Governor Gianforte Shares Priorities to Further Improve State's Business Climate

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today joined business leaders to discuss his administration’s pro-jobs, pro-growth, pro-business priorities for the 68th Legislative Session and year ahead at today’s Montana Chamber of Commerce Business Days at the Capitol.

“With our pro-jobs, pro-business, pro-family policies and the hard work of Montanans, we’ve started to unleash the engine of economic growth, business development, and job creation that, for too long, sputtered,” Governor Gianforte said. “I campaigned on two simple promises: to create more good-paying jobs and to protect our Montana way of life. And that remains our focus in this legislative session.”

In a discussion with Todd O’Hair, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, the governor highlighted elements of his Budget for Montana Families, which provides a collective $1 billion in tax relief to Montanans, including $500 million in income tax relief and $500 million in property tax relief.

“We need to have a tax code that makes us competitive, especially within our region,” Governor Gianforte said. “Working with the legislature, we did that in the last session, and it’s helped Montanans prosper and brought job creators to our state.”

Yesterday, the governor announced Montanans created a record number of new businesses in 2022. This follows a year of record-breaking business creation in the governor’s first year in office.

“We’ve got a robust economy here in Montana, and over the last two years, there’s been countless wins for Montana business,” O’Hair added in his discussion with the governor. “We’re seeing record unemployment, new businesses are coming into Montana, great growth, and there’s a lot of enthusiasm and excitement right now. You’ve been adamant about the fact that Montana needs to be competitive, you’re a top recruiter for business investment in the state, and attracting business to Montana has been a clear priority of your administration.”

To make Montana more competitive and help Montanans keep more of what they earn, the governor’s budget reduces the income tax rate most Montanans pay from 6.5% to 5.9% and substantially increases the state’s earned income tax credit. When the governor took office, the top income tax rate was 6.9%.

To support hardworking families, the governor’s budget also provides families with a $1,200 child tax credit for children under six years of age, as well as a $5,000 adoption tax credit to make it easier for Montanans to open their homes to children.

In addition to $500 million in income tax relief, the governor’s budget provides $500 million in property tax relief for Montanans for their primary residence over the next two years.

The governor also spoke to O’Hair, who serves as co-chair of the governor’s Housing Task Force, about his administration’s efforts to increase access to affordable, attainable housing.

“The biggest issue facing working Montana families right now is the housing crunch, and it’s a supply side problem,” Gov. Gianforte said. “That’s why our budget invests $200 million to expand water and sewer infrastructure and help communities add more affordable, attainable housing.”

Recognizing the overwhelming bulk of property taxes go to local government, the governor has also called for property tax reforms, including greater transparency and accountability in local government spending, an option to pay property taxes monthly, and greater fiscal responsibility from local governments.

After providing Montanans with $1 billion in tax relief, the governor’s budget invests the state’s surplus to make needed, overdue repairs, save for emergencies, and pay off debt. The governor’s budget makes Montana debt-free in 2023, paying off all general obligation debt and saving Montana taxpayers approximately $40 million over the biennium.

In the discussion, the governor also touted his plans to get Montanans back into the workforce by expanding the state’s earned income tax credit and ensure they have the skill they need to thrive in in-demand jobs by promoting trades education. Under Governor Gianforte’s leadership, Montana’s total employment is at its highest level ever recorded.