Bipartisan Montana County Commissioners Tell Gianforte on Property Tax Crisis “This is not political. It’s people’s homes.”

Bipartisan Montana County Commissioners Tell Gianforte on Property Tax Crisis: “This is not political. It’s people’s homes.”

Yesterday, county commissioners for Missoula and Beaverhead counties published an op-ed slamming Governor Greg Gianforte for his failures to substantially address the property tax crisis his Department of Revenue warned him would happen, and then lying to Montanans about why their bills skyrocketed.

Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick and Beaverhead County Commissioner Mike McGinley pushed back on Gianforte’s false claims that county governments are to blame for the increase in property tax bills, and clearly outlined how the governor’s failures led to the burdens Montana homeowners are facing right now.

Earlier this year, an MTN News investigation revealed that while many Montanans – including many of Gianforte’s neighbors – are grappling with a “property tax fiasco” that has led to some seeing their annual property tax bills go up as high as 100 percent, Gianforte has largely been spared, and even saw his tax bill go down at one of his properties.

In the op-ed, the commissioners lay out the stakes of the state’s property tax crisis and the facts against Gianforte’s bogus claims:

• Property taxes aren’t red/blue or political; the state writes the rules on property taxes, counties follow the rules. And everyone — no matter what your political stripe — pays.
• It’s no secret that Missoula County and Beaverhead County are opposite in terms of politics, but we’re aligned when it comes to current property tax issues.
• Gov. Greg Gianforte sent another letter to all Montana homeowners about property taxes, which has likely hit your mailboxes. The letter asserts that 1.) Property taxes are high because some local governments’ spending is out of control; and 2.) The state’s haul from property taxes is “small.” Both statements are inaccurate and require factual clarification.
• First, county spending and county taxation are not the same thing. Yes, counties use property taxes to provide essential services; however, they aren’t the sole source of revenue.
• Second, state law caps county property taxation. Increases are capped to one-half the 3-year average of inflation annually; this is called the “mill cap.” Therefore, counties cannot legally do what the governor is claiming.
• What Gianforte calls the state’s “small portion of property taxes” amounts to a new $81 million for state government. For a Beaverhead County resident outside city limits, the state’s “small portion” of property taxes amounts to over 20% of the total tax bill. More drastically, in Gallatin County, the state’s “small portion” is more than the entirety of the county portion.
• Yes, the state has the legal authority to access the full 95 mills, but it also has the responsibility NOT TO, especially knowing tax bills would soon skyrocket.
• It’s time to reform the property tax system.

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