Governor Gianforte Promotes Tax Relief for Montanans

Visits The Rancher’s Daughter farm-to-table retail store in Kalispell

• April 23 2025

KALISPELL, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today held a press conference with small business owners in Kalispell to highlight the importance of delivering meaningful, permanent property and income tax relief and provided an update on his priorities before the Legislature, including tax reform, education, and public safety.

“Montanans sent us to Helena with a clear mission,” Gov. Gianforte said. “They want us to deliver real, lasting tax relief – especially on property taxes. Montana homeowners, small businesses, and renters are overdue for relief, and it’s time to get meaningful, permanent property tax reform across the finish line.”

Gov. Gianforte speaking during a press conference at The Rancher’s Daughter in Kalispell

During a visit to The Rancher’s Daughter, a locally owned farm-to-table retail store specializing in local produce and frozen Montana meat, the governor heard directly from small business owners about the growing burden of property taxes and the need for permanent reform.

Grayson Buckner, co-owner of The Rancher’s Daughter, emphasized how the proposed tax relief would support businesses across Montana.

“We want to support local ranchers and offer one location for consumers to stop where they can feel comfortable to know where their food is coming from – buying local is not always easy. This is our third location, and we’re really excited. But business expansions can be nerve-wracking when costs continuously go up – both on our property taxes here at this location, and on our cost-of-living from an employee and employer standpoint,” Buckner said.

Buckner continued, “Lower taxes would be a big help with that. It allows us to have more money in our pockets which then we can turn around to our employees, and to the producers that we work with. Small business ownership is not for the faint of heart and as prices rise, it gets harder and harder for people looking to start or grow a new business or ranch. So, we really appreciate the support we are getting from the community and the potential to lower taxes.”

The governor’s priority property tax proposal, the Homestead Rate Cut, was a recommendation developed by his diverse, bipartisan Property Tax Task Force.

As proposed in his budget, the Homestead Rate Cut is projected to lower property taxes by 15% for homeowners and 18% for small businesses, directly benefiting more than 215,000 primary residences and more than 32,000 small businesses. The plan will also provide indirect relief for over 130,000 renters.

Another local business owner, Hailey Owens of Glacier Grinds, a coffee shop located in The Rancher’s Daughter location on East Idaho Street, shared her perspective on how property tax reform would benefit her business and homeowners.

“Tax relief would be a huge benefit for our business. It would allow us to advance our payroll and help let us give bonuses more because we won’t have to pay as much [in property taxes]. Also, lowering the property taxes around here would allow our landlord not to raise our rent,” Owens said.

In addition to property tax reform, the governor’s budget included the largest income tax cut in state history, with his proposal to reduce the income tax rate most Montanans pay from 5.9% to 4.9%.

“The need for tax relief is clear, we’re hearing it from Montanans again here today,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montanans want us to make permanent, meaningful changes that lower the cost of living and help our small businesses thrive. That’s exactly what these proposals will do.”

Concluding the press conference, the governor emphasized the importance of keeping the momentum going as the legislative session moves toward its final days, saying, “Montanans deserve permanent, meaningful tax relief. The legislature must keep its focus on those who live here year-round – the homeowners and small businesses who need this relief most.”

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