taxes

As the next legislative session draws closer, leadership from the Mountain States Policy Center and Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office are trying to gather support for a flat personal income tax for all Montana taxpayers. Advocates promoted the proposal and fielded questions from voters in Helena Thursday.

A school in Beaverhead County is trying to keep its doors open because the county is struggling to pull in enough tax dollars. Part of the reason the county doesn’t have enough money in its coffers is because the federal government stopped paying its full tax bill on public lands.

The Utah State Tax Commission found about 1,500 people it thinks have illegitimate out-of-state registrations. That number could double once the system has been running for a year.

Gov. Gianforte says one of his top priorities before leaving office is to pass a flat income tax rate. The state’s healthy budget has supported tax cuts in recent legislative sessions, but revenue growth is slowing.

One former, and two current state senators are challenging a new property tax policy in court. Around 80% of residential property owners saw tax relief last year under the policy. The lawsuit amplifies a fracture between Republican lawmakers.

Most Montana homeowners this year are paying less in taxes than last year, according to the state. That’s due to phase one of a new property tax system.

A conservative group is suing the state over a 2024 ballot initiative enshrining abortion access in the Montana Constitution. And Montanans will soon be able to apply for a property tax rebate approved by state lawmakers earlier this year.

The median home value across the state rose by two thirds in the last 4 years. Montana Free Press’ Eric Dietrich crunched the numbers and joined MTPR’s Elinor Smith to break them down.

Montana’s congressional delegates in the U.S. House voted in favor of a massive spending and tax package proposed by President Donald Trump.

Roughly 250,000 homeowners and small businesses are projected to see a break on rising property taxes under two bills Gov. Greg Gianforte signed.