – for small businesses, and for renters,” the governor said.

Discussing his recent visit to the White House where President Donald J. Trump signed executive orders to unleash American energy, Gov. Gianforte said, “I was grateful and proud to be with President Trump for this historic moment. As I mentioned, this is just one of our shared priorities – increasing American-made energy, cutting red tape, and passing historic tax cuts to benefit Montanans, and Americans, at every income level.”

The governor added, “Our tax proposals are just like President Trump’s: rooted in the idea that money belongs to you, the people, and not the government.”

Concluding the press conference, the governor said, “As we head to the final days of this legislative session, I remain focused on delivering on the bold agenda Montanans elected us to deliver – cutting taxes, unleashing energy, supporting law enforcement, and bringing the American dream into greater reach for all Montanans.”

Watch a video of Gov. Gianforte’s press conference here.