Property Taxes

 Recent changes to Montana’s property tax laws are hitting our communities hard. A new tiered system has pushed many longtime homeowners and retirees—especially in high-growth areas like Flathead Lake—into higher tax brackets, doubling their tax bills through no fault of their own. At the same time, higher taxes on second homes have impacted far more Montanans than originally promised.

The core problem is a system tied to rapidly rising market values. When property values surge, so do tax bills—creating unpredictable and unaffordable burdens. To make matters worse, assessments are often based on drive-by evaluations that fail to reflect a home’s true condition, leaving many taxed on inflated values.

This is unsustainable. No one should be forced out of their home because of sudden tax increases.

Montana needs real reform. We must cap property tax increases, ensure fair and transparent assessments, and create a system that provides stability and predictability for homeowners. We also need to diversify state revenue so the burden doesn’t fall so heavily on property owners.

I am committed to fixing this system so it works for the people—not against them.

One of government’s most basic responsibilities is protecting the public. But right now, our system is under strain. Our jail is full and crime is rising.

Our County Attorney can only prosecute about one-third of the cases filed because the office lacks the staff and resources to handle the rest. And even when cases move forward, overcrowded jails and prisons leave fewer places for offenders to go. Our courts are stretched as well.

This is why I supported legislation to reduce pressure on the system by improving how mentally ill defendants in jail are evaluated for fitness and moved into treatment so they can become fit for trial. I also brought and passed a bill that will nearly double the capacity of our state’s secure mental health system, helping move those individuals out of jail and into the treatment they need.

If we want safer communities, we need a justice system with the capacity to do its job—from prosecutors, to courts, to corrections, to mental health services. We are playing catch-up, and it is time to refocus government on its core responsibilities instead of diverting resources to non-essential programs.

Montanans deserve a budget that is transparent, accountable, and focused on core priorities. The recent $16.6 billion budget was passed with limited time for review, making it difficult to fully understand how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

This isn’t about politics—it’s about doing the job right.

 Government should focus first on essential services and apply real scrutiny to any new spending. When nearly $1 billion is placed in a discretionary fund, or when proposals include $5 million for projects like swimming pools, taxpayers have every right to ask whether that money would be better spent on higher priorities—or simply returned to them. 

My Approach

· Increase transparency

· Allow more time for budget review

· Focus on core services

· Ensure accountability for discretionary funds

· Reduce wasteful spending

Montanans expect responsible government—and that’s what I will deliver.