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Gianforte Seeks To Provide Property Tax Relief

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said he will stress providing tax relief to property owners as quickly as possible.

“Hard-working Montanans deserve relief and deserve it without delay,” Gianforte said during a press conference with Montana reporters on Thursday, Jan. 19.

The governor’s proposal to provide homeowner with $2,000 in property tax relief during a two-year period was tabled by the House Taxation Committee by a 14-7 bi-partisan bill last week.

The bill will provide property tax rebates of up to $1,000 for a homeowner that lives in Montana for at least seven months. The proposal uses $500 million of the state’s estimated surplus.

During the press conference, Gianforte thanked the legislators who voted in favor of the bill. He is hopeful that the bill passes through committee in the near future.

“They need it, and they need it now,” Gianforte said of tax relief.

Supporters of the bill have included the Montana Chamber of Commerce, Montana Association of Counties, the League of Cities and Towns, the Montana Taxpayers Association and the North Central Montana Economic Development.

Gianforte said the measure would result in a 45 percent decrease in the property tax burden in Yellowstone County, 39 percent in Flathead County, 65 percent in Sanders County and 70 percent in Fergus County. The governor said it will eliminate entirely the property tax burden in Roosevelt County.

“This is a priority for Montanans and they are expecting us to get it done,” Gianforte said.

He urged legislators to consider the plan, modify it if they must and then send it to his desk. The governor also has the goals of expanding the earned income tax credit and easing the burden as far as the business equipment tax for small business owners including farmers.

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