The Unknowns Surrounding Gianforte’s New $4 Million Dollar Mansion: Montana Taxpayers Deserve Transparency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 9, 2024

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gaby@montanademocrats.org

Montana Taxpayers Demand Answers After Gianforte Purchases Another Helena Mansion

Helena, MT – Montana residents are fuming after Governor Gianforte announced today the purchase of his third mansion.

While Governor Gianforte has vowed to donate the mansion at the end of his term, there’s been no mention of what this donation actually means for Montana.

“The old adage there’s no such thing as a free lunch comes to mind,” said Sheila Hogan, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party. “Before accepting this lavish expense, taxpayers deserve to know what strings are attached--especially as ordinary families are struggling to pay the bills of Gianforte's record property tax hike.”

Here are questions surrounding Gianforte’s third mansion in Helena:

• What, exactly, will the financial burden on taxpayers be?

• What additional expenses will taxpayers incur when they get stuck with the bills?

• What is the plan for handing off this new property when Gianforte leaves office?

• Who will pay for upkeep of this historic building once Gianforte donates the building to the state?

• What does this mean for Montana’s existing official Governor’s Mansion, which is already sitting idle, in need of some expensive maintenance?

While Governor Gianforte juggles mansions, the stretched-thin Montana taxpayer is left wondering how much of the bill they will have to foot.

State Senator Mary Ann Dunwell (D) wrote a letter to the Legislative Audit Division last week requesting a formal audit of the official governor’s residence renovation.  

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