Governor Greg Gianforte joined small business owners in Kalispell today to rally support for his push to deliver permanent property and income tax relief for Montanans. Speaking at a press conference hosted at The Rancher’s Daughter, a local farm-to-table store, Gianforte laid out his tax reform agenda and emphasized the urgency of passing relief measures before the close of the legislative session.
“Montanans sent us to Helena with a clear mission,” said Gianforte. “They want real, lasting tax relief – especially on property taxes. Homeowners, small businesses, and renters have waited long enough.”
During the visit, the governor met with entrepreneurs to hear firsthand how rising property taxes are affecting local businesses. Grayson Buckner, co-owner of The Rancher’s Daughter, said tax relief would provide much-needed breathing room for small business owners.
“This is our third location, and while we’re excited, expansion comes with higher costs,” Buckner said. “Lower taxes mean more money we can put toward our employees and Montana producers. It would make a real difference.”
Hailey Owens, owner of Glacier Grinds, a coffee shop operating inside The Rancher’s Daughter, echoed the sentiment. “If property taxes go down, our landlord won’t have to raise rent. That means we can do more for our staff and grow our business,” Owens said.
Central to Gianforte’s tax reform is his Homestead Rate Cut, a key recommendation from his bipartisan Property Tax Task Force. The plan would reduce property taxes by 15% for homeowners and 18% for small businesses, impacting over 215,000 homes and 32,000 businesses. The proposal would also offer indirect relief for more than 130,000 renters.
The governor’s broader budget also includes a significant income tax cut, aiming to lower the rate for most Montanans from 5.9% to 4.9% — the largest such cut in state history.
As the legislative session nears its end, Gianforte urged lawmakers to keep momentum behind tax relief efforts. “Montanans deserve permanent, meaningful tax relief,” he said. “The legislature must stay focused on helping the people who call this state home year-round — the families, the workers, and the small business owners who are the backbone of our communities.”
By: DNU staff