Governor Gianforte: Montanans Sent Us Here to Get Things Done

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At his weekly press conference in Helena on Thursday, Governor Greg Gianforte was adamant about getting property tax relief to Montana homeowners before the end of the legislative session.

Governor Gianforte was Adamant About Property Tax Reduction

“We were clear,” stated Gianforte. “We needed property tax relief by February 15 to roll it out this year. I still think it needs to be permanent. We have to get permanent property tax relief done. If we miss the window for this year, a rebate might be a stop gap to get us to permanent relief. But we can't leave here without doing permanent property tax relief that benefits Montana homeowners.”

Gianforte used that phrase liberally throughout the press conference, that we can’t go home until it’s done, even though his preferred option of the homestead reduction had just been tabled in the Montana Senate.

Gianforte Repeated Again and Again, 'We Can't Go Home Without it'

“The Homestead rate reduction has already passed the House,” he said. “We just need the Senate to pass it, and Montanans, not so much me, but Montanans are expecting action on this issue. We need permanent property tax relief in this session. Frankly, none of us can leave here until we do that.”

I spoke with Republican State Senate President Matt Regier following the governor’s press conference, and he explained why the Homestead-Comstead bill was tabled.

“Once you start poking holes,” began Regier. “With any idea, as it goes through the legislature, we found that there are more holes than we thought in this idea. Even in the fiscal note that comes from the executive branch for this homestead concept, it said that the expected rise in value is even going to outpace what this would do in (just) two years.”

Senate President Matt Regier Said No Property Tax Bills Have yet Been Passed

Gianforte said he and state legislators must get together and find a way to provide meaningful property tax relief in this session, which ends on May 5.

“Montanans expect us to pass permanent property tax relief, and because we already have the highest income tax rate in the region, we can't lower property taxes by further burdening income taxpayers,” he said. “So those are the boundaries on the box that I'm willing to negotiate with the legislature about. We need to get to the table and figure this out.”

Regier said Senate Bill 90 was also tabled on Thursday, the bill that would have provided property tax credits to Montana homeowners, so the legislature has its work cut out to come up with a property tax reduction plan that will pass and be signed into law by the governor.

Click here to see the Governor's press conference.