Gianforte presses Legislature to pass property tax relief bills during Kalispell visit
While visiting the Rancher's Daughter, an Idaho Street farm-to-table retailer, Gianforte unveiled a poster outlining key agenda items from his 2025 State of the State address.
"We can't check off property taxes or income taxes yet," he acknowledged. "Or the budget or judicial reform."
The solitary success on the board was higher teacher starting pay. Gianforte checked off the box before a crowd of about a dozen people, saying he plans to sign the STARS Act, which contributes $100 million toward raising teacher starting pay, after the Senate passed it on Tuesday.
As far as his fiscal objectives for the state, Gianforte maintained that "there's still time" for bills to reach his desk before the Legislature's May 5 deadline. Gianforte declined to comment on the bills currently awaiting his review, including an income tax bill introduced by Speaker of the House Brandon Ler, R-Savage. Instead, he focused on the property tax legislation currently under debate in the House and Senate.
"As I said, we have very clear priorities. We need to give property tax relief. I think it needs to be permanent, meaningful, and it's got to be targeted to Montana homeowners, renters and small businesses," said Gianforte.
The governor's proposal, which raises taxes on second homes and short-term rentals while reducing them on primary residences and long-term rental properties, is among the bills still in contention.
As to the financial burdens Montanans may face because of the tariffs levied during the ongoing trade war initiated by the Trump administration, Gianforte acknowledged there would likely be "a little disruption."
A report from the Budget Lab at Yale estimates that the tariffs put in place on April 2 alone will cost U.S. households an average of $2,100 per year.
But he argued that the tariffs, which are a tax on imported goods, would benefit businesses and consumers in the long run.
"I think the president's been very clear. He's using tariffs as a negotiation tool," said Gianforte.
Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4433.
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