Paid political commentary - Gianforte raised your property taxes up to 111%. I'm running to lower them.

Montana has never been more expensive, and Governor Greg Gianforte is pouring gas on the fire.

Gianforte raised property taxes by as much as 111%. That’s the largest increase in Montana history. What’s worse, he’s handed out tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires like himself, while pricing hardworking Montanans and seniors out of their homes.

One of the most important decisions we face this election year is who we should ask to be our next governor. My name is Ryan Busse. I’m asking for your vote to Get Your Montana Back. 

This decision isn’t about political party, and has almost nothing to do with national political elections. For me, it’s about saving the state we love: about lowering property taxes, making Montana more affordable, and protecting our individual constitutional rights.

I’m not a politician. I’m a former executive from the firearms industry. I sold 3 million guns while helping to build a company called Kimber. I’m proud of creating good-paying jobs in Montana.

But under Gianforte, it’s hard to stay afloat even with a good-paying job. That’s why on Day One, I have a plan to lower property taxes for everyone—not just private mansion owners like Gianforte. The nonpartisan Montana Taxpayers Association calls my plan the simplest. I’ll lower tax rates on all classes of property, and cut residential property taxes by $112 million. My plan will also cut taxes on small businesses and family farms and ranches.

With a multi-billion dollar government surplus in Helena, it’s simply unacceptable for Gianforte to continue to raise taxes. No one said “keep the change.”

It’s time for new leadership in Helena. Did you know that Gianforte—one of the wealthiest people in our state—is paying less on his own, personal property taxes this year? He’s the only homeowner in his entire neighborhood whose property taxes actually went down last year.

Don’t be fooled by those mailers Gianforte sent out. The State of Montana, not local governments, sets the overall tax rate for residential property, so it didn’t sit well with me when Gianforte tried to pass the blame for his own tax hike to local elected leaders—most of them fellow Republicans. Now those Republican mayors and county commissioners are calling Gianforte out for his lies.

I’m proud that this campaign is made up of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats who are setting aside their differences on national politics to come together and save our state. 

In addition to lowering property taxes, I have a plan to fix our broken funding model for K-12 education. I also have a plan to increase access to public lands, so that you don’t have to be a millionaire like Gianforte to access Montana’s best hunting and fishing spots.

Montanans have a proud history of voting for the person, not political party.  Gianforte has failed us by raising our taxes when Montana has never been more expensive.

It doesn’t have to be this way. I am asking for your vote. Let’s get your Montana back.

Ryan Busse is the Democratic candidate in Montana’s gubernatorial election.

ITALIC Paid for by Busse for Montana, PO Box 8537 Kalispell, MT 59904, Democrat. ENDITALIC