Montanans Sue Over Gianforte’s ‘Disparate, Inequitable and Unjust’ Property Tax Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 23, 2024

CONTACT
gaby@montanademocrats.org

Helena, MT –  The Daily Montanan reports this week that Montana residents are suing the Gianforte administration for allowing property taxes to skyrocket for working Montanans and their families while millionaires and wealthy corporations enjoy tax breaks.

According to the Daily Montanan, the lawsuit points to the fact that the Gianforte administration violated the Montana Constitution by allowing property taxes to increase by as much as 111% after Gianforte refused to adjust the residential tax rate, which would have prevented property taxes from skyrocketing.

The lawsuit says Gianforte’s administration “has overcharged residents more than $100 million” and provided tax breaks for corporations like NorthWestern Energy to the tune of $36 million (or a 20% decrease).

“This failure is an utter dereliction of the constitutional and statutory duty to perform ‘equalization,’ and to ‘adjust’ and ‘do all things necessary to assure fair, just and equitable taxable valuation,” the lawsuit states.

“The facts are simple: Gianforte raised property taxes on Montanans while millionaires and billionaires like himself, and corporations, received tax breaks,”said Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sheila Hogan. “Now Gianforte is lying to Montanans and pointing the blame on local leaders, many of whom are Republicans. Gianforte’s disastrous tax hike is forcing Montanans out of their homes and communities while the wealthy corporate fat cats stuff their pockets.”

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