Gov. Gianforte's tax hike now hitting homes

Property tax reappraisals are arriving in Montanans’ mailboxes this week and the news is not good. The Montana Department of Revenue is expecting average property tax reappraisals to jump a whopping 43% — Some properties are seeing an increase of 60% of its taxable value. 

“We have Gov. Gianforte to thank for our soaring tax hikes,” said Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “Because of his abject failure to do anything to permanently address property tax increases, working Montana families, homeowners and renters are going to be priced out of their homes. A check this year is not a solution to a permanent problem. If Gianforte talked to any Montanans struggling to pay their taxes, he would know this.” 

The Republican legislature and Gov. Gianforte passed a single property tax relief bill this session — it is a payment of around $675 dollars for homeowners only for 2022 and 2023. The “solution” does not provide relief for renters (who make up 30% of the state’s population) or provide relief of any kind after the biennium. 

Republicans in the Legislature killed Democratic proposals to provide permanent property tax relief, which would ensure that Montana homeowners and renters receive a refund when their property taxes rise above an affordable percentage of their income. It would provide permanent relief as Montana faces soaring home prices as well as ensure critical Montana services like the police and fire departments, public schools, and road maintenance are adequately funded. 

Republicans also killed a Democratic effort to expand their one-time payment to include Montana renters, who will be covering the cost of the soaring reappraisals with their monthly rent, and who were explicitly left out of the Republican plan. 

Democrats have championed long-term property tax relief for years — introducing similar legislation in the last three sessions. 

Republicans have killed those efforts every time. 

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This was submitted by the Montana Democratic Party.