The governor held a town hall in Sidney and visited a string of small businesses and nonprofits across five counties, using the tour to tout property and income tax reforms ahead of the next legislative session.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte brought his 56 County Tour to the state’s southeast corner this week, holding a town hall in Sidney and visiting a range of agricultural producers, manufacturers, and community organizations across Dawson, Wibaux, Fallon, Carter, and Powder River counties.
The swing gave the governor a platform to highlight tax relief already delivered to Montana homeowners and businesses while previewing priorities for the upcoming legislative session, including a flat income tax and an expanded business equipment tax exemption.
Sidney Town Hall
At a town hall held at the Richland County Extension Office, nearly 50 residents questioned Gianforte on small business support, agricultural opportunities, manufacturing investment, children’s online safety, and behavioral health services. Richland County commissioners, Sidney Mayor Rick Norby, and Richland County Sheriff John Dynneson attended the event.
Gianforte used the forum to recap what he described as a record of fiscal restraint, noting that since taking office he has held spending growth below the rate of inflation, eliminated the state’s debt in 2023, and kept spending growth to less than one percent per year over the most recent biennium.
On taxes, the governor outlined reductions passed in the 2025 legislative session that he said delivered nearly $1,300 in combined property tax relief to the typical Montana homeowner over two years. In Richland County, he said, the average homeowner saved roughly $990. Nearly 260,000 eligible homeowners have enrolled their primary residence in the Homestead Reduced Rate program, and approximately 36,000 long-term rental properties have enrolled in a parallel reduced rate.
Since taking office, Gianforte has also cut the state’s top individual income tax rate from 6.9 percent to 5.65 percent this year, with a further reduction to 5.4 percent scheduled for 2027, and collapsed the number of income tax brackets from seven to two. The 2025 reforms alone returned more than $750 million in permanent tax cuts to Montanans, he said. Gianforte told the Sidney audience he intends to pursue a flat income tax for all Montana taxpayers in the next session.
“Fiscal responsibility has been a top priority for my administration,” Gianforte said. “We’ve worked hard to keep the growth of government below the rate of inflation to allow us to continue to reduce taxes and not grow the size of government.”
The governor also discussed the STARS Act, a measure he signed into law investing more than $100 million to push school districts to raise baseline teacher pay, building on the earlier TEACH Act that he said helped nearly 500 teachers begin their careers in Montana in its first year. He closed the event by highlighting the state’s $300 million investment in behavioral health, which includes repairs at the Montana State Hospital and an expansion of community-based care and developmental disability services statewide.
Stops Across Southeast Montana
The tour’s business and community visits spanned five counties and reflected the governor’s emphasis on rural economic development.
In Dawson County, Gianforte visited Deer Creek Meats, a family-owned operation in Glendive raising pasture-raised beef, pork, and poultry using regenerative agriculture practices. The business received nearly $20,000 in 2025 through the state’s Growth Through Agriculture program, which offers grants of up to $50,000 and loans of up to $100,000 to support local meat processors and producers. “It means a lot to have the governor come out and see what we’re building here in eastern Montana,” said owner Josh Kreilaus.
In Wibaux County, the governor visited Plains 2 Peaks, a nonprofit providing after-school programs, summer camps, and mentorship to rural youth. “Our goal is to give kids in rural Montana the support and opportunities they deserve,” said Josh Helvik, the organization’s director.
Traveling to Baker in Fallon County, Gianforte returned to Barkley’s Home Grown, a local market and online storefront selling meat, vegetables, and fruit grown on a family ranch with more than a century of history. He had first visited the operation in 2022. “We’re proud to be building something our family can pass on to the next generation,” said owner Todd Barkley.
In Carter County, the governor toured Camp Needmore with Sabre Moore, director of the Carter County Museum, discussing the site’s history and a new disc golf course set to open in June. The Montana Department of Commerce recently awarded Carter County $1.25 million through the Montana Tourism Development Grant Program to support enhancements at the site.
The tour concluded in Powder River County at North Fork Precision in Broadus, a locally owned manufacturer producing precision components and employing nearly a dozen workers. Owner Kyle Copeland said operating in rural Montana “comes with challenges, but it also comes with great opportunity.”
“It’s great to be back in southeast Montana and see firsthand how Montanans are strengthening their communities,” Gianforte said. “From producers adding value to our world-class ag products to mentors investing in rural youth and manufacturers creating good-paying jobs, these folks are building a stronger future for the next generation.”
By: DNU Staff