ICYMI: Property taxes are skyrocketing for Montanans, but not for Billionaire Gianforte

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 7, 2025

CONTACT
gaby@montanademocrats.org
 

Helena, MT – New reporting from the Montana Free Press outlines how Governor Greg Gianforte, along with out-of-state millionaires and billionaires, are exploiting Montana’s tax code by taking advantage of the agricultural tax exemption on their luxurious vacation home properties and mansions.

The agricultural tax exemption, which is designed to encourage farming and ranching in Montana, provides tax breaks on agricultural properties. According to the Montana Free Press, not everyone receiving the property tax discount is a farmer or rancher:

“Many of the owners who get agricultural tax treatment for high-value properties are prominent professionals engaged in non-agricultural careers, including a former Goldman Sachs executive, the CEO of a billion-dollar food service corporation and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a former technology executive.”

“Governor Gianforte got a massive tax cut on his Bozeman mansion by pretending he’s a farmer, which should insult everyone in Montana’s agricultural community,” said Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party, Sheila Hogan. “The agricultural exemption is for family farms to be passed to the next generation, not so millionaires and billionaires like Greg Gianforte can save thousands of dollars while the rest of us get walloped by his administration’s property tax crisis.”

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